Below is an excerpt from an email sent to eductors in Connecticut from the Connecticut Education Association (CEA)  before the latest ICE shooting in Minneapolis. The sentiment is more relevant than ever--regardless of anyone's politics, there are a few things we should all be able to agree on:  supporting public education isn't a partisan issue, and terrorizing children is never ok (under any circumstances): 

​

Recent actions by ICE in Minnesota—including the shooting of a community member, the unjust detention of a Minnesota educator, and the use of pepper spray on students—are unconscionable in a civil society. ICE’s continued presence near schools puts students, educators, and families at serious risk and makes communities less safe. Schools must remain places where students can learn and educators can teach without fear.

​

Beyond the immediate physical danger, ICE activity near schools directly undermines teaching and learning. Schools have been placed on lockdown, districts have been forced to close for days, and classrooms across Minnesota sit partially empty as families keep children home out of fear. These disruptions rob students of learning time and cause lasting emotional harm—especially to our most vulnerable students.

​​

“Educators know that schools must always be places of safety, belonging, and learning—not fear,” says CEA President Kate Dias. “I urge CEA members to stand with our colleagues in Minnesota and send a clear message: ICE has no place in or near our schools. When we stand together across state lines, we show our collective power and our shared commitment to protecting students and educators everywhere.”

 

This is not a partisan issue—it is a moral one. As educators, we share a responsibility to speak out when policies and actions harm students and disrupt learning communities.