In the wake of President Donald Trump’s executive orders on immigration, mass deportations have moved forward with significant actions by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). On the first full day of his presidency, ICE made 308 arrests, and by January 24, deportation flights began, with hundreds of individuals being flown out of the country. The operations have sparked alarm, especially as ICE’s presence is reported near sensitive locations, including schools and churches—areas previously considered off-limits for immigration enforcement.
A TikTok user, Erika (@erikaslitlife), shared a public service announcement about ICE allegedly targeting students and their families in a high school north of Chicago. The student body at this school is predominantly Hispanic, and according to the report, ICE agents were stopping students, calling their parents, and taking families once they arrived. Erika described this as a particularly alarming level of enforcement, highlighting the fear it sparked in the community.
Many users across the country chimed in with similar concerns, sharing reports of ICE activity in their own regions, including Utah, New Mexico, and Missouri. The decision to revoke the 2011 policy protecting sensitive locations like schools and churches from immigration enforcement has drawn widespread condemnation. Critics argue that this policy change endangers vulnerable families and targets children and communities that are already at risk. Immigrant and Latino political leaders, such as Rep. Nydia Velázquez and Rep. Joaquin Castro, have voiced their strong disapproval, calling the move cruel and questioning the legitimacy of targeting children and people seeking refuge in religious spaces.
As communities brace for further raids, there has been an increased effort to share legal resources and educate families on their rights. Some school districts are taking proactive steps to ensure that students, parents, and staff understand what to do if ICE shows up at their doors, providing crucial information during a time of heightened anxiety.