Fact check: Democrats have not publicly demanded DoE stop ICE raids

Democratic senators are facing new pressure to act as immigrant families and schools brace for stepped-up immigration enforcement near campuses in the United States 🇺🇸. As of October 24, 2025, there is no evidence of a formal, collective demand by Democratic senators asking the Department of Education to directly intervene to stop ICE raids at or near schools this year. The closest related step involves Senator Tammy Duckworth and several colleagues urging the Department of Education to press immigration authorities to avoid enforcement actions that could harm students, but details of that outreach remain sparse and not publicly concrete.

The federal backdrop shifted sharply in 2025. On January 23, 2025, President Trump rescinded prior “sensitive locations” guidance that had discouraged ICE from taking action at schools, churches, and hospitals. That move removed a key policy signal, even though full-scale school raids remain uncommon in practice. ICE can enter public areas of a school, such as lobbies, without a warrant. Entry into non-public areas like classrooms and staff offices still requires either consent from school officials or a valid judicial warrant.

California’s Legislative Push to Shield School Campuses

California moved ahead of Washington with a robust state response in 2025.

• On September 3, 2025, the Assembly passed Assembly Bill 49 (California Safe Haven Schools Act), which sets strict conditions before any immigration officer can enter a school or child care facility. Under AB 49, officers must:
  • Show valid identification.
  • Present a written statement of purpose.
  • Produce a valid judicial warrant.
  • Secure approval from the school district’s superintendent or the child care director.
  • Limit entry to times and areas where students or children are not present.

AB 49 now awaits Governor Gavin Newsom’s signature.

• The Legislature also paired AB 49 with Senate Bill 98, which would require schools to notify students, families, staff, and nearby community members when immigration enforcement officers are on school sites.
• Lawmakers advanced Senate Joint Resolution 9, condemning raids that target immigrant workers and families and opposing the use of military forces in immigration enforcement.

While these measures do not control federal agents, they establish clear local rules for how campuses respond and communicate. California’s approach reflects growing frustration over the lack of a federal fix.

According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, the strongest current protections are coming from states and districts rather than Congress or federal agencies. While some Democratic senators have spoken against mass enforcement actions and been urged to “stop ICE raids,” there has been no unified, public demand aimed squarely at the Department of Education to halt school-related actions in 2025.

Federal Context and What Schools Can Do Now

With the “sensitive locations” guidance gone, school leaders are seeking lawful steps they can take to protect students. The core legal rule remains:

• Only a judicial warrant compels entry to non-public areas of a school.
• An administrative warrant—signed by a Department of Homeland Security official rather than a judge—does not compel entry.

Key practical points for schools:

• Schools are not required to assist in enforcement actions and can deny entry to non-public areas without a judicial warrant.
• Many districts have designated a single point person to handle contact with immigration officers, trained front office staff to recognize warrants, and created scripts for calm, consistent communication.

Privacy protections still apply under FERPA, the federal student privacy law, which limits disclosure of student records without consent, subject to narrow exceptions. Districts reviewing their privacy practices can consult the U.S. Department of Education’s FERPA resources for official guidance and training materials.

For more, see the Department’s overview of FERPA protections at the U.S. Department of Education.

Advocates and legal scholars stress that every child, regardless of immigration status, has a right to attend public school. Districts are being urged to:
– Keep enrollment barriers low.
– Avoid collecting immigration-related information unless required by law.
– Prepare written plans for responding to any enforcement presence near school grounds.

Reports from 2025 describe stepped-up operations in major cities, with accounts of aggressive tactics and, in some cases, children swept up during broader enforcement actions. Community groups say those events have fueled anxiety, missed school days, and trauma in classrooms. Teachers report students asking whether it’s safe to walk to school or whether a parent will be at home after dismissal. Those fears are driving attendance challenges and increased counseling needs, especially in districts with many mixed-status families.

School-based plans often include simple steps that can make a big difference in tense moments:

1. Designate a trained administrator as the sole contact for any law enforcement inquiry.
2. Keep copies of template letters requesting agents wait while the district’s counsel reviews any warrant.
3. Train front office staff to verify identification and calmly direct agents to the designated point person.
4. Document every interaction: copy IDs and warrants, and note where officers went and for how long.
5. Provide clear, multilingual messages to families after any enforcement presence, provided doing so does not interfere with lawful investigations.

Community Impact, Political Pressure, and Possible Paths Ahead

Large public protests against mass deportations and ICE raids continued nationwide in 2025, with California, Texas, and New York among the states seeing strong turnout. Yet those demonstrations have not produced a unified federal legislative push from Democratic senators aimed specifically at stopping enforcement near schools through the Department of Education.

That gap between federal inaction and local urgency has left school superintendents navigating a charged environment with few federal guardrails. California’s AB 49 and SB 98 offer a template other states could copy: require judicial warrants for non-public areas, log every step, and promptly notify the school community. But without a federal policy—reinstating or replacing prior “sensitive locations” guidance—districts in other states will continue to face uneven practices.

Immigrant families are seeking clear, trustworthy advice. Community lawyers and civil rights groups recommend simple planning:
– Know who will pick up a child if a parent is detained.
– Keep key documents in one place.
– Share school emergency contacts with a trusted adult.

Some districts now host evening workshops with pro bono attorneys focusing on student rights, privacy, and how to respond if officers request entry. These sessions help reduce fear and keep students in class.

Politically, pressure may rise on Democratic senators to do more than issue statements. Some advocates want a public, coordinated push for the Department of Education to use its authority—through guidance, funding conditions, or civil rights enforcement—to protect schools from disruptions tied to immigration operations. Others argue the fastest routes are through DHS policy under President Trump or through state laws that control access to public buildings.

For now, state-level action, district protocols, and community planning are doing most of the work to keep classrooms calm. Schools must balance respect for lawful warrants with their duty to keep students safe and learning. That balance depends on training, clear roles, and strong communication—steps districts can take today even without new federal rules.