The Perils of Politicized Education Opinion
- Rex Ballard
- 2 days ago
- 4 min read
How Anti-ICE Protests Are Putting Students in Harm's Way
In recent weeks, a wave of student-led protests against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has swept across schools in multiple states, fueled by what critics describe as ideological indoctrination from teachers' unions and school administrators.
While civic engagement is a cornerstone of democracy, these actions have escalated into dangerous situations, exposing young students to violence, arrests, and physical harm. This isn't just youthful activism—it's a troubling pattern in which impressionable adolescents are encouraged to skip class and confront law enforcement, often with dire consequences. The indoctrination of our kids into partisan battles is unacceptable, prioritizing political agendas over their safety and education. New data highlights stark contrasts with past administrations, where communities cooperated more readily, avoiding such tragedies, and underscores inconsistencies in public outrage over crimes committed by undocumented immigrants.
The Rise of Anti-ICE Walkouts and Their Risks
The protests intensified in late January 2026, following the Trump administration's expansion of immigration enforcement, including the removal of "sensitive location" protections for places like schools. Students, often with the tacit or explicit support of educators, have walked out en masse to decry ICE operations. However, these events have frequently devolved into chaos, with reports of clashes, assaults, and arrests.
Consider the incident in downtown Los Angeles on February 13, 2026, in which a student walkout turned violent. Three federal agents were injured after protesters hurled objects at them during the demonstration. No arrests were made immediately, but authorities warned that assaulting federal officers is a felony. This event highlights how what starts as a peaceful protest can quickly escalate, putting students directly in the line of fire—literally and figuratively.
In another alarming case, 26 anti-ICE protesters were arrested for "riotous conduct" outside a Minnesota hotel on January 28, 2026. The group, which included students, damaged property, and threw objects at police, leading to charges of unlawful assembly. Video footage from the scene shows a heavy law enforcement response, underscoring the real risks of escalation. (Watch the video here: https://video.twimg.com/amplify_video/2016747920121614337/vid/avc1/480x270/W41FWJzhTxLL6Rm0.mp4)
Another example is a student walk-out at Enumclaw High School near Seattle, WA that resulted in two students being arrested after they became violent.
Indoctrination in the Classroom: Teachers' Unions Fueling the Fire
Critics argue that these protests stem from deeper indoctrination within the education system and are being coordinated. Teachers' unions like the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) and the National Education Association (NEA) have vocally opposed ICE, demanding the agency stay out of schools and framing enforcement as "terror." In Minnesota, unions have even coordinated teachers to patrol school entrances and ride buses to shield students from potential raids. While intended to protect, this involvement blurs the line between education and activism, potentially encouraging students to engage in risky behavior.
A stark example unfolded at Issaquah High School in Washington, where students mobbed a parent during an anti-ICE walkout. Video shows the crowd surrounding and intimidating her, with police standing by as a bystander escorted her to safety. (View the footage:
https://video.twimg.com/amplify_video/2021383377090179072/vid/avc1/320x568/P9iIjASXywyuoQgS.mp4) This isn't protest—it's mob intimidation, and it raises questions about school accountability for student safety.
Similarly, in Beaumont, California, students walked out chanting against ICE, with one heard shouting violent threats like "Kill Donald Trump!" (See the video: https://video.twimg.com/amplify_video/2021662304627306499/vid/avc1/480x270/mdqosMLTLtPnJUEC.mp4)
Such rhetoric not only endangers participants but also invites legal repercussions, as seen in Pearl River, New York, where anti-ICE protesters were arrested for using profanity and disorderly conduct.
Arrests and Violence: The Human Cost, Including Avoidable Deaths
In New York, 12 Columbia University professors and students were arrested for blocking traffic during a protest demanding more protections from ICE. These incidents, often tied to broader national strikes, have led to 29 arrests in Minneapolis alone during protests against ICE's actions.
Tragically, American protesters have died in these escalations, such as Renee Nicole Good and Alex Jeffrey Pretti in Minneapolis, shot by agents during operations. These deaths were avoidable had communities cooperated as they did under Obama and Clinton, where non-confrontational protests and collaborative enforcement prevented such outcomes.
Inconsistent Outrage: Crimes by Undocumented Immigrants
While the left decries ICE tactics, there's glaring hypocrisy in the lack of proportional outrage over crimes by undocumented immigrants. Thousands of Americans have been victims of murders, rapes, and other violent acts by illegal aliens, yet responses from progressive circles often downplay these tragedies. For instance, Texas data shows 997 homicide charges and 6,744 sexual assault charges against criminal aliens over 13 years. High-profile cases like the murders of Laken Riley, Kate Steinle, and Rachel Morin highlight this issue, with minimal sustained protest from the left despite bipartisan condemnations in hearings. Studies show undocumented immigrants commit crimes at lower rates than natives, but the absolute numbers and preventable nature of these acts demand equal scrutiny.
Recently, Hillary Clinton was speaking in Munich, boasting that there were no American deaths at the hands of ICE during the Clinton and Obama terms. While her comments failed to address the deaths of Americans caused at the hands of illegal immigrants, the facts show that the main reason for this is due to the fact that communities largely cooperated with federal enforcement, leading to fewer confrontations and no protester fatalities from agent interactions. Under Clinton, deportations totaled 12.3 million with localized protests but no widespread violence. Obama's 3 million deportations also saw limited protests without escalations to shootings. The key difference? Fewer "rabid" sanctuary jurisdictions at the time enabled collaborative tactics, thereby avoiding the aggressive inland raids that are now necessitated by non-cooperation in over 500 areas.
A Call for Accountability
These examples illustrate a systemic issue: schools and unions promoting political narratives that lead students into hazardous situations, exacerbated by sanctuary policies that prompt aggressive federal responses. Many protesting schools already struggle with low academic performance, and these disruptions only exacerbate learning losses. Governors like Texas's Greg Abbott have threatened arrests and funding cuts for districts allowing such walkouts, emphasizing that while free speech is protected, it doesn't extend to truancy or violence.
Indoctrination robs students of critical thinking, replacing it with scripted activism that endangers their well-being. Parents, educators, and policymakers must prioritize safety, balanced education, and consistent accountability over ideological battles. Our kids deserve better than to be pawns in adult political games.
