Tensions ran high at Tuesday's Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools board meeting as dozens of community members voiced fierce opposition to the district's policies regarding Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents on school campuses, just days before the start of the new school year.
The emotionally charged meeting grew so contentious that security escorted one woman from the room during the public comment period, where nearly a dozen speakers expressed concerns about student safety and the district's cooperation with federal immigration authorities.
"Refuse unjust orders, ban ICE from schools," one community advocate told board members, while another declared, "The children's blood is on your hands."
The criticism centers on CMS's updated protocols for handling ICE agents on school property. According to an internal manual distributed to principals and the superintendent's cabinet, ICE agents are now permitted in public areas of school grounds — including lobbies, waiting areas and parking lots — without prior permission from school officials.
