Keep ICE Away From Michigan Schools
The Issue
Families in Ypsilanti, Michigan are living in fear—and our children are paying the price.
On January 27, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detained three people along Congress Street and a fourth nearby, just blocks from multiple Ypsilanti Community Schools. While officials later said ICE was not on school property, the damage was already done. Parents rushed to schools. Rumors spread. Children clung to their families. Educators prepared for the possibility that masked federal agents could appear at any moment.
This is not what a safe school environment looks like.
Schools within a short distance of the detentions include Ypsilanti International Elementary, Ypsilanti Puentes Multilingual School, Washtenaw International High School, and Ypsilanti Community High School—schools that serve immigrant, international, and multilingual students. Even the possibility of ICE operating nearby caused widespread panic, with families unsure whether it was safe to drop off or pick up their children.
Community leaders, parents, and educators have been clear: children must be protected from immigration enforcement activity. Local officials confirmed that Ypsilanti schools do not allow ICE on campus without a valid judicial warrant and that county law enforcement does not coordinate with immigration enforcement. But without clear, enforceable boundaries, fear continues to spread.
Parents have said they should not have to worry about being confronted by unidentified, masked agents while picking up their kids. School leaders have said their priority is student safety—not acting as crisis managers for federal raids. County commissioners have called the situation “abhorrent.” Members of Congress and the Michigan Attorney General’s office have acknowledged the need for guidance and answers.
We call on ICE, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel, Governor Gretchen Whitmer, and local and federal representatives to take immediate action by:
- Prohibiting ICE operations at or near schools, bus stops, and school events
- Issuing clear, public guidance to schools and families about their rights
- Affirming that schools are safe spaces for all children, regardless of immigration status
Sign this petition to protect Michigan’s children and keep ICE away from our schools.
Photo: Five-year-old Liam Ramos being detained by ICE agents in Minnesota
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The Issue
Families in Ypsilanti, Michigan are living in fear—and our children are paying the price.
On January 27, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detained three people along Congress Street and a fourth nearby, just blocks from multiple Ypsilanti Community Schools. While officials later said ICE was not on school property, the damage was already done. Parents rushed to schools. Rumors spread. Children clung to their families. Educators prepared for the possibility that masked federal agents could appear at any moment.
This is not what a safe school environment looks like.
Schools within a short distance of the detentions include Ypsilanti International Elementary, Ypsilanti Puentes Multilingual School, Washtenaw International High School, and Ypsilanti Community High School—schools that serve immigrant, international, and multilingual students. Even the possibility of ICE operating nearby caused widespread panic, with families unsure whether it was safe to drop off or pick up their children.
Community leaders, parents, and educators have been clear: children must be protected from immigration enforcement activity. Local officials confirmed that Ypsilanti schools do not allow ICE on campus without a valid judicial warrant and that county law enforcement does not coordinate with immigration enforcement. But without clear, enforceable boundaries, fear continues to spread.
Parents have said they should not have to worry about being confronted by unidentified, masked agents while picking up their kids. School leaders have said their priority is student safety—not acting as crisis managers for federal raids. County commissioners have called the situation “abhorrent.” Members of Congress and the Michigan Attorney General’s office have acknowledged the need for guidance and answers.
We call on ICE, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel, Governor Gretchen Whitmer, and local and federal representatives to take immediate action by:
- Prohibiting ICE operations at or near schools, bus stops, and school events
- Issuing clear, public guidance to schools and families about their rights
- Affirming that schools are safe spaces for all children, regardless of immigration status
Sign this petition to protect Michigan’s children and keep ICE away from our schools.
Photo: Five-year-old Liam Ramos being detained by ICE agents in Minnesota
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Petition created on January 30, 2026