It looks like the battle over immigration enforcement is heating up in Massachusetts, and Worcester Public Schools have planted their flag firmly in the middle of the controversy. A recently revealed directive instructs bus drivers to refuse to let students off buses if U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents are present at bus stops. The directive, part of a broader effort to resist federal immigration crackdowns under the Trump administration, underscores just how far sanctuary policies have gone in the Bay State. But whether it’s a genuine effort to protect students or political theater designed to stoke fear, one thing is clear: the debate is far from over.
The letter, obtained by local outlets, makes it clear that Worcester’s public school system is taking a hardline stance. “If you are aware of any [ICE] agents being at a stop, DO NOT let any student off the bus and contact the transportation office immediately,” the letter instructed bus drivers. In case there was any doubt, Superintendent Rachel Monarrez reiterated that the district will not cooperate with ICE under any circumstances, saying ICE agents would not be allowed into school facilities without a warrant signed by a federal judge.
This directive comes as Massachusetts’ Democratic leadership, led by Governor Maura Healey, doubles down on promises to resist Trump’s immigration enforcement agenda in the sanctuary state. Massachusetts has already found itself at the center of the nation’s ongoing immigration crisis. The state has taken in large numbers of migrants, housing many of them in taxpayer-funded hotels. Reports from these facilities have painted a grim picture: chaos, violence, and alleged sexual assaults, along with millions of dollars in wasted spending. Worcester’s new bus policy, framed as protecting children, could be seen as an extension of this broader sanctuary mentality.
But not everyone is buying it. Logan Trupiano, a spokesperson for the Massachusetts Republican Party, accused the district of fear-mongering. “It’s clear that ICE is targeting violent criminals, not children,” Trupiano said in a statement to The Daily Wire. “This political posturing is stoking unnecessary fear and deliberately misrepresenting what is actually happening on the streets.”
NEW: The school district of Massachusetts’s second largest city is directing bus drivers to not let students off at stops where ICE agents are present. pic.twitter.com/vMlzX7jxUJ
— Kassy Akiva (@KassyAkiva) January 23, 2025
Indeed, Trump’s administration has made it clear that ICE is focused on apprehending illegal immigrants who pose public safety threats, not rounding up children at bus stops. Acting Homeland Security Secretary Benjamine Huffman announced that Trump had withdrawn Biden-era guidelines that had deemed areas like schools and churches off-limits for ICE enforcement. “Criminals will no longer be able to hide in America’s schools and churches to avoid arrest,” Huffman said.
This shift in policy marks a return to Trump’s first-term priorities, when the administration sought to aggressively enforce immigration laws. Border Czar Tom Homan echoed this sentiment, revealing that ICE agents are already in the field targeting criminal illegal immigrants for deportation. “They’ve developed target sheets, an operational plan to go out in the field … so they’re out there right now looking for the most serious public safety threats throughout the country,” Homan said.
Meanwhile, Worcester’s actions have drawn criticism not just for their apparent defiance of federal law but also for what some see as unnecessary alarmism. By directing bus drivers to essentially deny children access to their homes if ICE agents are present, the district is creating a logistical and ethical nightmare. Are these directives truly about protecting kids, or are they a calculated act of resistance designed to score political points?
Critics argue that policies like these serve only to sow confusion and mistrust. ICE has repeatedly stated that its priority is targeting violent offenders, not conducting random enforcement actions against families or children. Yet, progressive groups like The Century Foundation are actively training school officials to obstruct federal law enforcement, advising principals to meet ICE agents at the door and call district lawyers before cooperating. While it’s framed as protecting immigrant families, it raises serious questions about the balance between federal authority and local resistance.
For Trump’s administration, this kind of defiance only highlights the urgency of their mission. The rollback of Biden-era “sensitive location” protections is meant to ensure that no sanctuary is off-limits for those who pose a threat to public safety. The administration’s message is clear: sanctuary policies won’t be allowed to undermine national security or the rule of law.
But for sanctuary states like Massachusetts, the message from leaders is just as clear: they intend to resist Trump’s immigration policies at every turn, regardless of federal law. Worcester’s directive to bus drivers is just the latest example of this broader resistance movement.