ST. PAUL, MN—State Representatives María Isa Pérez-Vega (DFL-St. Paul) released the following statement:
“There are still 650 ICE agents in our state, and they are still terrorizing our children and families trying to get to school. ‘Operation Metro Surge’ is not over, and any claims that suggest otherwise dismiss the trauma and fear our young students and their families are facing. I’ve spoken with SPPS Superintendent Stacie Stanley as well as SPPS parents who volunteer our kids and overall school environment can feel safe. The recurring message is clear: schools and administrations are scared, they are under-resourced to respond to ICE activity, and parents are having to make impossible decisions to stand as a line of defense to protect their children and classmates from illegal ruses and tactics. Every day, our young children are subjected to weaponized fear and an accepting culture of violence outside of their school doors.
“DFLers introduced legislation in the House Education Committee to ensure ICE is not allowed on Minnesota school property, but every Republican voted against the bill. This includes GOP colleagues Reps. Ron Kresha, Peggy Bennett, Ben Bakeberg, and Patricia Mueller, who sent a letter appealing to disgraced former Secretary Kristi Noem on February 16. Minnesotans want their elected leaders to be courageous and to act with integrity and honesty. Republicans are mocking Minnesota students and their families by making false attempts to do the right thing—they should be ashamed of themselves.
“In St. Paul, we have some of the best dual-immersion programs available to all our students, and I am especially disturbed by Rep. Mueller’s inaction and perpetual silence on the ongoing targeting of dual-immersion schools, especially as we worked on a bipartisan bill to establish the first dual-immersion working task force. We came together as educators to put our children and their families first; I am saddened that those same values are not shared when it comes to prioritizing Minnesotans against federal government retribution.
“Along with today’s announcement of Kristi Noem’s termination does not change the reality or the enabling agenda of targeting our diverse St. Paul communities. We must all remain vigilant and keep showing up for our immigrant, refugee, and undocumented neighbors. Pa’Lante Siempre.”
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