Schools as Battlegrounds: Minnesota Districts Sue to Halt Federal Immigration Enforcement at Education Sites

August 24, 2026 5 Min Read

By Investigative Desk

A coalition of Minnesota school districts and the state’s largest teachers union, Education Minnesota, filed a landmark lawsuit in U.S. District Court this Wednesday, challenging the federal government’s aggressive shift in immigration enforcement. The litigation demands the immediate reinstatement of a decades-old policy that designated schools, churches, and medical facilities as “sensitive locations,” effectively barring immigration agents from conducting enforcement activities on or near these sites.

The legal challenge comes in the wake of a dramatic policy reversal enacted on January 20, 2025—the day of President Donald Trump’s second inauguration—which stripped away longstanding protections for educational institutions. The lawsuit names Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem, the department itself, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) as primary defendants.

The Legal and Historical Context

For over three decades, federal immigration policy was governed by an unwritten—and later formalized—understanding that schools were off-limits to enforcement actions. From 1993 until early 2025, immigration agents were required to seek advance, written approval if they believed "exceptional circumstances" necessitated an enforcement action at a sensitive location. School bus stops were explicitly categorized as protected zones.

In 2021, the Biden administration’s DHS Secretary, Alejandro Mayorkas, issued a memorandum reaffirming this "bedrock principle," asserting that the agency could fulfill its mission without denying children access to their education or families access to their places of worship.

The current administration, however, has abandoned this restraint. In a press release issued shortly after the January 2025 repeal, DHS officials stated, "Criminals will no longer be able to hide in America’s schools and churches to avoid arrest. The Trump Administration will not tie the hands of our brave law enforcement, and instead trusts them to use common sense."

A Chronology of Escalation

The atmosphere within Minnesota’s education system has shifted from one of academic instruction to one of emergency crisis management over the past two months.

January 20, 2025: The federal “sensitive locations” policy is formally rescinded by the Trump administration.
Early January 2026: Reports of increased ICE presence near Minnesota school zones proliferate. Superintendent John Magas of Duluth Public Schools notes that the district has spent half of its administrative capacity planning security responses to the surge.
Late January 2026: A mother from Minneapolis, Renee Good, is killed during an ICE operation, sparking statewide outrage and deepening fears within immigrant communities.
February 1, 2026: Five-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos, whose image in a knit bunny hat went viral during his abduction, is released from a Texas detention center and returned to his home in Columbia Heights, Minnesota, following intervention by Rep. Joaquin Castro.
February 2, 2026: Despite the high-profile release of young Liam, ICE agents are reported to be stationed in the parking lot of a Columbia Heights school. Superintendent Zena Stenvik reports a bomb threat shortly thereafter, further destabilizing the district.
February 4, 2026: A coalition of school districts, led by Fridley and Duluth, files a federal lawsuit arguing that the current enforcement tactics violate the Administrative Procedure Act and constitutional protections.

Supporting Data: The Cost of Fear

The human and financial toll of the current enforcement climate is extensive. In districts across the Twin Cities and beyond, school attendance has plummeted as parents keep their children home, fearing that school buses or building entrances have become sites for detention.

In Rochester, Minnesota, Superintendent Kent Pekel reported that January absenteeism was 42% higher than in December. Among English learner services students, the rate spiked by 116%, while among Latino students, the rate rose by 108%. Out of a student body of 15,500, over 200 families pivoted to the district’s online school in a single month to ensure their children’s safety.

The financial burden is equally taxing. Duluth Public Schools has already documented over $500,000 in staff time and resources diverted to security planning. Because Minnesota’s school funding formula is tied to daily attendance numbers, the mass absenteeism is expected to trigger a significant revenue shortfall for districts already struggling to provide basic services.

“We know students can’t learn unless they feel safe,” Superintendent Magas told The 74. “Right now, there is a profound sense of insecurity, especially among our historically underserved students, based on what we are seeing in our neighborhoods and at our school sites.”

Official Responses and Administrative Stance

The federal government remains steadfast in its approach. At a press conference in Nogales, Arizona, on the same day the lawsuit was filed, ICE Director Todd Lyons defended the administration’s actions. "We didn’t need any new laws," Lyons stated. "We just need the ability to enforce the ones we have."

Meanwhile, White House border czar Tom Homan has attempted to project a narrative of de-escalation, claiming that 700 agents are slated to leave Minnesota soon. However, education leaders and local advocates remain skeptical. They point out that even with the promised reduction, the remaining force will still exceed the 2,000 agents present when Renee Good was killed.

DHS Secretary Kristi Noem has not issued a personal response to the lawsuit, and the department has declined to comment on the specific allegations of agents "tackling and tear-gassing" staff or following school board members—claims documented in the legal complaint.

Implications for Public Education

The implications of the litigation are profound. If the plaintiffs succeed, it would re-establish a national standard that prioritizes the sanctity of the classroom over federal immigration enforcement. If the suit fails, schools may become permanent fixtures in the federal enforcement landscape, fundamentally altering the relationship between public education and the community.

The lawsuit highlights specific instances of disruption:

Staff and Students: The complaint details agents occupying school parking lots, detaining staff, and, in some cases, using physical force near school facilities.
Transportation: Agents have been reported pulling over school vans and monitoring bus stops, effectively criminalizing the act of transporting children to school.
Family Instability: The disappearance of students from classrooms is not merely an attendance issue; it represents a breakdown in the social contract between the state and the immigrant families who contribute to the cultural and economic fabric of Minnesota.

For administrators like Kent Pekel of Rochester, the situation remains a precarious balancing act. While he notes that his district has not yet been the site of a direct raid, he is acutely aware of how quickly the situation could devolve. "One incident could wipe that out," he says, referring to the fragile return of students to the classroom.

As the case moves through the U.S. District Court, the eyes of the nation are on Minnesota. The outcome will likely determine whether schools remain a sanctuary for the pursuit of knowledge or if they will continue to serve as high-stakes terrain for federal immigration policy. For now, educators, parents, and students are left to navigate an environment where, as many have stated, "none of this is normal."

The 74 contributed reporting to this story. Sign up for free newsletters from The 74 to get more updates on education policy and its impacts.