The Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) “Operation Metro Surge” mobilized 3,000 DHS agents in Minnesota, leading to protests, arrests, and two fatal shootings. These events instilled fear in many.
Bystander videos have shown ICE using pepper spray and rubber bullets in response to protests. On Jan. 21, the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals froze a federal judge’s decision barring ICE from using its current protest tactics, according to the AP. Following Pretti’s death, agents continue to use pepper spray and physical aggression to control largely peaceful protests, according to the New York Times.
A Venezuelan immigrant, who requested anonymity due to legal status, stated, “I’ve been treated like a prisoner.” He continued, “A friend is bringing me to work.” “We’re not even going close to the window because we’re just scared.” If forced to return to Venezuela, he said, “I would fear for my life.”
Pedro Silva ‘29, a son of two Latino immigrants, said, “I feel like I have to walk around with papers.” A respondent to Spectrum’s Jan. 16 poll with 169 respondents said, “The school has done nothing to make us feel like we’re going to be safe.” Another respondent contested, “Comply, and you’re fine.”
NPR reported that Donald Trump removed a memorandum on Jan. 20, 2025, allowing ICE to conduct operations near schools. On Jan. 21, two teenagers were detained by ICE in Minneapolis, according to MPR. After the teenagers’ arrests, CBS reported on Jan. 22 that 5-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos was detained as he returned from school.
Following these developments, Head of School Anne Stavney stated in a Jan. 25 email to Spectrum, “This is an evolving and horrific situation, and our community is hurting. The Blake leadership team continues to stay informed, seek expertise, and adjust our responses and plans accordingly. Safety and security remain our highest priority, as does showing compassion for and extending support to students and families.”
In terms of school safety, ICE contact protocol depends on location, according to Head of Security Gene Paulauskas. Paulauskas said security training for private property contact is to “Contact me and let me know of the situation. Be polite and inform the agents that we are not allowing access to the school.”
If the contact is off private property, like the student parking lot, Paulauskas said the procedure is to “Avoid insert[ing] yourself into a position where you are obstructing a police action.” Paulauskas said the burden falls upon the student: “They have to be mature enough to know that they should not actively step in the way.” Avoiding obstruction is the school’s position for both staff and students. Only 25% of the Spectrum January 16th Poll’s 169 respondents feel properly prepared for an ICE interaction.
Paulauskas noted, “The presence of law enforcement in the area will not warrant a lockdown protocol in the school.” If ICE were present near campus, Upper School Lead Security Officer, Rio Hansen, stated she would call a lockdown drill: “I would feel better calling it than not calling it and regretting it.”
