Minnesota PTA submitted written testimony to the House Education Policy Committee hearing on 2/17/26 in support of HF3435. This bill would limit access by federal immigration agents to school areas where students are not present, unless they provided valid identification, a written statement of purpose, and a valid judicial warrant, in addition to receiving approval from a district superintendent or charter school administrator.
In a 7-7 vote along party lines, the bill was not approved to move out of this committee to the next step, which could have been another committee or to a vote in the MN House. (House Session Daily article: Education panel fails to approve bill that’d keep ICE away from schools, students). Testifiers spoke for almost two hours, sharing story after story of the distress, disruption and long-term impacts of recent immigration enforcement on Minnesota students, staff, families and schools.
The Senate Education Finance Committee held their own hearing earlier in the day which also provided an opportunity for immigration enforcement effects to be shared. While there was no specific legislation being considered, testifiers asked that future legislation be passed to give schools additional funds to address the financial impacts of student absences, resources for mental health professionals, and to maintain or increase services for low-income and special education students. Members of the Committee also shared perspectives about the impacts of immigration enforcement that, like in the House Education Policy Committee, also differed along party lines.
The House Education Policy Committee held a hearing on 2/19 about "Presentations on the Impact of Operation Metro Surge on Minnesota's Students and School Communities". Past Minnesota PTA President Heather Starks testified at the hearing from her perspective as a Bloomington School Board member.
