On Sept. 29 at around 1 p.m., Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents were seen in the underconstruction homes in the Leonard neighborhood. This enforcement action, also known as a raid, lasted around thirty minutes and at least one arrest was made.
The neighborhood next to Leonard Elementary School has recently been under construction. Marilena Chis, the mother of a senior at Troy High School and a resident in these homes, was a witness to these events: “[I] never thought that something like this [would] happen right behind our backyard, in the middle of the day and most disturbing that this was just [a couple] hundred feet from the elementary school.” This event happened so abruptly that Leonard Elementary School, a four minute walk away, went into lockdown. Leonard Elementary School has chosen not to comment on this subject.
After President Donald Trump’s re-election, there was a shift of focus to immigrants in the US which has caused prevalent issues in local communities. These events are shared through social media, like the Metro Detroit Instagram account that has posted videos of arrests, and word of mouth. Gabriel Triculescu, a practicing immigration lawyer and parent of a senior at Troy High School, has been working on cases based in the Metro Detroit area. When asked about ICE’s arrest process, according to Triculescu: ICE raids begin from internal investigations, prior removal orders or target priorities; not phone calls. ICE does not notify schools, local police, school districts, or community institutions. Places such as schools are seen as “sensitive locations,” discouraging ICE raids unless necessary.
On Jan. 27, 2025, the Troy School District sent out an email regarding ICE raids in school: “As mandated by federal law, The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) strictly prohibits the release of student information without parental or guardian consent unless legally required.”
ICE raids becoming more common cause more people to be exposed to these possibly inappropriate scenarios. Chis states, “Seeing these ICE agents running through our backyards towards the construction site, fully armed, was chaotic and scary.” She continues, “I do not think this was handled appropriately. It should never disturb the peace in and so close to a school.” As these raids continue it’s important to stay aware, and conscious of the reality of “news stories.”
As said by Gabriel Triculescu, “Immigration enforcement is not only a legal matter — it is a human story. Behind every arrest is a family, a workplace and children who may wake up not knowing if a parent will return home. Regardless of one’s views on immigration policy, compassion and accuracy in reporting matter.”
