Poppy Bilderbeck
A school superintendent has spoken out after ICE officials allegedly detained four children from the same school district.
In Minnesota on January 7, Renee Nicole Good was fatally shot by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent Jonathan Ross shortly after dropping her six-year-old off at school in Minneapolis.
On January 14, ICE agents were reported as sitting down to eat lunch at a Mexican restaurant in Willmar, before returning just hours later to detain employees after they closed the establishment for the evening.
Now, reports have emerged of ICE detaining four children from the school district in Minneapolis suburb Columbia Heights, including five-year-old preschooler Liam Ramos.
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The young boy had just returned home from school accompanied by his father on Tuesday (January 20) when the pair were apprehended by ICE officials and taken into custody, superintendent of Liam's school, Zena Stenvik, said, as reported by The Guardian.
Stenvik has since spoken out revealing further details surrounding the pair's detainment alongside her fears for the other children too.
On January 6, a 10-year-old fourth grade student was on her way to school with her mom when the pair were allegedly taken in by ICE, Stevnik said.
A 17-year-old Columbia Heights student was also reportedly taken on the same day as Liam.
The superintendent alleged the student was taken without parents present by 'armed and masked agents'.
On January 14, Stevnik reported another 17-year-old high schooler was taken along with her mother.
Stevnik accused ICE agents of 'roaming our neighborhoods, circling our schools, following our buses, coming into our parking lots and taking our kids'.
She reflected the children have been left 'traumatized' and the whole community 'shaken'.
The superintendent resolved: "I can speak on behalf of all school staff when I say our hearts are shattered. After our fourth student was taken yesterday, I just thought someone has to hear the story. They’re taking children."
However, Department of Homeland Security assistant secretary, Tricia McLaughlin, has since spoken out, denying ICE has 'target[ted] a child'.
In a statement released on January 21, McLaughlin branded Liam's father an 'illegal alien' and said the operation was conducted to 'target' him.
She said: "ICE did NOT target a child."
She alleged Liam's father 'abandoned' the child and defended 'one of our ICE officers' simply 'remained with the child' for Liam's 'safety'.
The statement added: "Parents are asked if they want to be removed with their children, or ICE will place the children with a safe person the parent designates."
The attorney representing Liam's family, Marc Prokosch, believes the pair remain in detention together.
Stevnik resolved: "Why detain a five-year-old? You cannot tell me that this child is going to be classified as a violent criminal."
Prokosch added Liam's family 'did not come here illegally,' sharing paperwork of their entry via an official crossing point.
He stressed they 'are not criminals' and 'did everything they were supposed to in accordance with how the rules have been set out'.