Last month, officials from the Parent Teacher Association (PTA) in one of the richest school districts in the U.S. held a training session to guide families on how to handle operations by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
This virtual session in Montgomery County, Maryland, took place on January 20 and was led by City Councilwoman Christine Mink. The event was titled “ICE Response and Organizing Tools for PTAs, Parents, and Guardians.”
Reports indicate that Mink has hosted several similar gatherings aimed at helping schools prepare with “tools to slow down ICE and protect each other.” The training included strategies to help parents escort students whose families might be undocumented, encouraged community members to observe ICE activities during school drop-offs and pick-ups, and offered support methods for families facing ICE arrests.
Mink shared a detailed “rapid response” guide that she had released just days prior. One of her slides emphasized how “white allies” can lend support to marginalized communities, suggesting that using a whistle against ICE could be counterproductive, as it may reinforce existing power dynamics.
She expressed concern that white individuals might use authority as a means to feel safe during emergencies. “When we question the decisions of those affected, we risk centering our own comfort rather than those impacted,” the slide noted.
She further explained that what may feel empowering to some can be distressing to others, especially considering the persistent noise pollution faced by Black and brown communities due to various forms of systemic discrimination.
Mink’s slide deck also touched on how intersectional traits like gender, sexuality, and education intersect with societal power and marginalization.
A clarification from the Department of Homeland Security last September stated that contrary to claims from some sanctuary advocates, “ICE does not conduct school enforcement or ‘raids.’
This presentation came amid a surge of anti-ICE activism, where immigrant-led organizations often clashed with predominantly white “rapid response” groups over the appropriateness of using whistles during incidents involving migrants.
Critiques have surfaced following the January 20 meeting, with some suggesting that PTAs should focus more on academic concerns rather than political activism. Kendall Teets, an investigative reporter with Defending Education, emphasized that PTAs ought to concentrate on their primary mission—supporting students—rather than engaging in divisive political discourse.
The Montgomery County PTA Council promoted the online event through social media, and various organizations including teacher unions and immigrant advocacy groups supported the session, as shown by the online registration. Local PTAs, such as those from Gaithersburg Middle School, Laytonsville Elementary School, and Steadwick Elementary School, also shared the announcement on their official channels.
