DHS says immigration enforcement agents aren't 'raiding' schools, arrests will be 'extremely rare'

The Department of Homeland Security said Tuesday that immigration agents will enter schools to make arrests in only “extremely rare” circumstances and not to target children, as the department sought to push back on a rash of news reports suggesting some kids are avoiding their classrooms.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the deportation agency, earlier this year loosened rules on where officers can make arrests, giving them more freedom to be near — or in some cases at — courthouses, clinics, churches and schools.

With children returning for a new academic year, news coverage has been awash in stories of school systems saying they have seen a drop in attendance or detailing steps they’re taking to confront ICE officers should they show up.

But Homeland Security said there’s no cause for the outrage.

“ICE does not raid schools,” the department said. “The facts are DHS’s directive allowing ICE to go into schools gives our law enforcement the ability to do their jobs. Our agents use discretion. Officers would need secondary supervisor approval before any action can be taken in locations such as a school. We expect these to be extremely rare.”

Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin gave examples of cases.

“If a dangerous illegal alien felon were to flee into a school, or a child sex offender is working as an employee, there may be a situation where an arrest is made to protect public safety. But this has not happened,” Ms. McLaughlin said.

She blamed the media for “attempting to create a climate of fear.” and called the news coverage a “smear” against law enforcement. She said it’s helping fuel a growing resistance to ICE that’s led to a surge in reported assaults on officers.

“ICE is not going to schools to make arrests of children,” Ms. McLaughlin said.

News reports have speculated about a drop in enrollment, expecting children in families with illegal immigrants to avoid class.

Early reports have not borne that out. That’s true even in Los Angeles, which was the epicenter of “mass deportation” immigration enforcement over the last three months.

Los Angeles Unified School District Superintendent Alberto Carvalho told KABC-TV that enrollment numbers are still coming, but so far the average daily attendance “is actually higher than what it was last year, prior to these immigration enforcement actions.”

Still, he said he thinks that will change.

“I do believe that we will see that a numbers of families, for a whole host of reasons, have left our community,” Mr. Carvalho told the station.

Where and how ICE can carry out its duties has been the subject of heated debate.

The agency has long had a policy attempting to limit enforcement in “sensitive” locations, and regularly suspends enforcement in areas facing natural disasters to allow locals to get life-saving assistance without fear of repercussions.

Under the Biden administration, then-Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas expanded the policy, virtually banning arrests at medical facilities, schools and day care centers; buildings associated with religion; government buildings where services are provided to the public; and parks and school bus stops where children might be found.

Mr. Mayorkas also restricted arrests near those locations.

The Washington Times plotted the locations on a map of the District of Columbia and found most of the national capital fell under the new restrictions, severely limiting ICE’s ability to make at-large arrests.

Upon taking office, the Trump administration lifted the Mayorkas rules, saying it would leave enforcement to officers’ discretion.