A Tempe mother and her son were detained by ICE and taken to a processing center in Texas, prompting school to alter promotion ceremony and students to plan protest.
TEMPE , AZ — A Tempe parent and student were detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and taken to the Dilley Immigration Processing Center in Texas, according to a post on X by Representative Greg Stanton.
Stanton posted on X on Wednesday that the family should be home celebrating their son's eighth-grade promotion, not in federal detention hundreds of miles away. Texas Congressman Joaquin Castro has since posted that the mother and son arrived in San Antonio. The mother and son arrived in San Antonio this afternoon. Our children should be at school and with their family and friends.
Not locked away at the Dilley trailer prison. Thank you @RepGregStanton for seeing the conditions at Dilley firsthand and fighting against this cruelty. https://t.co/BzcUAG3FWg — Joaquin Castro May 27, 2026 In a letter sent to families by Shamley School Principal Bronwyn Sternberg in the Tempe Elementary School District, she says the incident happened on Tuesday and that at no point did agents enter the school.
Sternberg added that the parent had signed the student out of school beforehand and that the detention did not happen on school property. The letter goes on to state that Thursday is the school’s eighth-grade promotion ceremony, and to ensure safety, parents and guests will no longer be allowed in the audience. Sternberg says sixth- and seventh-grade students will attend the ceremony to celebrate, and it will be recorded with a link sent to families.
“This change may be disappointing for some families; however, we feel it is truly in the best interest of our students and staff. I appreciate the partnership, kind words, and questions that I have received from our parents. Thank you for your cooperation as we prioritize our students,” she said. A district spokesperson said they have been made aware that some students are considering protesting or walking out on Thursday.
The district said it respects that right, but that students must be properly signed out by a parent. The spokesperson said additional security measures will also be on campus. Latest from ABC15:
ICE Detention Tempe Eighth-Grade Promotion School Safety Immigration
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