The Trump administration faces yet another lawsuit in connection with its policy allowing immigration enforcement operations at sensitive locations such as churches, hospitals and schools.
A coalition of Minnesota educators and school districts filed federal litigation Feb. 4 to prevent the Department of Homeland Security and Immigrations and Customs Enforcement from conducting raids on or near public school properties.
The suit contends the federal government’s targeting of Minnesota for massive anti-immigrant efforts has spread uncertainty and fear throughout the state’s school systems.
“As a result, parents, children and teachers, regardless of immigration status, reasonably fear going to school. School districts and teachers across Minnesota have reported significant reductions in attendance rates since the onset of ‘Operation Metro Surge,’” according to the lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota.
“Children and teachers, regardless of immigration status, reasonably fear going to school.”
“Defendants’ actions have caused direct and irreparable harm to the abilities of school districts and educators to fulfill their functions — to educate children and to provide access to educational services and a safe learning environment.”
DHS opened itself up to litigation with a January 2025 memorandum announcing an end to longstanding U.S. policy exempting “sensitive locations” from raids by immigration authorities.
“Criminals will no longer be able to hide in America’s schools and churches to avoid arrest,” the memo stated without citing proof criminals have hidden in schools or churches. “The Trump administration will not tie the hands of our brave law enforcement and instead trusts them to use common sense.”
It wasn’t long before the lawsuits started pouring in, mostly from faith-based organizations concerned about the safety and sanctity of their sanctuaries and campuses.
Among the first was a lawsuit filed by several Quaker meetings and later joined by the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship and the Sikh Temple of Sacramento. Another was filed by a coalition of religious organizations including the Alliance of Baptists and American Baptist Churches USA.
Plaintiffs in both those cases are represented by Democracy Forward, as are Fridley Public Schools, Duluth Public Schools and the Education Minnesota teachers’ union in the new lawsuit filed in Minnesota.
Skye Perryman
The chaos President Donald Trump is inflicting on American schoolchildren must be stopped, Democracy Forward President Skye Perryman said. “The Trump-Vance administration’s decision to abandon longstanding protections for schools has injected fear into classrooms, driven families into hiding and thrown entire school communities into chaos. This is unlawful, reckless and legally and morally indefensible.”
“ICE and Border Patrol need to stay away from our schools so students can go there safely each day to learn without fear and so our members can focus on teaching instead of constantly reacting to the shocking and unconstitutional actions of federal agents,” said Monica Byron, president of Education Minnesota’s 84,000-member teachers’ union.
John Magas
Removing protections of sensitive locations had immediate effects in public schools, added John Magas, superintendent of Duluth Public Schools.
“We’ve seen increased anxiety among students, disruptions to attendance and families questioning whether school remains a safe and predictable place for their children,” he said. “Schools function best when families trust that education can happen without fear, and that stability has been undermined.”
The lawsuit provided numerous examples of ICE agents conducting violent operations near bus stops, school buildings, dismissal areas and day care centers: “On Jan. 31, 2026, DHS agents staged their enforcement operations in the parking lot of at least two Fridley Schools buildings. DHS agents have followed Fridley Schools leadership, including its superintendent and school board members.”
Brenda Lewis
Another incident occurred Jan. 7 on the grounds of a high school in Minneapolis, the lawsuit states: “According to school officials, when school was dismissed for the day, DHS agents came onto school property and ‘began tackling people, handcuffed two staff members and released chemical weapons on bystanders.’ According to witnesses and video footage, officers dragged a person on a sidewalk outside of the school, broke out the window of a vehicle, and tear-gassed staff and students.”
Brenda Lewis, superintendent of the Fridley Public Schools, said the danger posed by ICE makes it difficult for her and other educators to do their jobs.
“As superintendent, my responsibility is the safety, dignity and education of every child entrusted to our schools. When immigration enforcement activity occurs near schools, it undermines trust and creates fear that directly interferes with students’ ability to learn and feel safe. Schools depend on stability, and that stability has been disrupted.”