Cincinnati, OH - Recent actions by law enforcement officers in Cincinnati schools, conducted on behalf of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), have ignited a discussion about the safety and well-being of unaccompanied minors and the critical role of immigration enforcement. On April 15, officers from Gratis, Ohio, visited Cincinnati schools to conduct what they termed “wellness checks,” aimed at verifying the enrollment status of certain students.

While these actions have drawn criticism from some quarters, they underscore the Trump administration's commitment to ensuring the welfare of children who have entered the country without proper documentation and to the proper vetting of those who would sponsor these children.

An ICE spokesperson stated that a local law enforcement partner was attempting to verify school enrollment and conduct welfare checks on children who arrived unaccompanied across the border. This is consistent with a broader DHS effort launched last November that claims that the Trump administration is “aimed at protecting the 450,000 unaccompanied children (UAC) illegally smuggled over the border” that the former claims entered the country under the Biden administration.

The Trump administration claims that sponsors of unaccompanied undocumented children who entered the US during the Joe Biden years were not always vetted properly, and in some cases have placed children in dangerous situations. These “wellness checks” are a responsible measure to ensure that these children are safe and accounted for.

Cincinnati Mayor Aftab Pureval’s criticism of these actions as “disgusting” is unwarranted. Law enforcement officers were simply fulfilling their duty to protect vulnerable children and uphold the law. The fact that the officers were denied access to students due to the absence of warrants or official documentation does not negate the legitimacy of their concerns or the importance of their mission. The Trump administration has located more than 145,000 children it claims were placed with unvetted sponsors.

Critics have also raised concerns about the visibility of the officers' sidearms and the initial failure to disclose they were working on behalf of ICE. However, these are minor details that should not detract from the overall objective of ensuring child safety and border security.

These actions are not about targeting Latino communities or intimidating immigrant families. They are about protecting children from exploitation and ensuring that our immigration laws are enforced fairly and consistently. By verifying the enrollment status of unaccompanied minors and conducting welfare checks, law enforcement officers are helping to safeguard these children from harm and uphold the integrity of our immigration system.