Minnesota Teachers Union and School Districts Sue to Block Immigration Enforcement at Public Schools
Minnesota’s teachers union and two school districts are taking a stand against immigration enforcement at public schools, filing a lawsuit to block such actions. The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court, argues that immigration enforcement has caused harm to the ability of school districts and educators to provide a safe learning environment and access to educational services.
The plaintiffs, Education Minnesota and Duluth and Fridley public schools, are seeking to stop immigration enforcement at or within 1,000 feet of school property or school bus stops, unless a judicial warrant or exigent circumstances are present. The complaint names the Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and several of the agencies’ national and local leaders.
Response from Department of Homeland Security
In response to the lawsuit, the Department of Homeland Security released a statement from Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin, which read, “ICE is not going to schools to arrest children — we are protecting children. The Trump administration will not tie the hands of our brave law enforcement and instead trusts them to use common sense.” The statement also mentioned that arrests at schools would only occur in situations where public safety is at risk, such as if a dangerous felon were to flee into a school or a child sex offender were working as an employee.
The lawsuit claims that the Department of Homeland Security violated the Administrative Procedures Act when it rescinded its longstanding policy of avoiding schools and bus stops during immigration enforcement. The policy change, which occurred in January 2025, was made without engaging in notice-and-comment rulemaking, as required by federal law.
Impact on Schools and Students
The policy shift has led to school closures, remote learning, and a significant drop in student attendance. According to the complaint, Fridley schools’ attendance rate has dropped nearly one-third, and over 400 families have opted for remote learning, causing teachers to divert time and resources to create new curricula. Duluth schools’ administrators have spent nearly a third of their time planning for immigration activities, resulting in a monthly cost of approximately $573,000.
Monica Byron, the president of Education Minnesota, stated, “Students can’t learn, and educators can’t teach, when there are armed, masked federal agents stationed within view of classroom windows, sometimes for days on end.” Education Minnesota, which represents over 84,000 members, is a key plaintiff in the lawsuit.
The complaint cites 14 enforcement incidents at or near schools, including the high-profile case of Christina Rank, an Inver Grove Heights paraprofessional who was arrested in the school’s parking lot after a car crash involving ICE agents. Other incidents include immigration agents pulling over vans contracted by St. Paul schools and being present in parking lots at Little Canada Elementary School and Roseville Education Center.
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