Schools in Minnesota have reinstated COVID-era online learning protocols due to an increase in ICE activity in the state.
Many students are afraid to go to school due to the threat of parents and caregivers being detained by ICE agents during pickup and drop-off. In an attempt to keep students on track academically, school districts in Saint Paul, Minneapolis, Richfield, and others have announced that they will be providing online learning options as many students stop attending in-person classes. In fact, a charter school in Richfield has announced that it will be going completely remote as attendance rates plummet.
Educators and school district officials have been expressing concerns about the impact of ICE’s presence on students. They are hoping to limit the long term affects of missed classes and mitigate the potential of students dropping out. Many students are afraid to leave their homes, so this shift to online learning aims to address those students’ fears. It is unknown how long these online classes will last.
Now, back in September 2025, the Department of Homeland Security stated publicly that ICE agents do not target schools. Their actions in Minnesota have shown that to be a lie.
Earlier this month, ICE agents clashed with students and staff at Roosevelt High School in South Minneapolis. Students leaving the school at the end of the day were met with ICE agents on school grounds. Students immediately began protesting the ICE agents’ presence, and the confrontation escalated as ICE agents tackled multiple people and deployed pepper spray against students and staff members.
Additionally, a parent was detained by ICE agents while waiting at a stop for the school bus with their child, a student of the Robbinsdale school district. In response to these events, parents and community members have begun to stand guard outside schools to discourage ICE from conducting any activity in those areas.
While the transition to online learning provides a solution to students who fear coming to school, prolonged virtual learning does have negative effects on some, as seen when schools moved to online learning during the COVID lockdowns. Online learning works for some students, but it also leads to a decrease in mental health for others, due to increased feelings of isolation and stress. Additionally, some students face difficulties learning in an online setting due to struggles with understanding difficult concepts and issues getting immediate help.
Furthermore, educators and school staff are facing issues with getting the technology needed to conduct online classes into the hands of students. Many are afraid to physically come to the school, so they are unable to pick up items in person. Many are also working to address potential problems with students having access to food, as many students rely on meals from the school.
