Fearing for their children's safety, concerned parents and neighbors have taken matters into their own hands in Minneapolis. The city has seen a significant surge in federal immigration personnel, sparking fears of detention and deportation among non-citizens attending schools.
Volunteers, including parents, have begun patrolling streets around elementary and high schools using walkie-talkies, Signal group chats, and whistles to alert families and school staff of potential ICE activities. The informal patrols aim to provide a sense of security for those who may be fearful of encountering immigration enforcement officers while going about their daily lives.
In response to the heightened enforcement, Minneapolis Public Schools has announced that it will offer online classes until February 12, while St. Paul Public Schools plans to close several days next week to prepare. Meanwhile, U.S. Border Patrol agents have clashed with teachers and protesters at local schools, leading to one educator's detention and release.
The community's response mirrors similar efforts in other Democratic-run cities where stepped-up immigration enforcement has been reported. Volunteers in Chicago and Los Angeles have also deployed patrols to deter ICE activities.
Parents express concern over their children's safety as they navigate the increased presence of law enforcement and immigration officials. Desires say her son has repeatedly asked about law enforcement sightings near his school, highlighting the fear and confusion among young students.
Despite the risks, many community members are stepping forward to provide support and protection for one another. Parents like Greg have reported a sense of solidarity among neighbors, with everyone waving and saying "thank you" as they look out for each other.
The surge in immigration enforcement has left some feeling a sense of déjà vu, echoing past traumas such as the murder of George Floyd in 2020. Volunteers like Joe Dirkswager feel compelled to take action, using their presence on the streets to deter ICE agents and provide reassurance to those around them.
While some officials downplay concerns about immigration enforcement at schools, parents and community members are determined to protect themselves and their loved ones from what they see as an increasingly aggressive and intimidating policing strategy.
Volunteers, including parents, have begun patrolling streets around elementary and high schools using walkie-talkies, Signal group chats, and whistles to alert families and school staff of potential ICE activities. The informal patrols aim to provide a sense of security for those who may be fearful of encountering immigration enforcement officers while going about their daily lives.
In response to the heightened enforcement, Minneapolis Public Schools has announced that it will offer online classes until February 12, while St. Paul Public Schools plans to close several days next week to prepare. Meanwhile, U.S. Border Patrol agents have clashed with teachers and protesters at local schools, leading to one educator's detention and release.
The community's response mirrors similar efforts in other Democratic-run cities where stepped-up immigration enforcement has been reported. Volunteers in Chicago and Los Angeles have also deployed patrols to deter ICE activities.
Parents express concern over their children's safety as they navigate the increased presence of law enforcement and immigration officials. Desires say her son has repeatedly asked about law enforcement sightings near his school, highlighting the fear and confusion among young students.
Despite the risks, many community members are stepping forward to provide support and protection for one another. Parents like Greg have reported a sense of solidarity among neighbors, with everyone waving and saying "thank you" as they look out for each other.
The surge in immigration enforcement has left some feeling a sense of déjà vu, echoing past traumas such as the murder of George Floyd in 2020. Volunteers like Joe Dirkswager feel compelled to take action, using their presence on the streets to deter ICE agents and provide reassurance to those around them.
While some officials downplay concerns about immigration enforcement at schools, parents and community members are determined to protect themselves and their loved ones from what they see as an increasingly aggressive and intimidating policing strategy.
. It's understandable that parents are worried about their kids' safety when there's a surge in immigration enforcement at schools. But at the same time, it's concerning to see people patrolling streets with walkie-talkies and whistles – it sounds like a scene from a movie 
! What's even more alarming is that U.S. Border Patrol agents are clashing with teachers and protesters... one educator was detained?! 
. And what about the kids? They're the ones who are getting caught in the middle, right? 
. I mean, who wouldn't want a few extra pairs of eyes keeping them safe while they're just trying to send their kids off to school? It's not like the authorities are doing anything wrong here... or so it seems 
. People need to feel comfortable knowing that someone is looking out for them, even if it's just some random parent with a walkie-talkie 
. I don't get why people are making such a big deal about this. If it means keeping the streets safer, then I'm all for it 
. Can we please just focus on supporting these parents and volunteers instead of demonizing them? 
. Parents are basically creating their own militia to "protect" their kids, but really it's just making things more tense and potentially violent 
. I mean, who needs a police patrol when you've got volunteers with walkie-talkies and whistles trying to intimidate ICE agents? 
This is just a recipe for disaster.
. Meanwhile, ICE is still out there enforcing their policies with an iron fist 
. It's like, come on guys, can't we have a nuanced conversation about this without resorting to vigilantism? 
parents just want to keep their kids safe, you know? 
i think what's really disturbing is how some ppl are gonna downplay this and say its not a big deal, but newsflash, it is a huge deal for these families. 
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, making them feel like they're living in a war zone. Can't believe we're resorting to community patrols because of people's jobs 
. What happened to trust? We need more than just 'online classes' or 'closed schools' – we need real support and protection for our kids 
. It's not about immigration enforcement, it's about keeping our children safe from harm 
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ICE is stepping up their game in Minneapolis, but I'm low-key worried about the impact on families 
are wondering if they'll be seen as a "problem" by law enforcement. We need more support for our communities 
the whole thing feels like a mess, with ppl on both sides getting all worked up. i feel bad for the kids who are just trying to learn but also can't even walk to school without worrying about being stopped by ICE agents 
its cool to see people comin together like that, even if it means breakin a few rules. gotta wonder what's goin on behind the scenes tho 
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It's also worrying that some schools are opting out of in-person classes altogether, which could exacerbate the issue and create more isolation among students 
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I'm all for solidarity and support, but we gotta be careful not to escalate things further. Can't we find a way to make schools feel safe without resorting to vigilante-style policing? 
I get it tho, kids shouldnt have to worry about ICE agents at school 
my cousin has a niece in that school and shes literally too scared to go outside 'cause she thinks those agents might be lurking around 
its not just the parents who are worried tho, teachers are getting involved too 
what do u think? Should the gov keep stepping up immigration enforcement or should they dial it back a notch? 
. I'm not sure what the solution is, but we need to find a way to make schools feel safe again.
. I mean, think about it, parents are taking matters into their own hands because the government can't be trusted to keep their kids safe 
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. This is exactly why we need a more progressive approach to governance – we can't just keep reacting to these crises with half-measures 
, using their skills and resources to protect each other. and the fact that they're not just stopping at patrols - they're also advocating for policy changes and pushing for more support from officials? that's some serious activism