As students left Roosevelt High School in south Minneapolis on Friday afternoon, parent Jen Newberg stood on a street corner wearing a pin that read, “I stand with immigrants.”
Newberg, a trained constitutional observer, has been watching the area since Wednesday, documenting any U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activity. “I feel my presence as a neighbor is important, and I want kids to feel safe,” she said.
Her vigilance comes as part of a loose network of community members monitoring public schools during DHS’s “Operation Metro Surge,” a program spurred by President Trump’s renewed criticisms of Minnesota’s Somali community.
While Newberg observed the street, volunteers Emily Phillips and Marie Purcell drove past Roosevelt High before checking other nearby schools. The women don’t know Newberg personally but share her mission. “We’re hearing a lot from parents and teachers who want more community presence,” Purcell said.
The activity comes amid heightened concern in local school districts. On Thursday, St. Louis Park Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Carlondrea Hines alerted families to reported ICE sightings near a school. While she said there was no confirmed incident, the district increased supervision to ensure students got home safely.
Hines emphasized legal protections for students: “The only legal paperwork that would compel us to act is a judicial order signed by a judge. Without that, we will not confirm the enrollment or attendance of any student. ICE or other law enforcement agents may not access school grounds beyond the main office without specific court documents.”
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