Minnesota educators, districts sue to stop ICE enforcement near schools

(FOX 9) - Minnesota school districts are taking legal action to stop federal immigration enforcement near schools, citing fear among students in the wake of children being detained as part of Operation Metro Surge.

School districts challenge federal policy

What we know:

A coalition of Minnesota school districts and educators filed a federal lawsuit on Feb. 4 against the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) that seeks to prevent immigration enforcement near schools, arguing it disrupts education and causes fear.

The story of 5-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos garnered worldwide headlines after ICE agents allegedly used the child as "bait" after school in an effort to detain his father, Liam Conejo Ramos, in Columbia Heights. The two were sent to an immigration detention center in Texas, but have since returned to Minnesota. 

The lawsuit claims that since December 2025, federal enforcement actions have increased around Minnesota schools, leading to school closures and remote e-learning. A full list of Minnesota school districts making adjustments for students can be found here.

The lawsuit alleges that the increased enforcement efforts violate federal law and constitutional protections, creating "a chilling effect that extends beyond immigrant families," and ultimately seeking to bar immigration operations near Minnesota's schools.

Plaintiffs in the legal action include Education Minnesota, Duluth Public Schools and Fridley Public Schools.

A full copy of the lawsuit can be found below:

Impact on schools, communities

What they're saying:

Monica Byron is the President of Education Minnesota, and a teacher in Richfield Public Schools currently on leave. She spoke at a Wednesday afternoon news conference about the lawsuit. She said the code of ethics for Minnesota educators states, "A teacher shall make reasonable effort to protect the student from conditions harmful to health and safety."

"Although it pains me to say this, one of the greatest threats to the health and safety of Minnesota’s school-age children right now are the ICE and Border Patrol agents in our state. The ICE present at and near Minnesota schools is causing lockdowns, emptying schools and traumatizing children every day," Byron said. "Spraying chemical irritants at high school students during dismissal time, questioning students about their immigration status for no clear reason other than their skin color, and using a 5-year-old returning home from preschool as bait to try to arrest his parents. These actions are not only shocking, they’re unlawful. They’re disrupting the safe spaces educators create for our students. When there are masked, armed agents outside of classroom windows, that leaves our students and educators traumatized. Thousand of students have missed weeks of school, and their absences leave a hole in our communities. We’re all exhausted."

‘This feels like another pandemic’ 

Duluth Superintendent speaks:

Duluth Schools Superintendent John Magas spoke at Wednesday afternoon's news conference. He said they have more than two dozen families who are living in fear. Some families have self-deported, others are keeping children home. He has staff members who are carrying passports at all times to avoid wrongful detention.

"This is not an environment for learning that any of us accept. What we’re hearing from people is this feels like another pandemic," Magas said.

Short-lived glimmer of hope

The backstory:

Fridley Schools Superintendent Dr. Brenda Lewis said she had a "glimmer of hope" Wednesday morning when Border Czar Tom Homan announced 700 federal agents were leaving Minnesota immediately. She said that lasted about three minutes. Hundreds of Fridley students showed up to school with six ICE vehicles in the parking lot and were circling the school. A mother and child lawfully in the U.S. were being followed by two ICE vehicles, Lewis says, for no reason. A Fridley principal got yelled at, screamed at, mocked video'd and photographed by four ICE agents.

She says a Fridley School Board member was followed by ICE agents while taking her 3-year-old daughter to day care. 

"This is clear and present terror.  I could care less right now about politics, we need this to stop and we need this to stop immediately," Lewis said.

ICE impacting Columbia Heights

Local perspective:

Kristin Sinicariello is a high school social studies teacher and girls soccer coach in Columbia Heights. She says while Ramos is free, four other students remain in ICE custody and detention. She says Operation Metro Surge has caused monumental destruction and disruption to student learning and the school community.

Dozens of students have parents who have been detained, and about 300 students, or a quarter of the student body, have opted to stay home and learn online due to ICE fears. She said her soccer team had to forfeit a recent game because too many of her players were afraid to leave home. Monday, seven ICE vehicles were loitering in a school parking lot at 6 a.m. 

"ICE operations near schools must end now," Sinicariello said.

The other side:

DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin provided the following statement to FOX 9:

"ICE is not going to schools to arrest children — we are protecting children. Criminals are no longer able to hide in America’s schools to avoid arrest. The Trump Administration will not tie the hands of our brave law enforcement and instead trust them to use common sense. If a dangerous illegal alien felon were to flee into a school, or a child sex offender is working as an employee, there may be a situation where an arrest is made to protect public safety. But this has not happened."

ImmigrationEducationCrime and Public SafetyMinneapolisMinneapolis ICE shooting