1. United States
2. Ohio
3. Letter

I am writing to demand immediate action in response to the federal immigration enforcement raid on Roosevelt High School in Minneapolis this Wednesday. Federal agents handcuffed school staff members and deployed pepper spray and pepper balls at students on school property. This unconscionable use of force against children in an educational setting cannot stand without congressional oversight and intervention. According to school officials and video footage, agents wearing US Border Patrol uniforms pepper sprayed students who were protesting their presence on campus. Two staff members were handcuffed while attempting to protect students and remove them from the building. One school official reported being physically knocked down by an agent after asking them to leave school property. The raid occurred just hours after an ICE officer fatally shot 37-year-old Minneapolis resident Renee Nicole Good, creating an atmosphere of fear throughout the community. The impact on students has been severe. Minneapolis Public Schools canceled all classes for the remainder of the week due to safety concerns. Green Central Elementary School went into lockdown after federal agents were spotted nearby, forcing frightened parents to retrieve their children. Parent Celia Mejia described the agents' proximity as "way too close to school to feel comfortable," while Julia Haas stated that "Nobody should have to deal with this ever." Schools must remain safe spaces where children can learn without fear of federal agents deploying chemical weapons against them. The Department of Homeland Security has not provided any explanation for why this raid occurred or what justified the use of force against students and staff. I urge you to demand a full investigation into this incident, call for accountability for the agents involved, and introduce or support legislation that explicitly prohibits immigration enforcement operations on school grounds. Our children deserve protection, not pepper spray.