By Keerthi Ramesh
Federal immigration enforcement actions in Minnesota and Maine have intensified this week, drawing sharp criticism from local leaders, educators and immigrant advocates as children and adults alike are swept up in expanding U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations.
In suburban Minneapolis, school officials confirmed that at least four students from Columbia Heights Public Schools were detained by ICE agents over recent weeks, including a 5-year-old boy who was taken along with his father just after preschool on Tuesday afternoon.
Columbia Heights Superintendent Zena Stenvik described the incident as “traumatizing,” saying the young child, identified as Liam Conejo Ramos, was used to gain access to the family’s home after agents stopped the vehicle in the driveway. Stenvik said another adult at the scene pleaded with ICE officers to care for the child, but the request was refused.
Read: ‘This isn’t immigration policy anymore’: SkillStorm’s Hany Girgis slams H-1B program (
“Why detain a 5-year-old? You cannot tell me that this child is going to be classified as a violent criminal,” Stenvik said. School officials said the family has an active asylum case and no deportation order. Ramos’ teacher called him a bright, loving student whose absence has been deeply felt in class.
Other students detained include a 17-year-old taken from a car without a parent present and a 10-year-old who was apprehended with her mother while en route to elementary school. Community members report increased fear and anxiety among families as ICE presence near schools becomes more visible.
The Department of Homeland Security said in a statement that agents were not targeting the child directly but were carrying out a broader operation focused on the boy’s father, who allegedly fled on foot when approached. The agency also said parents are given options regarding their children’s care during enforcement actions.
Read: 2,000 federal agents sent to Minneapolis in an immigration crackdown (
Meanwhile in Maine, DHS has launched “Operation Catch of the Day,” a new enforcement initiative aimed at locating and detaining undocumented immigrants with serious criminal histories. The operation, which began Tuesday, represents the latest phase of an aggressive nationwide push by the administration to crack down on immigration violations, particularly in states with sizable immigrant communities.
Homeland Security officials said more than 50 individuals convicted of violent crimes, including aggravated assault and endangering the welfare of a child, were arrested on the first day. Federal authorities say they ultimately plan to pursue nearly 1,400 targets across Maine.
But the operation has sparked immediate backlash from state and local officials, including Gov. Janet Mills, a Democrat, who said the federal government failed to adequately coordinate with Maine authorities before deploying agents. Portland’s mayor and others have voiced concern that the enforcement drive is sowing fear in communities and disrupting daily life, with some immigrants reportedly avoiding workplaces and schools to stay out of sight.
Advocates and critics argue that the combination of high-profile arrests in Minnesota and the new Maine operation underscore broader tensions over immigration policy, enforcement tactics and the human cost of federal crackdowns.