The following was written on Jan. 15 by a community member.
I usually like to focus on the positive, but really need to share what happened to my child on Jan. 14, 2026 to relay to anyone out there who still believes being white, middle class means you and your kids are safe in spite of all the ICE activity going on.
My child was riding on his little bus to his MPS Transition Plus program yesterday. Students are already really scared about doing so with the killing that happened nearby, the invasion of Roosevelt High School the following day, American workers being tackled while working at the nearby Target, etc. The bus turned a corner to get one last student. There were suddenly five ICE vehicles in front of the bus blocking the street. Agents proceeded to fire rubber bullets at a Hispanic man and used a fence-type thing to corral and forcibly take him. These rubber bullets were loudly flying from their guns right in front of the bus. The bus was boxed in with another car behind them, and with the narrow street, was unable to do a U-turn and had no choice but to sit witness to all of this. The bus aide instructed students to get down on the floor of the bus below the windows to protect them from flying rubber bullets or anything else that might come flying their way. The bus aide was swearing (which she never does in front of students) and absolutely terrified. The very experienced bus driver was completely at a loss as to how to get his bus full of kids with disabilities and special needs of various kinds out of there.
After quite a bit of time, they were able to move on and were on their final blocks to school on Lake Street when they came upon ICE agents lining one side of the street there. ICE agents picked up three children, young children, out walking their dog near a bus stop. Citizens were blowing whistles loudly and sirens were blaring and these poor little kids were kidnapped right before the eyes of everyone on the bus. (I have viewed video from the scene.) Finally at school, I heard that a teacher just getting out of her car was maced by a drone flying over the parking lot. Then while in school, whistles and sirens were heard all day long with occasional cars of various sorts flying down Lake Street. This is not an environment where students feel safe and can learn anything!
Up until now, I have been telling my kid that he needs to go to school each day and that he is safe because he's not who they are targeting (which now seems to be anyone with the tiniest bit of brown coloration to their skin). But he will remain at home today and tomorrow ,and I'm thankful that there is no school next Monday because I don't know what happens after that. He is terrified. And with already having anxiety issues, there will be certainly be ongoing PTSD associated with this. He was texting me throughout the day (very uncommon) yesterday, and now he's insisting on keeping our house doors locked all the time even with everyone home and the back door being a long walk from the street. I had a long talk with the bus aide (also not a person of color) who is absolutely terrified and will not be at this job today or probably Friday either.
ICE was at Washburn High School yesterday. Two days of school were officially cancelled last week.
OUR KIDS ARE NOT SAFE TO ATTEND SCHOOL NOW BECAUSE OF OUR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT! TEACHERS AND SCHOOL STAFF ARE NOT SAFE TO GO TO WORK.
THIS IS ABSOLUTELY INSANE!!!
Lynn Meyer
Windom neighbor with student in Corcoran neighborhood
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