A federal immigration agent entered the campus of Stanton Middle School on Tuesday morning, then left after school security and administrators approached him, according to the Red Clay Consolidated School District, in reporting by Spotlight Delaware. An agent or agents then arrested a man just off the school grounds.
Source: Spotlight Delaware
A witness said an apparent ICE vehicle had followed a parent through the school drop-off line, and a video circulating on social media shows agents placing a man into a vehicle near the school as buses and other vehicles drove past, Spotlight Delaware reported. A family member of one Stanton parent said the arrested man had just dropped off his daughter. A district spokesperson said the apparent enforcement activity took place off school grounds after the approach on campus, and that no students were taken into custody and none were removed from the school.
"We recognize that situations like this can create concern and uncertainty for our school community, and we remain committed to providing a safe, supportive, and compassionate learning environment for all students," the district spokesperson said, according to Spotlight Delaware.
Spotlight Delaware reported the incident appears to be the first time an ICE agent has entered a Delaware school campus — schools are treated as sensitive locations where state officials have sought to restrict enforcement. Delaware's House Bill 94 bars state and local police from joining immigration arrests at schools, hospitals and houses of worship without a court order, but that state law cannot limit federal agents.
State leaders react
"Our schools are not hunting grounds," Governor Matt Meyer said in a statement, quoted in a petition and state coverage of the incident. On October 22, Delaware House Speaker Melissa Minor-Brown, Majority Leader Kerri Evelyn Harris and Majority Whip Ed Osienski condemned the incident in a joint statement: "Tuesday's incident at Stanton Middle School, when an ICE agent entered the school's campus, and shortly after arrested an individual just off of school grounds, was particularly disturbing. No child should have to worry about federal immigration enforcement activity at their school."
Source: Delaware House Democrats
The House leaders said enforcement operations affect whole communities, not only the individuals targeted, and can discourage people from reporting crimes or seeking emergency help. Delmarva Public Media discussed the incident with the Spotlight Delaware reporters who broke the story in its October 23 programme. Spotlight Delaware reported the incident came weeks after the Trump administration announced increased immigration enforcement efforts ahead of the November midterm election.