Federal Judge Allows ICE Raids on School Grounds, Sparking Concerns

A federal judge has given the green light for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to conduct raids on school grounds, dealing a significant blow to Denver Public Schools' legal efforts to block such actions. This decision is a win for the Trump administration, which has been actively intensifying its immigration enforcement measures.

U.S. District Judge Daniel Domenico ruled that Denver Public Schools failed to demonstrate a direct link between declining student attendance and the administration's decision to reverse a 2021 Biden-era policy. That policy had deemed schools and other sensitive locations, like churches, off-limits for ICE enforcement. With over 1.4 million individuals currently listed on ICE's final removal docket, the stakes are undeniably high.

In its lawsuit, Denver Public Schools argued that the policy reversal hindered its ability to serve students, many of whom were reportedly staying home out of fear of deportation raids. The district sought a preliminary injunction to bar ICE from making arrests at schools, but this request was denied. A broader request for a nationwide injunction to reinstate the Biden-era guidelines also failed to gain traction.

The district claimed it had to divert resources to address the concerns and fears of students and their families, which included training staff to deny ICE agents entry without a judge-signed warrant. Judge Domenico, however, noted that no raids had actually occurred at Denver schools so far, casting doubt on the district’s assertions of widespread fear and resource strain.

"The fear seems overstated," Domenico remarked, pointing out that ICE had issued internal directives requiring supervisory approval for any enforcement action at sensitive locations.

Denver Public Schools expressed disappointment with the ruling but emphasized that the lawsuit helped shed light on the Trump administration’s immigration policies. The district, which serves over 90,000 students—including approximately 4,000 immigrants—argued that the policy change disproportionately affected its mission to educate and protect vulnerable students.

Beyond the courtroom, this ruling comes amidst a broader push by the Trump administration to revive stricter immigration enforcement measures, including the detention of families with deportation orders. Families are now being detained at ICE facilities in Texas, marking a return to practices that had been scaled back under the previous administration.

Denver itself has seen a significant influx of migrants, with an estimated 43,000 people arriving from the southern border in recent years. As a sanctuary city, Denver has faced scrutiny from Republican lawmakers, who argue that such policies undermine federal immigration efforts and compromise public safety.

Meanwhile, ICE has ramped up its interior enforcement, targeting individuals and families who have been ordered deported by immigration judges. According to Border Patrol data, over 2 million migrant family units were apprehended crossing the southern border illegally during the Biden administration, underscoring the scale of the issue.

This ruling is sure to ignite further debate over the balance between immigration enforcement and the protection of sensitive community spaces. While the Trump administration sees this as a necessary step in addressing illegal immigration, critics argue it places undue stress on already vulnerable populations, particularly children and their families.