ICE rumors cause hundreds to miss school in Willmar
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Principals in the Willmar Public Schools this week worked to reassure families their schools are safe spaces after student absences spiked Monday amid rumors of a federal immigration operation.
School absences the week before winter break are not uncommon but usually fall below 300 students; 560 students missed school Monday, said Bill Adams, the district superintendent.
The city’s immigrant communities feared a sweep by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents would reach into the schools.
Adams said the district moved quickly to reach out to families and staff to reassure them that “schools continue to be safe places for kids” and that there was no indication that agents would enter school buildings.
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He said the communication seemed to reassure families and that school attendance returned to near-normal levels by Wednesday.
District officials on Friday learned the federal authorities seen in Willmar the prior week were from Homeland Security Investigations, not ICE. Adams said he was told that five or six people in the area were detained over the weekend, and that the Homeland Security Investigations unit was no longer operating in Willmar.
“We did get clarification here today,” Adams said. “They’re no longer here in the area that we’re aware of.”
The Willmar schools this week shared legal resources with families, including so-called red cards in English, Somali and Spanish that outline what rights individuals have during encounters with immigration officials.
They also offered guidance on child care, important documents and ways to locate detained family members if family members are detained.
“It's really just putting people at ease that you know, this is a safe community. We've got safe buildings. We are here to support everybody in our community,” Adams said. “All means all when we say it. All means all.”
