Duluth Schools ICE Lawsuit — Sensitive Locations Challenge (St. Louis County)
Overview
In February 2026, Duluth Public Schools and Fridley Public Schools, along with Minnesota’s teachers’ union, filed a federal lawsuit challenging the Trump administration’s revocation of the longstanding “sensitive locations” policy that prohibited ICE enforcement at schools, hospitals, and houses of worship.
A federal judge heard arguments in the case on April 10, 2026.
What’s Happening in St. Louis County
St. Louis County (Duluth area) has an ICE hold room at 4431 Endeavor Drive, Duluth — a short-term processing facility under the St. Paul AOR. The county has an IGSA but no 287(g) agreement.
The lawsuit alleges:
- Parents and school staff are being stopped or detained on their way to and from school
- Arrests are taking place in school parking lots and at bus stops
- Children as young as 5 years old are being detained by federal agents
- School safety officials in Duluth now devote ~30% of their time to immigration-related security planning
The court filing states that immigration agents’ presence has “created an atmosphere of fear” at schools, affecting native-born citizens and legally present immigrants alike. Parents across the state are afraid to send their children to school.
Why This Matters
The Duluth lawsuit is nationally significant because it’s one of the first direct challenges to the rescission of the sensitive locations policy. If the court grants relief, it could restore protections at schools nationwide.
For St. Louis County specifically, the presence of ICE enforcement in the Duluth area — far from the Twin Cities metro — demonstrates that Operation Metro Surge’s reach extended well into northern Minnesota. Businesses from Rochester to Duluth reported employees being detained.
Sources
- Duluth News Tribune: Duluth Schools leads lawsuit to keep ICE out of schools
- Chalkbeat: Why Minnesota superintendents are suing to keep ICE away from schools
- Sahan Journal: Fridley, Duluth districts sue to stop ICE near schools
- EdWeek: Educators sue over ICE activity on school grounds
- Sahan Journal: Judge to decide on ICE near school grounds
- Duluth News Tribune: Following lawsuit, Duluth schools push for protected status
- FOX 9: Minnesota educators file lawsuit on ICE near schools
- Duluth News Tribune: Council may act to counter immigration enforcement concerns