Stop Terrorizing Children: Congress Must Investigate ICE Now

In the past week, families across Minnesota and beyond have woken up to a terrifying reality: Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents showing up in neighborhoods, schools, and homes where children live and learn. These actions come as the administration insists ICE is focused on “dangerous criminals.” But the people being traumatized are kids.

We are calling on Congress to immediately investigate ICE’s detention and enforcement practices involving children.

Recent reporting has exposed ICE agents detaining a five-year-old boy in Minnesota after allegedly using him as bait to arrest a family member. In Columbia Heights and Minneapolis, ICE activity near schools has sent shockwaves through classrooms, with children crying, refusing to attend school, and fearing their parents won’t be home when they return. In another case, a school staffer was detained by federal agents, further escalating fear in educational spaces meant to be safe. These are not isolated incidents. They are part of a growing pattern.

Children are not dangerous. Children are not criminals. Yet ICE presence has turned childhood into a constant state of fear.

National investigations and reporting have documented children held in unsafe, unsanitary conditions, separated from caregivers, or forced to witness raids involving weapons and tear gas. ProPublica and PBS have detailed how family separation and detention practices leave scars that can last a lifetime.

Members of Congress have a constitutional duty to conduct oversight when federal agencies abuse their power. That responsibility is urgent now. ICE claims its mission is public safety, yet its actions are inflicting trauma on children who pose no threat to anyone.

Every day without accountability is another day children are harmed. Congress must act now to protect kids, restore basic humanity to immigration enforcement, and make clear that terrorizing children has no place in our government.