Seattle Public Schools’ statement on Tuesday’s ICE rumors

Several readers asked us on Tuesday about some Seattle Public Schools campuses outside West Seattle going into shelter-in-place after rumors of ICE sightings, and they asked us about additional rumors of a possible sighting here, in the Admiral Safeway area, of particular concern since that is just north of West Seattle High School. None of these rumored sightings, in West Seattle or elsewhere, were verified; some regional news outlets reported on the non-West Seattle shelter-in-place schools, and quoted the district as promising a more detailed statement. We just received it and are publishing it given its district-wide focus:

On Tuesday, several Seattle Public Schools campuses enacted shelter-in-place protocols out of an abundance of caution following unconfirmed community reports of possible Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activity in nearby neighborhoods.

The schools that entered a shelter-in-place protocol included Mercer International Middle School, Aki Kurose Middle School, Cleveland STEM High School, and Maple Elementary. While other schools took precautionary measures, it was mistakenly reported that Dearborn Park International and Beacon Hill International were under a shelter in place.

During a shelter‑in‑place, all exterior doors are locked, and normal learning and operations continue inside the building. Many schools maintained this posture for the remainder of the school day. Aki Kurose lifted its shelter‑in‑place at noon, and Cleveland STEM High School lifted after lunch. All classroom instruction continued uninterrupted, and the day ended safely.

Throughout the day, SPS Safety and Security staff were present at school sites and did not observe any ICE presence at or near SPS campuses. The district continues to monitor information closely and works to verify all reports before acting.

Should immigration enforcement agencies attempt to enter school property, SPS has established clear procedures for schools to follow in coordination with legal counsel. Immigration enforcement cannot enter school buildings without a verified judicial warrant or court order. We will continue to work with our building leaders to provide guidance and support to conduct risk assessments when there are any reports of ICE in the community.

Seattle Public Schools remains committed to providing safe, welcoming, and inclusive learning environments for every student, regardless of race, religion, national origin, immigration status, gender identity, or sexual orientation.

Workdowntown January 21, 2026 (6:34 pm)

I’m having Nazi nightmares. Seriously. Thanks SPS!

Gandy January 21, 2026 (6:40 pm)

I’m glad SPS is taking this seriously. Thank you for reporting on it.

Derek January 21, 2026 (7:56 pm)

Can’t imagine how bad this is for children. This is a public health crisis.

DBurns January 21, 2026 (8:05 pm)

This country is unrecognizable. Another thing to scare our kids. Tragic.

Ron January 21, 2026 (9:33 pm)

We all need to take this serious. I work at a clinic. The new SOP(standard operating procedure) has recently changed. To letting ICE come into the clinic, vs a lockdown. We have a lot of staff that refuses to comply with these new internal guidelines. I myself will not…

Gandy January 21, 2026 (10:39 pm)

Assuming you mean you will also refuse to comply…hell yeah. That’s *real* patriotism. 🇺🇸✊

E January 21, 2026 (11:35 pm)

Thank you SPS for helping to protect our children. I thought I already had enough to worry about, sending my kids to school when there’s school shooting everyday.

Teacher January 22, 2026 (3:56 am)

Schools should be sanctuaries for our children: places where they have access to food, safety, care. The fear of ICE is real, and having outsized impacts. All of us need to stand up and fight back: true patriotism is upholding the Constitution and principles in the Declaration, not enforcing ICE policies. “Endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights” is not limited by documentation status.

22blades January 22, 2026 (5:16 am)

I personally saw an ICE SUV coming down Columbian Way turning into 6th Ave S on Tuesday. Unmarked, black, tinted windows, government rear plate, multiple antennas & a dash loaded with displays. He was yacking away on his radio not noticing the light turned green.

Watertowerjim January 22, 2026 (6:16 am)

ICE wasn’t there. Now they are getting maligned for not even being somewhere. Classic.

Lauren January 22, 2026 (9:42 am)

Yeah, I’m ok with “maligning” ICE anytime, anywhere, because they are malignant.
Pete January 22, 2026 (9:53 am)

ICE is being maligned for terrorizing innocent people. Their reputation precedes them. Classic.
Lisa January 22, 2026 (10:16 am)

Just because they weren’t verified, doesn’t mean they weren’t in the neighborhood. And, technically, no one was maligning them here. Simply expressing concern based on what we are all seeing in Minneapolis and beyond.

Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Lauren January 22, 2026 (7:20 am)

Nationwide events this Friday to stand in solidarity with Minneapolis and get ICE out of our communities. Join us! https://iceoutforgood.org/

Confused January 22, 2026 (8:54 am)

Honest question here, let’s stay respectful please. I’m curious why the school policy is a lockdown? What is the danger to children?

Phil C January 24, 2026 (2:44 pm)

Oh, I don’t know…How about being handcuffed and dragged out of the school, taken from their families and possibly deported to a country they have no relation to, possibly to a country IN A DIFFERENT HEMISPHERE than their origin??I’m sure it doesn’t matter to you, as they’re OBVIOUSLY criminals!

Resident January 22, 2026 (10:51 am)

I have a student at both West Seattle High and Franklin High. While I do not want ICE in schools and think this is terrible for our country in every way, I’m concerned about SPSs advice for students on non-compliance or obstruction of ICE agents if they try to come into schools. In my opinion this is thoughtless and dangerous, especially in light of Renee Good’s shooting. These are very scary times but we should not be using teens in this way.

WS Res January 22, 2026 (11:27 am)

SPSs advice for students on non-compliance or obstruction of ICE agents – Which advice is that, and where did you see/hear it?
K January 22, 2026 (11:47 am)

I haven’t seen anything from SPS recommending students themselves do anything if ICE shows up. The message here is pretty clearly “the grown-ups will handle it”.
Hop January 22, 2026 (2:12 pm)

Good was complying and an ICE thug shot her in the face so not really sure what your suggestion is here.

Gandy January 22, 2026 (12:05 pm)

What advice are you referring to? I didn’t see anything in their published statement about telling students not to comply or to obstruct ICE agents. They said they’re legally allowed to refuse to allow ICE into a school without a signed judicial warrant, which is true.

Resident January 22, 2026 (1:33 pm)

To be clear, I’m not saying this advice is stated on SPS’s website. Instead, this is the advice my teens are hearing from teachers and staff. I don’t want ICE in schools. But I fear for our kids coming to harm because they’re being asked to take actions that should be the responsibility of adults.

I’m sharing this concern because I hope parents will speak with their kids about the risks with obstructing ICE, if they do hear that advice from anyone.