A group of Senate Democrats reached out to Education Secretary Linda McMahon on Friday, urging the Trump administration to take steps against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations near schools.
Led by Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) and supported by seven colleagues, the letter expresses concerns about ICE’s increasing presence around Chicago Public Schools and other educational facilities, stating that it’s “disrupting education.” This includes both learning environments and school management.
The letter recounts a troubling incident where ICE deployed a tear gas canister just 700 feet from an elementary school during lunch and recess. Another alarming example involved two women being removed from their car by ICE while students were present outside a Chicago school.
“Why was tear gas used? Because of a violent mob,” explained Tricia McLaughlin, a spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), in comments to NBC News. “This isn’t that difficult.”
Concerning the second incident, McLaughlin had previously stated that the women were “driving recklessly,” weaving in and out of lanes and endangering other drivers. Law enforcement initiated contact after the vehicle came to a sudden halt near the school, but the occupants did not comply with the officers’ requests.
The letter from the Democrats requests that ICE conduct operations at least 1,000 feet away from school grounds.
“Federal agents are using unreasonable and excessive force in the Chicago area, showing a concerning disregard for the health and safety of children,” the letter asserts. It points out that ICE’s operations often appear unfocused and incendiary, especially in proximity to schools.
The Hill has reached out for comments from the Department of Education.
Democrats have called on McMahon to encourage Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who oversees ICE, to reintroduce restrictions on enforcement near schools.
Early in the Trump administration, limitations on ICE operations within schools and places of worship were removed, but there have been no reports of ICE actually entering classrooms.
“Given DHS’s inability to safeguard American students, we urge our colleague, Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, to reinstate federal immigration enforcement restrictions in and around educational settings,” the Democrats concluded.
