Home / Education / ICE Promises Cautious Approach to School Visits Amid Safety Concerns
ICE Promises Cautious Approach to School Visits Amid Safety Concerns
22 Aug
Summary
- ICE director says agency won't visit schools on first day, but may do so later
- ICE may need to check on unaccompanied minors or respond to emergencies
- Concerns raised about ICE activity leading to increased student absences
According to the acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the agency does not plan to immediately visit schools when classes resume in Washington, D.C., on Monday. However, Todd Lyons stated that ICE may need to come onto school campuses in the future under special circumstances, such as to check on the welfare of unaccompanied minors or respond to exigent situations.
Lyons emphasized that ICE's priority is to locate and reunite unaccompanied children with their parents, and the agency may need to visit schools if that is the last known address for a child. He also acknowledged that there have been reports of U.S. citizens being mistakenly arrested by ICE, which the agency is working to address through training.
The news comes as educators in California have raised concerns about the impact of ICE activity near schools. Research has shown a 22% increase in student absences in California's Central Valley last spring amid ICE operations, particularly among younger students. School districts across the country have also reported an increase in absenteeism and anxiety among students following the rescission of ICE's sensitive location policy, which had limited enforcement actions around schools.
Despite the assurances from ICE's director, the prospect of the agency's presence on school campuses continues to raise concerns among parents and educators about the potential disruption to students' education and well-being.
