Denver school district sues Trump admin over possible ICE raids

Denver Public Schools (DPS) has filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration for permitting immigration enforcement officers to enter schools and other previously protected areas.

DPS filed the complaint against the Department of Homeland Security on Wednesday, claiming “irreparable harm” was done to the public school system.

Previously, ICE agents would not enter “protected areas” such as schools, medical facilities, places of worship, or social services centers.  

Many public schools, including DPS, are resisting President Trump’s rescission of protected areas, which is part of his broader crackdown on illegal immigration.  

DPS’ lawsuit claimed the district was harmed because it had to spend “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.”  

It continued, “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.”  

However, DHS defended its mission as vital to protecting all Americans.  

“We are protecting our schools, places of worship, and Americans who attend by preventing criminal aliens and gang members from exploiting these locations and taking safe haven there because these criminals knew law enforcement couldn’t go inside under the previous Administration,” Tricia McLaughlin, secretary of public affairs at DHS, said in a statement to CBS News Colorado. 

Nevertheless, DHS doesn’t expect formerly protected spaces to be frequently raided. 

“Our agents use discretion,” McLaughlin added. “Officers would need secondary supervisor approval before any action can be taken in locations such as a church or a school. We expect these to be extremely rare.” 

Despite the assurances of the Trump administration, DPS is opposing illegal immigration enforcement. 

“It’s time to protect the fact that we are educators, not first responders,” Superintendent Alex Marrero told CBS. 

But what Marrero – and other public school officials – aren’t mentioning is how illegal immigration puts a tremendous strain on the public education system.  

According to the Colorado-based Common Sense Institute, roughly 42,000 migrants came to Denver from the southern border between December 2022 and May 2024.  

The same report estimated the city spent between $216 and $340 million on various services for these immigrants, including the additional $98 million needed for public schools.  

And the problem isn’t unique to Denver.  

Illegal immigration adds roughly $7.6 billion to public education costs nationwide per year, according to one analysis. English Language Learners (ELLs) also cost thousands more per pupil to educate.