In brief
Fridley and Duluth school districts, alongside Education Minnesota, have filed a lawsuit to block a Trump-era immigration policy that empowers enforcement actions near “sensitive locations” like schools. This comes amid concerns about attendance drops caused by fears of immigration raids, particularly after a federal operation led to casualties in Minneapolis. The court is considering whether the districts have the legal standing to challenge the policy.
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Attorneys for two Minnesota school districts and the state’s main teachers union asked a federal judge Wednesday to block a Trump administration change in policy that gave immigration authorities a freer hand to conduct enforcement actions in and near schools. The Department of Homeland Security last year rescinded longstanding nationwide restrictions on immigration enforcement in or near 'sensitive locations' such as schools and school bus stops, churches and hospitals that effectively made them off-limits except in rare circumstances.The Fridley and Duluth school districts, along with the Education Minnesota union, filed their lawsuit in February, coinciding with a period when the Department of Homeland Security had deployed around 3,000 officers into the state for Operation Metro Surge. This enforcement operation led to incidents, including federal agents killing two citizens in Minneapolis earlier this year.Plaintiffs are requesting the court for either a stay or a preliminary injunction that would reinstate previous restrictions. Amanda Cialkowski, attorney for the district and union, expressed uncertainty about how far an eventual ruling might extend, questioning if it would impact jurisdictions outside of Minnesota or apply to other sensitive locations.Teachers nationwide have voiced concerns about how Trump’s immigration crackdown has affected their classrooms, detailing instances of immigrant parents avoiding school due to fears of raids. Court filings in other suits reveal that education and attendance have been disrupted as families stay home or withdraw students from school to avoid possible arrests.Fridley Superintendent Brenda Lewis reported a substantial decline in attendance, attributing it to fears stemming from the new enforcement policies. Her district has experienced a drop of 72 students since December, leading to financial challenges tied to student funding.While Operation Metro Surge has officially ended, Lewis noted that the repercussions of these policies would linger long term. With attendance previously plummeting during peak enforcement, court hearings will determine if school districts have standing to challenge such federal policies impacting education and community welfare.
