ICE Raids Spark Fear in Minneapolis Schools
Last January, Lila Dominguez was in a state of panic as immigration enforcement agents stormed her school in Minneapolis. The high school junior was working on an article about the shooting of Renee Good earlier that day when ICE agents arrived at Roosevelt High School.
Dominguez's hands were shaking as she watched videos of the incident from outside the school, unable to process what was happening. "I was kind of pacing around," she recalled. "My hands were really shaky. I was just very overstimulated, and not really sure what to do in that moment for the people that I was with, or the people outside or my family."
The incident highlighted the growing presence of ICE agents in Minneapolis schools, leaving students and staff on edge. The school district announced it would cancel classes for two days after the raid, allowing students to attend virtually through mid-February.
As an advocate for change, Dominguez wrote a column titled "ICE Needs To Get Out Of Minneapolis," calling for the removal of federal agents from the city. Her words resonated with her classmates and community members, going viral beyond expectations.
The influx of ICE agents has led to increased anxiety among students, many of whom are already vulnerable due to immigration status or family ties to detained individuals. A parent was detained at a bus stop in Crystal, Minnesota, while waiting for their child's school bus. The Robbinsdale school district confirmed the detention and stated that all students involved were safely escorted to school.
School districts throughout the metro area have reported decreased attendance as students grapple with fear and uncertainty. Some schools are implementing remote learning protocols, while others are working on strategies to deal with future ICE visits.
Minneapolis Public Schools Board Chair Collin Beachy expressed concern about the impact of ICE enforcement on local communities. "Schools and school districts exist within communities, and what happens in the community affects our learning environment," he said. "We need ICE to leave our kids alone."
Dominguez acknowledged that the situation was "scary" for students like her who take school for granted. During a recent break from classes, she noted that it was difficult to focus on daily tasks without being preoccupied with ICE.
As the debate rages on, one thing is clear: the presence of ICE agents in Minneapolis schools has created a climate of fear and anxiety among students. The question remains: how can schools and communities work together to ensure a safe and supportive learning environment for all?
Last January, Lila Dominguez was in a state of panic as immigration enforcement agents stormed her school in Minneapolis. The high school junior was working on an article about the shooting of Renee Good earlier that day when ICE agents arrived at Roosevelt High School.
Dominguez's hands were shaking as she watched videos of the incident from outside the school, unable to process what was happening. "I was kind of pacing around," she recalled. "My hands were really shaky. I was just very overstimulated, and not really sure what to do in that moment for the people that I was with, or the people outside or my family."
The incident highlighted the growing presence of ICE agents in Minneapolis schools, leaving students and staff on edge. The school district announced it would cancel classes for two days after the raid, allowing students to attend virtually through mid-February.
As an advocate for change, Dominguez wrote a column titled "ICE Needs To Get Out Of Minneapolis," calling for the removal of federal agents from the city. Her words resonated with her classmates and community members, going viral beyond expectations.
The influx of ICE agents has led to increased anxiety among students, many of whom are already vulnerable due to immigration status or family ties to detained individuals. A parent was detained at a bus stop in Crystal, Minnesota, while waiting for their child's school bus. The Robbinsdale school district confirmed the detention and stated that all students involved were safely escorted to school.
School districts throughout the metro area have reported decreased attendance as students grapple with fear and uncertainty. Some schools are implementing remote learning protocols, while others are working on strategies to deal with future ICE visits.
Minneapolis Public Schools Board Chair Collin Beachy expressed concern about the impact of ICE enforcement on local communities. "Schools and school districts exist within communities, and what happens in the community affects our learning environment," he said. "We need ICE to leave our kids alone."
Dominguez acknowledged that the situation was "scary" for students like her who take school for granted. During a recent break from classes, she noted that it was difficult to focus on daily tasks without being preoccupied with ICE.
As the debate rages on, one thing is clear: the presence of ICE agents in Minneapolis schools has created a climate of fear and anxiety among students. The question remains: how can schools and communities work together to ensure a safe and supportive learning environment for all?
Schools are supposed to be places where kids can learn and grow without fear of deportation or detention – it's like, basic human rights stuff.
The fact that her words resonated so much with people is like, proof that we're not just feeling sorry for ourselves, but actually making a difference.
. I mean, I get it, they gotta do their job but like, who does that in a school?! 
Kids are supposed to be learning not living in fear of immigration agents 
. It's affecting attendance and focus too, which is a major problem for students already struggling 
. Maybe it's time for schools to take a stand and advocate for change? 
We need kids to feel safe and supported, not anxious and stressed out 
.
. And the anxiety that comes with not knowing when ICE will show up at your doorstep? Unbelievable! We need to be talking about ways to support our students and create a safe space for them to learn without fear of deportation or detention.
.
, i cant believe ice is still causing problems in our schools! lila's story is really scary and i can imagine how she felt, just pacing around and shaking hands 
. its not right that students have to deal with this kind of stress and anxiety on top of schoolwork. some schools are taking steps to remote learning, which is def a good move 
. we need more people like her who are willing to take a stand and advocate for what's right.
. we cant let fear dictate our actions or our lives 
. lets keep the conversation going and find solutions that benefit everyone! 
. now we're more concerned about what's going on with ICE raids at schools than even getting those fresh new kicks 
. I think the parents who are detained or affected by ICE should get some serious support and resources 
. I think schools should be taking a more proactive approach to preventing these kinds of situations from happening in the first place 
.
. That's not okay, and it's not fair to them or their families 
and what's with the district cancelling classes for two days? that's just gonna disrupt the whole learning process 
anyone else think this is a bit suspicious?
can't they see the impact it's having on our kids 
? it's like they're instilling fear and anxiety in them for no reason 
we need more of her voice 
not less 
The school district needs to step in and do something ASAP. It's not like these schools are welcoming environments for undocumented students already, now they're adding fear to the mix 
... and now school districts r dealin' w/ all this stress & anxiety. We need 2 figure out a way 2 make schools safe 4 every single student, regardless of what's happenin' in their personal lives 