NEA President Becky Pringle addresses a Sunrise Movement political gathering

Becky Pringle to Speak at Virtual Event on Immigration Enforcement

Becky Pringle, the president of the National Education Association (NEA), is set to address a virtual event on Wednesday called “Roadmap to Political Revolution,” hosted by the Sunrise Movement. This gathering will focus on the topic of immigration enforcement that occurred during the Trump administration.

“It’s time for us to dream and organize on a scale similar to what Trump and wealthy elites are doing,” she remarked. “We want to break everything down in 2026,” as stated in the event description.

Joining her will be Congressman Ro Khanna from California and Al Shiny Adjei, who leads the Sunrise Movement. Additionally, a phone bank will be available to support Kat Abu-Ghazaleh, a Democrat running for the Illinois House of Representatives.

The event intends to showcase how leaders in Minneapolis are working against ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) presence in schools and provide strategies for others to do the same, regardless of their location.

The Sunrise Movement is known for its progressive stances, advocating for policies that would dismantle fossil fuel dependence, invest in marginalized communities, and create well-paying union jobs. Central to their agenda is the Green New Deal, which includes efforts to combat climate change and promote economic justice.

Recent events, particularly the shooting death of Renee Nicole Good by ICE agents in Minneapolis, have raised significant concerns among educators and officials about the presence of ICE in educational settings.

In response, unions, including the NEA and the American Federation of Teachers, have made calls for ICE to stay away from schools. Pringle noted, “This is why NEA members are fighting: ICE must be removed from our schools and communities immediately,” in a recent post on social media.

The NEA, founded in 1906, was the first labor union granted a federal charter by Congress to improve educational practices. However, some critics argue that the NEA has increasingly strayed from its core mission, becoming heavily involved in partisan politics.

In light of these discussions, legislation has been proposed to repeal the NEA’s federal charter, citing concerns about its political activism. Pringle, who represents around 3 million members, has faced criticism regarding her support for various policies under the Trump administration as well as her role in the upcoming elections.