ALERT: ICE Detains Parents at School Bus Stops as Classes Begin

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents detained several undocumented parents Tuesday at school bus stops in Danbury, Connecticut. The operation coincided with the first day of school in several states across the country, leaving some children without their parents at the end of the school day.

Connecticut Democratic Senator Chris Murphy denounced the operation on social media. According to his account, agents waited for children to board the bus before arresting their parents.

Immigration raids mark the return to school

Danbury Mayor Roberto Alves, son of undocumented immigrants, released a video with instructions about citizens’ rights. Alves lamented that the first day of school, which should be filled with backpacks and smiles, became a source of fear for migrant families.

«There will be children today who cannot find their parents when they leave school and they need our help,» said Alves. The mayor also alleged that agents used racial profiling during the arrests.

Dozens of people were detained this week in Danbury. Not all were parents of students, but fear spread throughout the city’s Hispanic community.

Legal framework: what protects and what does not protect families

ICE has always denied conducting operations inside educational facilities. However, videos of arrests near schools circulated during last school year and bred distrust among migrant families.

For years, schools, churches, and courthouses were considered «sensitive» zones, protected from immigration operations under policies from previous administrations. President Donald Trump eliminated that protection upon his return to the White House.

Currently, there is no federal law preventing ICE from operating near schools or bus stops. Therefore, some states have created their own legal barriers to protect undocumented families within their borders.

Hispanic student enrollment drops in Maryland

In Maryland, where Hispanics exceed 23% of elementary and secondary school enrollment, Hispanic student enrollment fell for the first time in years. Enrollments dropped from 211,000 last year to 209,500 this school year.

In Montgomery County, where Hispanic students are the majority group, Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) acknowledged the impact of immigration fear. Enrollment fell from over 159,000 students to just over 150,000, according to estimates from the school administration itself.

MCPS assured that it does not request information about immigration status during school enrollment. The agency stated that it protects student privacy as required by federal law.

Massachusetts fortifies its schools against ICE

Massachusetts Democratic Governor Maura Healey signed the Protect Act this month. The law prohibits the presence of federal immigration agents in schools, churches, and courthouses throughout the state.

Healey also published a 16-page manual with instructions for schools and daycare facilities. The document recommends reviewing school transportation contracts and coordinating protocols with bus companies in the event of police activity near stops.

«As families prepare for the new school year, every child should feel safe walking into their classroom,» Healey stated in a press release.

A New Jersey court document revealed another similar incident that occurred earlier this year. Four ICE vehicles passed by a stopped school bus with emergency lights flashing, then proceeded to an apartment complex where elementary school children were waiting for another bus. The children ran away when they saw the vehicles.

The human impact behind the numbers

Vanessa Cárdenas, executive director of the pro-immigrant organization America’s Voice, described the effect of these operations on children. «Children who should be thinking about homework and recess live in fear of losing one of their parents,» she stated.

Cárdenas added that the damage is reflected in empty desks and declining school enrollment. According to the activist, a generation of Hispanic children now associates school with fear instead of safety.

Boycott of Target over ICE stance

The American Federation of Teachers (AFT), with nearly two million members, launched a boycott campaign against Target stores. The initiative emerged after the company refused to condemn ICE operations in Minnesota earlier this year.

In those operations, U.S. citizens Renée Good and Alex Pretti were killed by immigration agents. Target stated in February that it does not maintain collaboration agreements with ICE, although several people were arrested inside its stores.

What can families do now?

Immigration rights organizations recommend that families learn their rights before any encounter with immigration agents. No parent is obligated to open their home’s door without an order signed by a judge.

Families can also prepare a childcare plan in case of detention, with emergency contacts and legal documents ready. Local organizations in Connecticut, Maryland, and Massachusetts offer free legal advice for those who need it.