Some students are returning from school to find their parents have been detained.
Some students have watched their parents be detained.
Some parents are sleeping at their job sites to avoid interacting with ICE on the streets.
Some parents are unable to work because ICE is on the streets.
Some families are terrified to leave their homes.
Some families are terrorized in their homes.
At Harding High School, our students and families have been directly and adversely impacted by Operation Metro Surge.
The East Side of Saint Paul has always been a place where newcomers arrive with hope - hope for safety, opportunity, and a better future for their children. For decades, Harding High School has stood at the heart of that promise, serving generations of immigrant families as a place of learning, belonging, and possibility.
As we move into the second month of ICE occupation in the Twin Cities, nearly 400 of our school's 1,600 students are sheltering-in-place out of fear for safety. Families are using caution when leaving their homes, going out only when it is absolutely necessary to do so. Parents are missing work, losing income, or sleeping at their jobs just to keep up with rent and basic expenses. The emotional toll is heavy, and the financial strain is sudden and overwhelming, especially for families already navigating insecurity.
No parent should have to choose between work and protecting themself or their family. No child should have to choose between education and fear. Funds raised through this effort will go directly to supporting Harding families with urgent basic needs, including rent, groceries, utilities, and other critical expenses, so families can feel a sense of stability during an incredibly uncertain time.
With the care and generosity of our neighbors, community members, and allies, we hope to offer relief and remind these families that they are not alone,and that Harding is still a place of support, dignity, and hope.
If you are able, please consider donating any amount. Every contribution, no matter the size, makes a real difference.
All funds will be distributed in a timely manner to support students and their families.
Thank you for showing up with compassion, courage, and solidarity.