Duluth Schools Superintendent court filing points to ICE vehicle ‘near’ school

John Magas

(Duluth Public Schools)

DULUTH, Minn. – A statement from Duluth Schools Superintendent John Magas filed in federal court points out one specific incident of ICE officers near a Duluth School.

Magas’s filling reads, “On December 19, 2025, an ICE vehicle was observed near one of our high schools for approximately an hour. The school district received a call from community members who were concerned about the agents’ proximity to the school. A city official contacted a local DHS official about it and was told that ICE was investigating a target.”

The filing did not mention what happened on that date or any other specific instances of ICE at or near schools.

The statement was in a declaration filed in federal court on February 23, 2026.  Magas wrote his statement three days prior.  It was filed to explain why Duluth Schools should be involved in the lawsuit against Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and the Homeland Security Department.  Duluth Schools, along with the Fridley School District and a teachers’ union, are suing.  They are arguing that the “Protected Locations Policy” should be continued.  It was past policy that federal law enforcement should limit immigration enforcement actions in areas where individuals have access to essential services, including schools.  The Trump Administration has ended that policy.

His filing continued, “Our district currently has many students who are absent from school due to safety concerns related to immigration enforcement near school grounds and bus stops. Families have reported to school staff that they are afraid to send their children to school based on their fear of immigration enforcement in these locations. Our adult English Learner courses are now almost empty because the students did not feel safe coming to class due to the risk of immigration enforcement activities near school buildings.”

Magas wrote, “We have had to develop protocols and train school bus and van drivers about how to interact appropriately with immigration enforcement agents and keep students safe if immigration agents appear at school transportation stops or pull over school vehicles.”  FOX 21 has obtained a copy of those policies, which can be seen by clicking HERE.

He continued, “We already have at least one student who is facing unenrollment due to fifteen days of consecutive absences.” Minnesota state law says that if a student misses more than 15 consecutive days of school, the district must unenroll the student.  Magas also wrote that for every student enrolled in school, the district receives about $10,o00 in funding from the state per year.  That student being unenrolled would clearly cost the district money.

RELATED: Duluth Public Schools issues ICE‑interaction protocols to school bus drivers

RELATED: Hearing in Duluth School lawsuit versus Homeland Security scheduled

RELATED: Duluth Public Schools receiving 4-million-dollar budget cut

Magas said the change of the Protected Locations Policy from the Federal Government is having clear impacts on school staff.  He wrote, “Over the past two months alone, approximately 30% of our safety team and other administrators’ time has been spent… in response to the change in the Protected Locations Policy and the concomitant threat of immigration enforcement activities near schools, buses, bus stops, and school activities. All this redirected administrative time translates to a cost of approximately $573,000 a month spent on tasks related to immigration enforcement operations rather than normal district business.”

He added, “[An] AI program that Duluth Schools planned to roll out in early 2026 is on hold because administrators have not had time to complete necessary work on the project.”

Magas’ seven page filling ends with, “In addition to the financial impact, the change in the Protected Locations Policy has had a grave psychological impact. Our students and staff are operating daily at heightened anxiety. Restoring the previous Protected Locations Policy would ensure that teachers, school staff, and students could focus on teaching and learning.”