Teachers Union Condemns ICE and Trump Administration Following Minneapolis Shooting
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. — In the wake of a fatal shooting involving U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, the National Education Association (NEA), the nation’s largest teachers union, issued a sharply worded email to its members accusing the Trump administration of orchestrating a “regime” responsible for the death of a Minneapolis activist. The union’s message, sent on January 10 through its Edjustice project, characterized the killing as a deliberate act of “murder” and called for an end to ICE’s presence in schools and communities nationwide.
The controversy centers on the death of 37-year-old Renee Good, an anti-ICE agitator who was fatally shot last week during a federal enforcement operation in Minneapolis. According to statements from the Immigration and Customs Enforcement, agents were conducting an operation when the incident occurred, though details remain under investigation. The Department of Homeland Security has reported that an ICE agent involved suffered internal bleeding, underscoring the violent nature of the confrontation.
The NEA’s email, titled “ICE Out of Our Schools & Communities Now,” accused the Trump administration of mounting an “assault on our communities” and condemned the agency’s actions as part of a broader pattern of aggressive immigration enforcement. The union’s message resonated with educators, students, and families across multiple cities, including Charlotte, Chicago, and Portland, where protests against ICE have intensified.
Becky Pringle, president of the NEA, has been a vocal critic of federal immigration policies, emphasizing the impact on students and educators. The union, which represents over 3 million members nationwide, has increasingly positioned itself against ICE’s operations in public schools, arguing that such enforcement disrupts educational environments and threatens immigrant communities.
The incident in Minneapolis has sparked broader debates about federal immigration enforcement tactics and civil rights. While the Department of Justice has stated there is currently no basis for a civil rights investigation into the shooting, activists and union leaders continue to demand accountability and policy changes.
Local authorities, including Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, have defended the city’s cooperation with ICE, despite criticism from community groups and elected officials. The tension between federal agencies and local governments reflects a nationwide struggle over immigration enforcement priorities.
As protests continue in Minneapolis and other cities, the NEA’s forceful language underscores the growing polarization surrounding immigration policy and the role of federal agencies in communities. The union’s call to remove ICE from schools highlights concerns about the safety and well-being of immigrant students and their families amid an increasingly contentious political climate.
For ongoing updates on immigration enforcement and related community responses, visit the ICE Newsroom and the Department of Homeland Security News pages.
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