Teachers Union Criticizes ICE Following Controversial Shooting
In a strongly-worded message to supporters, the National Education Association’s activist arm, Edjustice, condemned what they described as the Trump administration’s “assault on communities” following a fatal incident involving an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent. The email, titled “ICE Out of Our Schools & Communities Now,” represents the perspective of America’s largest teachers union with over three million members nationwide. The message came in response to the death of Renee Good, a 37-year-old anti-ICE activist who was shot and killed during an encounter with immigration authorities in Minneapolis. The incident has ignited fierce debate about ICE operations near schools and in communities with immigrant populations.
The circumstances surrounding Good’s death remain contested. According to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Good had been following ICE agents during immigration enforcement operations and parked her SUV in a way that blocked the agents. DHS claims that when ordered to move, Good initially refused, then accelerated toward an agent who subsequently shot her. The NEA’s email characterized the incident very differently, describing it as a “murder” of someone who was “bravely standing witness” to what they termed an assault on immigrant neighbors. Good was affiliated with an organization called “ICE Watch” and had been observing ICE enforcement activities when the fatal confrontation occurred. The union’s portrayal of the incident stands in stark contrast to the official account, highlighting the deep divisions in how immigration enforcement is perceived.
The NEA email also referenced another incident that occurred the same day near Roosevelt High School in Minneapolis. DHS reported that a five-mile vehicle pursuit ended on the school’s lawn, involving a U.S. citizen who had allegedly used his car to ram an ICE vehicle during a separate operation. The teachers union claimed that ICE agents “unleashed tear gas and violence on the campus” and detained school staff who were following protocols to protect students. DHS disputed this account, stating that “at no point was a school, students, or staff targeted,” and that agents “would not have been near this location if not for the dangerous actions of this individual.” The statement added that someone identifying himself as a teacher assaulted law enforcement, and that while crowd control measures were used when rioters threw objects at officers, no tear gas was deployed. These conflicting narratives underscore the tension between immigration authorities and education advocates.
The tone of the NEA’s message was notably political, accusing what they termed the “MAGA regime” of “abducting our loved ones and murdering our neighbors in pursuit of endless power and money, attacking our freedom to seek a better life and come home safely to our families.” The email also promoted upcoming nationwide anti-ICE protests, positioning the teachers union in direct opposition to current immigration enforcement policies. When approached for comment by Fox News Digital, the NEA avoided addressing questions about the rhetoric in their message but reaffirmed their demand for ICE to leave communities, stating that their members are “committed to the safety and well-being of our students, their families and the communities they call home.” The union maintained that “the presence of ICE undermines that mission and puts students, educators, and parents in harm’s way.”
The article contrasts the NEA’s focus on ICE with their silence regarding human rights abuses in Iran. It notes that Iranian dissidents have been protesting against the regime led by Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, primarily due to economic hardships that have severely devalued the Iranian currency. The Iranian government’s response has included cutting off internet access and communications with the outside world, with an estimated 2,000 people killed in the protests. The article points out that the teachers union has not commented on the Iranian regime’s efforts to suppress these protests, including plans to execute a 26-year-old protester for “waging war against God.”
This controversy highlights the increasingly complex intersection of immigration policy, education, public safety, and political activism in the United States. For educators, particularly those working in communities with significant immigrant populations, ICE operations near schools raise legitimate concerns about student safety, wellbeing, and the learning environment. Many teachers report that enforcement actions create fear among students from immigrant families, leading to increased absences and anxiety that interferes with education. At the same time, immigration authorities maintain that they must enforce existing laws and that their operations target specific individuals rather than schools or students. The heated rhetoric from both sides reflects deeper national divisions over immigration policy and enforcement approaches, with schools increasingly finding themselves at the center of this contentious debate.
The incident in Minneapolis represents a flashpoint in ongoing tensions between education advocates and immigration enforcement authorities. As communities across the country grapple with these issues, the NEA’s message signals that many educators see themselves not just as teachers but as advocates for their students and families, including those affected by immigration policies. Whether this advocacy will translate into policy changes remains uncertain, but it’s clear that America’s largest teachers union has positioned itself firmly in opposition to current immigration enforcement practices, particularly those occurring near schools. This stance reflects broader questions about the appropriate boundaries of enforcement actions and the impact of immigration policies on educational communities across the nation.
