WASHINGTON, D.C.: The Child Care for Every Family Network has released the following statement in response to armed ICE enforcement, citizen policing, and intimidation in our communities:

Over the past year, the federal government has increasingly used its power in ways that have destabilized child care systems and endangered the communities that make child care possible. What should be a commitment to children’s safety and family stability has instead been replaced by actions rooted in fear, intimidation, racism, xenophobia, and retaliatory use of federal power.

In recent weeks, this escalation has had devastating consequences. Federal actions, including funding freezes, vague and unsubstantiated allegations of fraud, ICE abductions of child care providers, and the encouragement of surveillance and intimidation around child care programs are causing extreme harm to families and children. Citizen policing, harassment, and unsafe surveillance have also disproportionately targeted Somali and immigrant child care providers. These actions have frightened families and children, disrupted care, and pushed providers out of a system that is already on the brink.

This escalation turned deadly with the recent killing of ICE observer Renee Nicole Good in Minneapolis – an event that cannot be separated from the heightened federal presence, fear-based enforcement, and erosion of trust in our communities. When child care providers, families, and community members are treated as suspects with no evidence instead of the caregivers and neighbors they are, the result is instability, harm, and loss of life.

Child care programs must be safe, trusted spaces for children, families, and caregivers. The involvement of armed enforcement, “citizen policing,” surveillance, or intimidation around child care settings undermines safety, erodes trust, and puts children and providers at risk. 

We call on federal leaders to immediately restore full child care funding, end intimidation and enforcement tactics that target child care communities, and halt the escalation of armed enforcement in our communities that has already resulted in tragic and preventable loss of life.

Families need stability. Providers need safety. Children deserve care environments free from fear, chaos, and political intimidation. Communities deserve better than reckless endangerment, intimidation, and violence.

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The Child Care for Every Family Network is the largest united group of state and national organizations, child care providers and early educators, impacted families, and organizers working together to transform child care. Our network currently includes 2,000+ groups and individuals and is expanding every day as we work to build the power necessary to win. Learn more at childcareforeveryfamily.org