No 'schoolyard bullies': Duluth officials, Klobuchar call for ICE to stay out of schools

Minnesota U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, a DFL candidate for governor, joined school leaders in Duluth Friday afternoon to highlight the impact of federal immigration enforcement efforts on the state's schools. 

There hasn't been any ICE activity in or around Duluth schools during the immigration crackdown, which has focused largely on the Twin Cities region. Still, Duluth school district officials say some of their students are afraid to come to school.

"When we're thinking about who are the schoolyard bullies, we weren't expecting them to be federal agents,” Duluth schools superintendent John Magas told reporters.

Magas said he also worries about student mental health and academic decline. "It's feeling like a COVID event,” he added. “And yet, it's a man-made situation."

The Duluth district joined the Fridley school system in a lawsuit this week seeking to keep U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement away from school buildings and bus stops.

Magas said he worried about possible federal retaliation. He acknowledged that other districts did not join the case because of fear of immigration enforcement or the pulling of federal resources but said it was important from a “symbolic standpoint” and might have an impact.

Klobuchar said places like schools and hospitals used to be off limits from immigration enforcement. She said she backs legislation to restore that and is also pushing to include that stipulation in negotiations over a government funding agreement. 

“The number one goal is to get ICE out of Minnesota,” Klobuchar said. “They have committed to do this, and they need to do it now, not a month from now, not two months from now.”

Duluth school leaders say they long for the day when they can return all their focus to educating students. 

“To increasing attendance, improving our school climate, and watching our kids cross the stage in greater numbers when they graduate,” said Tom Tusken, principal of Denfeld High School in Duluth. “This will be more possible when all of our kids come to school with one less thing to worry about.” 

— Dan Kraker, MPR News in Duluth

This story is part of our live coverage. Go to live updates.

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