House Republicans Block Legislation to Protect Minnesota Schools from Warrantless Federal Raids

St. Paul, MN - The same day an ICE officer shot and killed Renée Good, federal agents caused a violent and chaotic scene at Roosevelt High School in Minneapolis. During school dismissal, federal agents showed up in force and tackled Minnesotans, handcuffed staff members, and deployed chemical weapons outside of the school - affecting students and staff.

Multiple instances of federal agents terrorizing students and staff in and around school grounds persisted throughout Operation Metro Surge, with the impacts still being felt today in school districts all over the state. 

At the start of session, DFLers brought forward legislation (HF 3435) that would simply require a judicial warrant to enter a school for the purposes of immigration enforcement, a requirement that was the norm prior to the second Trump administration. The Republican members of the House’s Education Policy Committee blocked this legislation from advancing - some of whom had sent a letter to then-Secretary Noem requesting immigration enforcement take place off school grounds. However, Republicans on the Senate Education Policy Committee voted in support of the legislation.

Today, after being given another opportunity to advance HF 3435 on the House Floor, House Republicans once again blocked this common-sense safety measure from continuing through the legislative process. 

“House Republicans doubled down on their position that the violence, chaos, and fear our students experienced during Operation Metro Surge was acceptable,” said Rep. Sydney Jordan (DFL - Minneapolis), the bill’s author and DFL Chair of the Education Policy Committee. “Even those that know in their hearts the federal government went too far would rather send do-nothing letters to cabinet officials instead of taking a vote to enact basic protections for our students. It’s cowardice, and a dereliction of their duty as state legislators.”

The legislation failed to advance on a party-line vote. Video of today’s floor debate can be found on the House Public Information YouTube Channel.

###