Minnesota middle school teaches eighth graders that ICE ‘harassed’ legal migrants

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA: A geography lesson for eighth graders at Hermantown Middle School in northern Minnesota has drawn strong criticism.

Students were shown slides that depicted Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) as having “harassed” migrants and legal residents. They were also offered extra credit for watching a video that criticized immigration enforcement policies.

Minnesota school lesson on ICE sparks outrage

A Minnesota middle school showed an eighth-grade geography class slides stating that ICE has "harassed" migrants and offered extra credit to students who watched a 19-minute video titled "ICE and Trump’s $170 billion deportation machine."

The lesson materials, obtained by Fox News, included PowerPoint slides that repeatedly asked, "How is President Trump trying to reduce the large number of undocumented immigrants as promised in his election campaign?" Defending Education, a nonprofit focused on education, parent, and student advocacy, exchanged emails with the school’s principal, who said the lesson aligns with Minnesota’s standards.

The slides also explained why "tricky & violent tactics," including federal agents wearing masks to hide their identities, can be used by ICE agents for "kidnapping/hurting people."

Students were then shown examples claiming that "thousands of LEGAL immigrants and 170 US citizens" were "dragged, tackled, beaten, tased and shot," and were encouraged to click a link for related video content.

The school is part of Hermantown Community Schools, whose K-12 2024–2027 "Blueprint for Success" outlines curriculum requirements that include being "antiracist, culturally sustaining, and [curriculum that] reflects the diversity of the student population."

Minnesota school questioned on its curriculum

The Minnesota school district defines antiracist as "actively working to identify and eliminate racism in all forms in order to change policies, behaviors, and beliefs that perpetuate racist ideas and actions."

The school system also calls for instruction that is "culturally sustaining." Hermantown Community Schools directs its advising committee to "improve students’ equitable access to effective and more diverse teachers."

Student anti-ICE walkouts spark suspensions, arrests

The uproar over the lesson comes as national debates about immigration enforcement continue to affect local communities and schools.

In some cities, concerns about federal immigration activity have prompted districts to consider legal action to restrict enforcement near campuses, citing worries about student safety and attendance.

In Cincinnati, students caused chaos at a local Kroger grocery store after leaving school for an anti-ICE demonstration earlier this month. They were filmed throwing objects at the ceiling, and a witness reported that students took beer and other alcoholic beverages from the shelves.

In Virginia, more than 300 high school students were suspended following an anti-ICE walkout that led to a police response last week. Additionally, several teens were arrested during a student anti-ICE walkout in Quakertown, Pennsylvania, this week.