It’s bad enough that so many immigrant parents across the U.S. have to fear being ripped away from their children and families. But what’s even worse is the fear that actual children are feeling during these difficult and chaotic times. You can’t imagine what a child is going through as they fear ICE dismantling their family. The sad reality is that so many children are being left without a mother or father. Now, Minnesota schools are trying to protect children in the midst of ICE raids throughout the state. It’s crazy that it’s come to this.
Sandy (@hovacado.civic) posted a TikTok video about Minnesota school districts’ efforts to warn parents about ICE. As she says, she’s “angry right now because the St. Paul, Minneapolis, Roseville etc. school districts are being affected.” As Sandy says, her 12-year-old was sent home with instructions about what to do if ICE comes for your family. This emergency plan is apparently now a part of everybody’s daily life. It’s so sad that we need to experience that.
Sandy pauses with a frustrated look on her face. Then, she says, “If this does not anger you, if this does not break your heart, you’re part of the [expletive] problem.” Sandy explains that no child should ever have to feel this fear. They should never have to deal with what so many families face today. Sandy goes on to say, “They’re already sitting there having to do school shooting drills, and now they have to be wary of ICE? How heartbreaking is that?”
Sandy continues by telling TikTokers with a big platform to “do something” instead of just sitting there. It’s more important now than ever to use their voice. There’s no reason why children need to face this solemn and scary reality when what we’ve told them time and time again is that it is a free country. It’s disheartening, and something needs to change, and quickly.
One commenter, a schoolchild, shared, “They were around my school around dismissal and teachers had to make sure we got on the bus.” She shared an article from her school in Minnesota, stating that “ICE vehicles were present at dismissal” and staff monitored the safety of the students to ensure no children were taken. It’s great to see that schools are looking out for the safety of these children. But why is it happening in the first place? Sandy, and so many others, have every right to be infuriated by this news.
