ICE Detains Four Children in Minnesota School District Sweep

The recent detainment of four children by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Columbia Heights, Minnesota, has left school district officials deeply unsettled. This situation has raised significant concerns regarding security within the educational community.

Details of the Detainment

Officials from the Columbia Heights Public School District reported the incidents involving two children detained on a Tuesday. A 17-year-old boy was apprehended in the morning while on his way to school. Later that day, five-year-old Liam Ramos was taken along with his father outside their home after returning from preschool.

Superintendent Zena Stenvik expressed outrage over the targeting of minors. “Why detain a 5-year-old? You can’t tell me that this child is going to be classified as a violent criminal,” she stated. The district’s distress is compounded by the method used during Liam’s detainment; officers reportedly knocked on the door and used the child as a means to verify the presence of other individuals at the residence.

Previous Incidents of Detainment

• Two weeks prior, a 10-year-old girl was taken by ICE agents while going to school with her mother.
• During that incident, the child managed to inform her father about the detainment via phone.

Both children and their families are currently held in a detention facility in Texas. Notably, Ramos’ family is complying with U.S. legal protocols and has an active asylum application without a deportation order.

Call for Public Support

School officials emphasize the need for public involvement in addressing these detainments affecting children statewide. They urge community members to contact congressional representatives to advocate for solutions to this crisis.

“Please help us and other schools to again be a safe place where all belong and all succeed,” Superintendent Stenvik urged the public.

Support Strategies for Affected Families

The Columbia Heights Public School District has sought assistance from an immigration lawyer to explore options for the return of the detained students. Meanwhile, the ongoing presence of ICE around schools is causing anxiety among students, parents, and staff members alike.