ICE Surge Near DC Schools: 300+ Arrests Spur Parent Escorts, Private Buses

As schools reopen in Washington, DC, parents and educators are taking extra precautions amid an intensified federal immigration enforcement presence. National Guard patrols near transit hubs and reports of ICE visiting schools have led parents to escort students, schools to provide private transportation and staff to carry passports. Administrators have advised staff on protocols—insisting agents need warrants to enter—and the district has reassured families about legal protections while acknowledging community fear. Many immigrant staff and families report heightened anxiety and behavioral changes, such as avoiding speaking Spanish in public, as schools work to keep students safe.