Minnesota School Officials Respond to ICE Detaining a 5-Year-Old

ICE Encounter with a Child and Father

• 🎯 ICE agents approached a father and his 5-year-old son in their driveway, leading to the child's detention.
• 🗣️ A witness stated that there were ample opportunities to safely hand the child off to other adults present, including the mother and another resident of the home.
• ⚠️ The father reportedly yelled, "Please do not open the door. Don't open the door," as depicted in a video of the child at the door with an ICE agent looming.
• 🚫 School officials dispute claims that the father was an "illegal alien" and that he ran, stating the family came legally and are pursuing legal pathways.

School District's Experience with ICE

• 🏫 Columbia Heights Public School District has experienced four student detentions by ICE in recent weeks.
• 🚪 In one instance, agents allegedly pushed their way into an apartment after a 17-year-old student cracked open the door, apprehending the child and others present.
• 🏠 Another incident involved agents tearing down the door of a home with five children.

Communication and Facility Information

• 📞 School officials have had indirect contact with the detained boy and father, attempting to set up calls with the Dilly facility.
• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 It is believed that the father and son are being held together at the Dilly facility, which is described as a family holding center.
• 📰 DHS has responded forcefully online to reports, calling journalists and officials liars, but school officials have not seen these specific responses.
• 📹 Officials suggest that ICE agents' body camera footage could provide a clearer account of the events.