WASHINGTON — A Minnesota middle school reportedly informed eighth graders that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents utilize “tricky and violent tactics” to intimidate and detain many “legal immigrants.” This revelation comes from documents shared by a conservative educational organization.
The group, “Defending Education,” released excerpts from a PowerPoint presentation shown to students at Hermantown Middle School, located near Duluth. The lesson, which took place in geography class, included discussions on ICE, suggesting actions taken by agents could be seen as excessive.
One of the slides noted, “Some use tricky and violent tactics. By 2025, 22 people have died in ICE custody. There’s a lack of documentation for tracking their arrests, and they conceal their identities with masks.”
Another slide stated that “ICE has arrested and/or harassed thousands of legal immigrants and 170 U.S. citizens” through various forms of physical engagement.
The teacher encouraged students to view videos depicting “inhumane” conditions in immigrant detention facilities to earn extra credit.
Parents who were concerned shared these materials with conservative groups, but the principal of Hermantown defended the lesson, asserting in a public email that it adhered to Minnesota’s educational standards.
“All of our social studies classes incorporate current events, and this information is aligned with Minnesota Standards in Geography,” stated a school official, whose name was redacted.
It remains uncertain if the PowerPoint included details about arrests of numerous convicted felons residing unlawfully in Minnesota.
Additionally, a slide remarked that the Trump administration is investing “$170 billion in taxpayer money to hire over 20,000 more ICE agents for deportations.”
Another slide raised the question, “Why illegal immigrants? Are you coming here legally?” with an incomplete response suggesting there were “not enough ‘slots.’”
Superintendent Wayne Whitwam emphasized that the intention was to present multiple viewpoints on issues. “[Defending Education] seems to show just one side and does not encompass the pro-ICE video that the same teacher presented,” he explained.
However, the superintendent hesitated to disclose the pro-ICE content, mentioning he didn’t wish to publicize that narrative.
Whitwam did share guidelines from the Minnesota Association of School Administrators, which advise maintaining a focus on “education, not advocacy,” encouraging respect for differing viewpoints, and fostering civil discussions while highlighting the importance of teachers refraining from political discussions in classrooms.
“It’s frustrating that this biased lesson is filled with inaccuracies; it’s concerning for a principal to defend this sort of material,” Nicole Neily, president of Defending Education, stated. She criticized the perceived ideological indoctrination occurring during school hours.
Earlier this month, Tom Homan, who oversees border policies, announced a moratorium on the influx of federal immigration agents into Minnesota following the shootings of two anti-ICE protesters, causing changes within the enforcement framework.
Homan noted that over 4,000 arrests had been made, including recovering unaccompanied migrant children, claiming the current administration has ceased efforts in locating missing minors.
He stressed that some of those taken into custody were undocumented immigrants with serious criminal charges, such as child sexual assault.
The announcements came after escalating tensions between federal authorities and anti-ICE demonstrators in the Twin Cities, reaching a peak following a shooting incident that drew international attention.
The two fatalities, involving individuals linked to an activist group monitoring ICE agents, continue to be investigated at both federal and state levels.
Supporters of ICE Watch assert their role as “legal observers,” maintaining they aim to diminish confrontational encounters with law enforcement.
Conversely, critics within the Republican Party have condemned these groups for obstructive tactics and cited concerning trends related to violence against ICE and law enforcement personnel.
