EXCLUSIVE: Trump Admin Slams Media For Claiming ICE Targets Schools

The Trump administration slammed the legacy media on Monday for suggesting that Immigration and Customs Enforcement conducts raids at schools, the Department of Homeland Security told The Daily Wire. 

Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security Tricia McLaughlin accused the media of fear mongering with implying that the Trump administration was targeting students in classrooms. McLaughlin said arrests would only be made at schools if the target was an illegal immigrant employee.

“The Trump Administration will not tie the hands of our brave law enforcement and instead trusts them to use common sense,” McLaughlin said. “If a dangerous illegal alien felon were to flee into a school, or a child sex offender is working as an employee, there may be a situation where an arrest is made to protect public safety. But this has not happened.”

“The media is sadly attempting to create a climate of fear and smear law enforcement,” McLaughlin told The Daily Wire. “These smears are contributing to our ICE law enforcement officers facing 1,000% increase in assaults against them.”

Several media outlets have published stories highlighting fears that immigration authorities would show up at schools. 

The New York Times ran an article called “What if ICE Agents Show Up? Schools Prepare Teachers and Parents,” while the Washington Post published “This back-to-school season, educators prepare for ICE encounters.” NBC ran an article “‘The impact has been real’: ICE raid fears keep students out of classrooms.” 

“ICE is not going to schools to make arrests of children,” McLaughlin said, adding that criminals would “no longer be able to hide in America’s schools to avoid arrest.”

A press release from Homeland Security said that while ICE could conduct operations at schools, agents would use discretion and that the department said those circumstances would be “extremely rare.”

The Trump administration has focused on catching illegal aliens who have been convicted or charged with violent crimes in addition to illegally crossing the border.

Border Czar Tom Homan said during a speech at the State Freedom Caucus Summit over the weekend that over 70% of ICE arrests have been of those who have been charged with additional crimes. He added that the administration still maintained the right to deport anyone, regardless of whether they had committed a second crime upon entering the country.