Denver Public Schools sues DHS over policy allowing ICE in schools

Denver Public Schools (DPS) sued the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on Wednesday over its new Trump administration policy allowing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to conduct raids in schools.

The federal lawsuits says the change from previous ICE policy has led to a decrease in attendance and a diversion of resources at the schools.

“DPS has therefore spent significant time and resources implementing policies ensuring student safety and training staff and faculty to effectively respond to encounters with individuals claiming to be conducting immigration enforcement activities on school grounds,” the lawsuit reads.

“Since the enactment of the 2025 Policy, DPS has also been forced to use resources to respond to false reports of ICE activities at schools,” it added.

After President Trump took office, the DHS rescinded a longtime policy that said ICE could not go into schools or hospitals.

Trump has made increased immigration enforcement a central pillar of his second administration, seeking to ramp up both raids and deportations.

Last month, Chicago Public Schools had a false report of ICE agents, and officials confused them with Secret Service agents.

“We will not open our door for ICE, and we are here to protect our children,” said Natasha Ortega, principal of Hamline Elementary in Chicago.

There have been no confirmed ICE raids at schools since the policy was changed, but the suit says the policy alone is having a deleterious effect.

“DPS is hindered in fulfilling its mission of providing education and life services to the students who are refraining from attending DPS schools for fear of immigration enforcement actions occurring on DPS school grounds,” the lawsuit says.

Depending on the location of a school district, some have been hesitant to share what their plans are if ICE shows up due to the political environment around the issue.

The Hill has reached out to DHS for comment.

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