Officials with the Parent Teacher Association (PTA) in Maryland’s largest school district, Montgomery County, recently hosted a virtual training aimed at helping entire families in to recognize, respond and interfere with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activity in their communities.
The online session, titled “ICE Response & Organizing Tools for PTAs, Parents & Guardians,” was held on January 20 and focused on equipping parents and school volunteers with information about how to identify agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement and what steps families can take if they encounter enforcement activity near schools or neighborhoods.
The event was headlined by Councilwoman Kristin Mink, who addressed participants on strategies she said could help families feel safer. According to materials from the presentation, Mink discussed ways to recognize ICE officers and encouraged parents and school groups to coordinate “safe passages” that would allow students and families to travel to and from school with greater confidence.
A slide deck from Mink’s presentation included guidance on community organizing and featured a section described as a “necessary reflection on power,” urging attendees to consider how authority and enforcement affect immigrant families. The slide also emphasized the role of collective action and information-sharing among parents and guardians.
The presentation materials were obtained by Defending Education and later shared with National Review, which reported on the training and its contents. The outlet noted that the session went beyond general information and encouraged organized responses by parent groups.
Supporters of the training argue that it provides families with practical knowledge and reassurance during a period of heightened anxiety around immigration enforcement. Critics, however, have questioned whether such programming is appropriate for PTA-led events and whether it risks politicizing parent organizations.
School district officials have not publicly commented on the session.