The effect ICE has had on cities across the U.S. is devastating. We’ve been seeing far too many instances of people being ripped from the place they’ve called home for many years for us to feel comfortable about the state of the world. Unfortunately, its impact is also making its way into schools. Recent orders have stated that children may be physically taken from their classrooms as ICE sweeps schools in DC. In another upsetting turn of events, an Oregon school moved away from its permanent location due to ICE’s use of tear gas nearby.
Mianna (@mermaidmianna) posted a TikTok about a recent event involving ICE that should anger anybody. The article she shares boldly states, “Thanks, Trump: ICE just gassed a public school into submission.” Mianna points to the article and says, “This is Civil War.” She goes on to say she’s “crashing out” because how is it that literal schoolchildren are now being affected by ICE? She said that the children’s opportunity to learn has now been “destroyed” and that gives us something very serious to think about as parents. If you think your children couldn’t be affected by Trump’s orders, it may be time to think again.
A news article shared by People further shows us what this Portland, Oregon, school is up against. Apparently, Cottonwood School, a grade school in Portland, is temporarily relocating away from its campus. This is happening because there are nearby violent conditions at a local ICE facility. But it’s not just the presence of protestors and ICE itself making it dangerous for the school to continue at this location. It’s also the fact that ICE continues to use large amounts of tear gas in the neighborhood. Now, neighbors are complaining about the toxic gas making its way into the local community. Cottonwood says that this calls for the “emergency move.”
Commenters were shocked by the reality of this situation. As one commenter pointed out, “They ban phones in school and I fully believe the reason is to hide what goes on. They say it’s for safety and to cause less violence but it’s not.” Another person claims that the school wasn’t ICE’s target and that information like Mianna’s “causes so much fear.” But as another commenter went on to say, “…I wouldn’t say schools are safe places for children in America.”
Another person commented that they experienced what’s happening in Portland firsthand. She said, “As someone who is there and having this happen to then, it’s bad. Some residents have to sleep in gas masks.” That says everything about the state of our current world and what we’re leaving for our children. It’s enough to break your heart.
