Social media post says ICE agents visited IPS elementary school. District officials say no

USA Today

29-01-2025

Social media post says ICE agents visited IPS elementary school. District officials say no
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Hear about HB 1158, one of immigration laws, from author Rep. Lauer
Indiana Rep. Ryan Lauer presents HB 1158 during the House local government committee hearing, one of immigration bills this legislative session.
A social media rumor started Wednesday said that Brookside Elementary School on the east side of Indianapolis went on lockdown after U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents were outside the building.
But officials said there was no truth to the claim.
Indianapolis Public School media relations director Marc Ransford told IndyStar Wednesday afternoon that the school had not been on any lockdowns and that ICE agents had not visited the building.
The rumor spread rapidly Wednesday afternoon on social media. IndyStar reached out to the person thought to have originated the rumor and did not immediately hear back.
Many of those who shared the rumor on their pages also expressed concern about President Donald Trump's decision to reverse previous protections for schools to be 'protected' locations when it comes to immigration law enforcement.
IPS has said it will not let ICE in schools without a warrant. Ransford reiterated that on Wednesday after media outlets reached out to school officials regarding the matter.
Last week, IPS informed families about the district's policies about allowing ICE onto school grounds. District officials have said school staff are trained on how to respond to situations involving undocumented students and families.
Every child in the U.S., regardless of immigration status, has a right to attend public school under federal law.
The post that spread on social media featured a text message that read, "Ice is waiting outside Brookside school. They are on a soft lockdown."
The person who posted the image on the social media platform Facebook shared on the post that school administrators "went outside to make ICE leave," attributing the information to "a school partner."
Ransford said none of the events detailed in the post had actually happened.
Officials from the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, to whom ICE may turn for help in some cases, said that they had not been asked to assist with any investigations.