NEA Responds to Recent Incident Involving ICE
The activist faction of the nation’s largest teachers’ union conveyed a strong message over the weekend, targeting the Trump administration and immigration authorities, particularly in light of the recent death of an anti-ICE activist.
“From Minneapolis and Charlotte to Chicago and Portland, students, families, and educators are standing together demanding the Trump administration cease its aggression against our communities,” the National Education Association’s Edjustice project stated in its email sent on January 10. With over 3 million members, the Union is making its stance clear.
The subject line of the email read, “ICE is no longer in our schools and communities.” This follows the shooting of 37-year-old Renee Good by an ICE agent, who claimed she accelerated towards them while driving. Reports from the Department of Homeland Security indicate that Good had been pursing ICE agents earlier in the day, at one point blocking their path with her vehicle. When asked to move, she reportedly did not comply, leading to the fatal shooting.
The NEA’s email offered a markedly different portrayal of the situation: “This week’s killing of Renee Nicole Good in Minneapolis, who bravely witnessed the assault of her immigrant neighbor by ICE agents, painfully interrupted months of abuse by federal forces terrorizing our city.” Notably, no one has been charged with murder regarding Good’s case.
Good was part of an activist group called ICE Watch, initially intended as a legal oversight body for ICE operations.
Coincidentally, on the day of Good’s death, a five-mile pursuit by ICE ended abruptly on the lawn of Roosevelt High School in Minneapolis. According to the DHS, the driver they were pursuing was a U.S. citizen who allegedly rammed a vehicle used by ICE.
Once again, the NEA framed the incident in a different light, mentioning that just hours after the shooting, ICE officers nearby deployed tear gas and force on the school grounds, detaining school employees who were acting to ensure student safety.
The Department of Homeland Security provided a different account: “Schools, students, and staff were never the targets, and this situation arose solely due to the suspect’s dangerous actions.” Additionally, DHS highlighted incidents where individuals in the crowd reportedly assaulted law enforcement.
Amid rising tensions, the NEA’s communication accused the “MAGA regime” of endangering them: “kidnapping our loved ones, murdering our neighbors, and attacking our freedom.” The email not only condemned ICE’s actions but also announced upcoming anti-ICE protests across the nation.
In an interesting parallel, a significant human rights crisis is currently unfolding in Iran, where protesters are pushing back against the authoritarian regime of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei, who has held power since 1989.
Protesters, largely driven by dire economic conditions and severe inflation, face a brutal crackdown from the government, which has cut off internet access. Recent reports suggest that approximately 2,000 individuals have been killed, with one protester facing public execution for “waging war against God.”
Despite the scale of the situation in Iran, teachers’ unions have remained largely silent regarding the government’s violent reprisals against demonstrators. The NEA did not directly address inquiries about their provocative rhetoric but reaffirmed their opposition to ICE’s presence in local communities, emphasizing their commitment to the safety of students and families.
“ICE’s presence undermines that mission and puts students, educators, and parents at risk,” the group stated. “From reckless shootings to terrorizing students with unnecessary actions near public schools, it is clear we need to remove ICE from our communities.”
