I think It was all just a big misunderstanding. ICE visits Metro School.

ICE Agent

by Rod Williams - I think it was all just a big misunderstanding.  Someone went to Una Elementary School and said something about ice and wanted to see something.  The principal thought they were from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency.  The principle, if it really happened, correctly, in my view, refused to hand over student records.  

I believe in privacy and the fourth amendment and school records should not be shared with law enforcement without a court order.  Some of my conservative brethren have reacted and criticized the school for not handing over the records. It seems some have let their desire to cure the problem of undocumented immigration override their concern for constitutional protections.  I bet they would want the school system to protect student records if it was the Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms asking for records or the Internal Revenue Service or any number of other agencies except ICE.

Ice machine repairman

Following the incident, which may or may not have occurred, there were lots of congratulatory pontificating by the Tennessean and local politicians and advocates of illegal immigration for the school's refusal to cooperate with ICE.  

I thought the whole incident was a little weird because the report was very sketchy and ICE, as a matter of policy, does not conduct enforcement in schools or hospitals.  Metro Public Schools said that two uniformed men visited the school though they had no specifics on the appearance of uniforms the men wore.   School employees said the two men were wearing "official-looking uniforms," stated that they were government agents, and presented official-looking IDs. They say the men presented a list of student names and demanded those students records. The school employees said the men behaved in an intimidating manner, and claimed they were entitled to see the records. School officials say they denied the request and sent the men away.
 
According to ICE it didn't happen. The school did not report the incident at the time and it kind of came to light by accident.  The school has security cameras but after a month passed since the incident occurred, footage of that day was no longer available. The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement denies the report. They say they have no record of any ICE agent visiting a school.  ICE says their sensitive locations policy specifies that enforcement actions at designated sensitive locations should generally be avoided. Schools are listed as one of the sensitive locations.

I think what may have happened is that someone showed up at Una and said they were sent to look at the schools ice machine and wanted to see the ice machine maintenance records. They were probably wearing the uniforms of the appliance repair company for whom they work.

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