Protecting Schools, Hospitals, Campuses and Community Spaces as Places of Care, Learning and Belonging, Not Fear

WHEREAS, immigration enforcement actions across the United States have rapidly escalated in scope, visibility, and force, with heavily armed federal agents conducting raids, detentions, surveillance, and operations in and around neighborhoods, schools, college campuses, healthcare facilities, workplaces, and community spaces, creating fear and instability for millions of families; and

WHEREAS, these actions have resulted in family separation and detention or deportation following school attendance, medical care, worship, or community participation, driving families into the shadows and discouraging learning, healing, work, and public safety reporting; and

WHEREAS, peaceful protests in multiple U.S. cities have been met with extreme force by Immigration and Customs Enforcement and other federal agencies, resulting in protesters being beaten, tear-gassed, and killed; and

WHEREAS, in January 2026, community observers including a Veteran’s Affairs nurse were killed by federal agents while lawfully observing or documenting immigration enforcement actions, and additional deaths have occurred in ICE custody, deepening fear and mistrust in affected communities; and

WHEREAS, the increasing militarization of immigration enforcement has traumatized students, patients, educators, healthcare workers, and communities, fractured trust in public institutions, and made communities less safe; and

WHEREAS, the U.S. Supreme Court has affirmed the right of every child, regardless of immigration status, to a free K–12 public education, and schools, colleges and universities, healthcare facilities, places of worship, courts, libraries, childcare centers, and community institutions serve essential public missions and must remain accessible and safe for all; and

WHEREAS, the threat or presence of immigration enforcement in these spaces deters school attendance, limits access to healthcare and higher education, and prevents families from participating in worship and community services; and

WHEREAS, on Jan. 20, 2025, the Department of Homeland Security rescinded its protected areas (sensitive locations) policy, allowing immigration enforcement actions in schools, campuses, hospitals, places of worship, childcare centers and social service facilities, and at public demonstrations; and

WHEREAS, this policy change has led to impersonation of ICE officers and increased harassment, assault and intimidation in immigrant communities, regardless of actual immigration status; and

WHEREAS, educators, healthcare workers, and community institution staff serve as frontline supports for immigrant and refugee students, patients and families and must have clear guidance, training, protocols, and legal protections; and

WHEREAS, on behalf of AFT members whose deferred wages invested in pension funds, hold 6.79 million shares of Target stock, President Randi Weingarten called upon Target’s CEO to demand the withdrawal of ICE from Minnesota, citing investor risks associated with ICE’s presence and underscoring the responsibility of major employers and corporate leaders to protect their workers, customers, communities and long-term shareholder value; and

WHEREAS, while federal immigration enforcement agencies may reduce, relocate, or withdraw visible operations from Minneapolis or other affected communities, the long-term consequences of militarized enforcement—including trauma to children and families, loss of life, economic disruption, erosion of institutional trust, and fractured community relationships—will persist long after federal agents depart; and

WHEREAS, as a union of educators, healthcare workers, and public service workers, the AFT is committed to resisting authoritarianism and defending democracy, civil liberties, due process and human rights:

RESOLVED, that the AFT calls for the immediate withdrawal of ICE operations from Minnesota and other communities where enforcement actions have terrorized civilians; and

RESOLVED, that regardless of any reduction or withdrawal of ICE operations, the AFT calls upon corporate leaders, including Target Corp., to engage in sustained community repair efforts, including financial support and public advocacy for protective policies; and

RESOLVED, that the AFT calls on federal, state and local governments to enact and enforce laws and policies protecting schools, colleges and universities, hospitals and healthcare facilities, places of worship, courts, libraries, polling locations and community institutions as sensitive spaces free from immigration enforcement; and

RESOLVED, that AFT will advocate for passage of the Protecting Sensitive Locations Act or similar legislation at the federal and state levels; and

RESOLVED, that Congress needs to pass funding to keep America safe while also implementing critical and necessary steps for de-escalation, transparency and accountability from the Department of Homeland Security, including U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

RESOLVED, AFT supports congressional Democrats demands to rein in ICE and end the violence including the end of roving patrols and barring ICE agents from entering certain places; a use-of-force code for immigration enforcement agents; and requiring agents not to wear masks and to don body cameras.

RESOLVED, that the AFT urges school districts, higher education systems, healthcare facilities and community institutions to adopt safe zone and welcoming policies, strong data privacy protections and mandatory rapid-response protocols, and we will provide resources and sample policies to support this work; and

RESOLVED, that the AFT will work with community partners, immigrant rights organizations and faith leaders to prepare affiliates and members to respond to immigration enforcement actions and to educate members on their rights and on ensuring safety for ourselves and those we serve; and

RESOLVED, that the AFT demands that school, campus and public institution administrators cease punitive actions against peaceful protesters, refuse to assist ICE with unlawful actions, and uphold academic freedom, free speech and the right to assemble; and

RESOLVED, that the AFT reaffirms its commitment to defending schools, healthcare facilities, campuses, faith institutions, courts, other workplaces and community spaces as places of care, learning and belonging; protecting immigrant students, patients, workers and families; opposing laws that erode constitutional and privacy protections; and upholding human dignity and equal access to education, healthcare and community services for all.

Adopted February 18, 2026