1. United States
2. Texas
3. Letter

I am writing to urge you to oppose any Department of Homeland Security funding bills that do not include significant reforms to ICE enforcement practices. Recent events in Columbia Heights, Minnesota demonstrate why immediate congressional action is necessary. Over the last two weeks, ICE agents detained four students from Columbia Heights Public Schools in separate incidents. The most egregious case involves five-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos, who was allegedly used as bait by masked agents. According to Superintendent Zena Stenvik, agents apprehended Liam in his driveway as he returned home from school with his father on Tuesday. When another adult begged to care for the child, agents refused. Instead, an agent removed Liam from the still-running car, led him to the door, and directed him to knock to see if anyone else was home. Both father and son were then transported to Texas. Superintendent Stenvik personally reviewed the family's legal paperwork and confirmed they have an active asylum case with no deportation orders. Marc Prokosch, the family's attorney, stated the family has been complying with every step of their immigration process and called the detention cruelty. Three other students under 18 were also detained, including a 10-year-old fourth grader apprehended with her mother on the way to school. The impact extends beyond individual families. Nearly one third of Columbia Heights students have stayed home in recent weeks out of fear. Several Twin Cities school districts report absenteeism rates between 20 and 40 percent. Minneapolis and St. Paul canceled classes for several days to prepare for transitioning students to virtual learning. Superintendent Stenvik described agents roaming neighborhoods, circling schools, following buses, and coming into parking lots. Using a five-year-old child as bait to enter a home is unconscionable. Detaining families with active asylum cases who are complying with legal processes wastes taxpayer resources and destroys community trust. I urge you to condition any DHS appropriations on meaningful restrictions to ICE enforcement activities, including prohibitions on operations near schools and protections for families in active legal proceedings.