Rep. Garamendi Joins 70 Democrats in Demanding Answers from Education Secretary on ICE’s Impact on Students

WASHINGTON, D.C. - This week, Congressman John Garamendi (CA-08) joins Democratic House Committee on Education and the Workforce Ranking Member Bobby Scott (D-VA-03), Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education Subcommittee Ranking Member Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01) and 68 House Democrats in demandingSecretary of Education Linda McMahon once again to provide answers regarding the impact of immigration enforcement actions on students, families, and schools.

This comes after an increased presence of federal immigration enforcement near school campuses - including a confrontation at Roosevelt High Schoolin Minneapolis shortly after an ICE agent fatally shot Renée Good, which prompted the school to close for the week and highlighted growing fears about enforcement near schools.

"Efforts by U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) have separated children from their families, disrupted school operations, and otherwise adversely affected students and families," the lawmakers wrote. "We remain deeply concerned about the impact these ongoing enforcement efforts will have on student health, well-being, and school engagement."

"ICE tactics are causing undeniable harm to students, harm that will likely lead to years of trauma in school communities. School districts across the country have reported rises in anxiety, stress, and other mental health challenges in students," they continued."We urge the Department to continue to uphold its obligation to provide the critical federal supports to address the needs of all students, including immigrant students, and those who serve them, as provided by Congress."

Democratic House members originally sent a letteron November 21, 2025, requesting information on the Department's support for all students, including immigrant students and students from mixed status families, affected by immigration enforcement. the Members have yet to receive a response from the Secretary.

This letter is also signed by Representatives Alma Adams (NC-12), Nanette Barragán (CA-44), Janelle Bynum (OR-05), Salud Carbajal (CA-24), Sean Casten (IL-06), Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Judy Chu (CA-28), Yvette Clarke (NY-09), Steve Cohen (TN-09), Adriano Espaillat (NY-13), J. Luis Correa (CA-46), Joe Courtney (CT-02), Jasmine Crockett (TX-30), Danny Davis (IL-07), Madeleine Dean (PA-04), Diana DeGette (CO-01), Mark DeSaulnier (CA-10), Maxine Dexter (OR-03), Dwight Evans (PA-03), Jesús García (IL-04), Sylvia Garcia (TX-29), Daniel Goldman (NY-10), Adelita Grijalva (AZ-07), Jahana Hayes (CT-05), Glenn Ivey (MD-04), Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Robin Kelly (IL-02), Timothy Kennedy (NY-26), Summer Lee (PA-12), Teresa Leger Fernández (NM-03), John Mannion (NY-22), Doris Matsui (CA-07), Lucy McBath (GA-06), Sarah McBride (DE-AL), Jennifer McClellan (VA-04), LaMonica McIver (NJ-10), Robert Menendez (NJ-08), Kweisi Mfume (MD-07), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC-AL), Ilhan Omar (MN-05), Jimmy Panetta (CA-19), Nancy Pelosi (CA-11), Scott Peters (CA-50), Brittany Pettersen (CO-07), Chellie Pingree (ME-01), Mike Quigley (IL-05), Delia Ramirez (IL-03), Luz Rivas (CA-29), Andrea Salinas (OR-06), Jan Schakowsky (IL-09) Lateefah Simon (CA-12), Adam Smith (WA-09), Darren Soto (FL-09), Haley Stevens (MI-11), Suhas Subramanyam (VA-10), Mark Takano (CA-39), Shri Thanedar (MI-13), Mike Thompson (CA-04), Dina Titus (NV-01), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), Jill Tokuda (HI-02), Paul Tonko (NY-20), Ritchie Torres (NY-15), Juan Vargas (CA-52), Nydia Velázquez (NY-07), James Walkinshaw (VA-11), Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-25), and Frederica Wilson (FL-24).

The full text of the letter can be found here.

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