ICE detentions devastate Minnesota elementary school; 30+ parents and 4 students detained
Apr 5, 2026·Location: Columbia Heights, Minnesota
Valley View Elementary School in Columbia Heights, Minnesota, where two-thirds of students are Latino, was heavily impacted by ICE enforcement operations in early 2026. At least 30 parents and four students were detained. School staff provided support to affected students through counseling and joy-focused activities. The detentions caused widespread fear and disruption in the school community.
Timeline
Feb 20, 2026—Valley View Elementary School staff provided support to affected students including counseling and joy-focused activities
Jan 1, 2026—At least 30 parents of Valley View Elementary students and four students total were detained by ICE in Minnesota enforcement operations
Sources
- For Columbia Heights school in crosshairs of ICE surge, recovery will be a slow process
sahanjournal.com·Feb 20, 2026·archived copy
- Columbia Heights superintendent: At one school, ICE has detained at least 23 parents
mprnews.org·Feb 3, 2026·archived copy
- people.com
- What do you say when an immigrant student asks: ‘Why do they hate me?’
chalkbeat.org·Feb 13, 2026·archived copy
- mesabitribune.com
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