Families across the Minneapolis‑St. Paul metro area are living through an unprecedented wave of immigration enforcement that has upended daily life, schooling and community safety.
What is happening on the ground?
Since December 2025, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has maintained a visible presence in the Twin Cities, a campaign President Donald Trump has framed as “combating fraud.” The operation has already resulted in two deaths: federal agents shot and killed 37‑year‑old Alex Pretti in Minneapolis, and on Jan. 7 an ICE agent shot and killed 37‑year‑old observer Renee Good.
Children are directly affected. On Jan. 20 ICE agents seized 5‑year‑old Liam Conejo Ramos from his Columbia Heights driveway and used him as bait to detain his father; both were taken to a detention center in Texas before a federal judge ordered their release, and Liam returned to Minnesota on Feb. 1. The district later reported that four more children may still be held in Dilley, Texas.
Schools are feeling the fallout. MPR News notes that in districts with significant Border Patrol presence, as many as 40 percent of students have been absent in recent weeks. At Northport Elementary in Robbinsdale, third‑grade teacher Mike Vestal says roughly half of his 23 students regularly stay home, and the district has shifted to a hybrid “mixed modality” model as of Jan. 14.
Parents like Stacy Swanson are coping by explaining the situation to their children. Swanson, 40, tells her 5‑year‑old daughter Vera that “ICE is not the good guys.” Vera, who loves drawing axolotls, has begun setting traps at home, fearing “bad guys” will accept “mommies and daddies.”
Why it matters
The climate of fear is rippling through classrooms, playgrounds and family routines. Students such as Luca, a 15‑year‑old Roosevelt High School student, describe empty hallways after agents used tear gas on campus—a claim denied by DHS. Adriana Adams, a 16‑year‑old at Johnson High School, says her classes perceive “empty” and that she “just sees kids constantly fearing for their lives.”
Community members have organized volunteer “school patrols” to watch pick‑up and drop‑off times, with parents like Victoria Downey donning high‑visibility vests and carrying whistles. Downey notes her 5‑year‑old son Otis has become more clingy and asks frequent questions about the number of agents on the streets.
Educators worry about long‑term learning outcomes. Vestal points to research showing student performance declined during the COVID‑19 shift to online learning, and he fears a similar drop‑off as families continue to rely on remote instruction.
What could happen next?
Analysts suggest that if ICE presence were to lessen, lingering anxiety could persist for months, keeping attendance low and community patrols active. Conversely, a continued or intensified enforcement effort could trigger further school closures, more detentions of minors, and additional protests, as families and students remain on high alert. The uncertainty surrounding how long agents will remain has families preparing for a prolonged period of vigilance.
Frequently Asked Questions
What incidents have heightened fear among families?
Families cite the shooting death of Alex Pretti by federal agents, the killing of observer Renee Good by an ICE agent, and the detention of 5‑year‑old Liam Conejo Ramos as key events that have intensified anxiety.
How has school attendance been affected?
In districts with notable Border Patrol presence, up to 40 percent of students have been absent, and many classrooms are operating at half capacity with a mix of in‑person and online learners.
What actions are parents taking to protect their children?
Parents are creating home “traps,” organizing neighborhood school patrols, staying vigilant during school pick‑up and drop‑off, and openly discussing the presence of ICE with their children to prepare them for potential encounters.
How do you think this climate of uncertainty will shape the Twin Cities’ children’s future?
