Forest Hill CLC in Akron, Ohio was placed on lockdown Tuesday afternoon following reports of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in the area. While no ICE agents entered the school, the precautionary measure was taken to ensure the safety of students and staff. This incident has sparked concerns within the community, particularly among families with refugee and immigrant backgrounds.
An Akron elementary school was placed on lockdown Tuesday afternoon following the reported presence of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement ( ICE ) agents in the vicinity. Forest Hill CLC implemented an exterior lockdown as a precautionary measure, according to the Akron Education Association. 'The fear especially for this community that has a large refugee and immigrant population,' said AEA V.P. Michael Harkness.
Akron Public Schools (APS) confirmed the lockdown in a statement, emphasizing that no ICE agents entered the school. During the lockdown, internal doors were secured while classes continued with minimal disruption. The lockdown was lifted shortly after administrators confirmed no immediate threat. APS maintains clear procedures for staff interactions with law enforcement, prioritizing student safety, privacy and well-being. These procedures include maintaining a calm and professional environment, protecting student information, adhering to established protocols, supporting displaced students, and connecting families with community resources. APS acknowledges the potential impact of recent directives from ICE and DHS on families' sense of security. The district is committed to addressing these concerns and has implemented policies restricting access to school facilities. APS will continue to review and update its immigration policies in accordance with federal and state directives. 'We are committed to designing safe, affirming and inclusive environments where all members of our community are respected and supported,' said Dr. Stacey Hodoh, Director of Strategic Communications and Media Relations. 'These procedures ensure we can continue to prioritize student well-being during challenging times.'Our team spoke with parents picking up their children from Forest Hill. They told us they were unaware of the lockdown but did receive a text from APS this morning asking them to update their child's emergency contact information. 'In the school around the school is crazy, you know kids come here to learn not to be harassed by ICE or cops or anything like that,' said one parent. Twenty people were arrested in ICE raids across northeast Ohio over the weekend and 956 arrests nationwide Sunday, with 969 Tuesday. Homeland Security Investigations Detroit, which oversees Ohio and Michigan, confirmed arrests happened in both states. 'U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, along with federal partners, including the FBI, ATF, DEA, CBP and the U.S. Marshals Service, began conducting enhanced targeted operations today in Chicago to enforce U.S. immigration law and preserve public safety and national security by keeping potentially dangerous criminal aliens out of our communities,' a statement said. 'As a teacher, we think this is a very concerning trend right now that our kids have to come to school and now fearful of whether or not they’re going to go home and family is going to be there,' said Harkness.We understand that ICE does have a confirmed presence in Northeast Ohio with an office in Cleveland. We’ve heard reports of an ICE presence here in Akron which we’ve been unable to confirm thus far. We’ve also heard reports from our colleagues in other cities that ICE is acting without notifying other municipalities of their actions or intentions. Neither our office nor APD have had any contact with members of ICE. We’ve been in contact with APS leadership today and will continue to communicate with our community partners.
ICE Immigration Lockdown Akron Schools Student Safety Community Concerns
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