Forest Hill Community Learning Center in Akron placed on lockdown following reports of ICE agents nearby

Recently, there have been reports of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents being present in the Forest Hill CLC area in Akron, Ohio. This has led Akron Public Schools (APS) to take action by initiating a “brief precautionary lockdown” on Tuesday.

“Importantly, no ICE agents entered the school,” APS noted in a release. 

During the lockdown, the school officials ensured that the internal doors at Forest Hill were secured while maintaining normal classroom activities with as little disruption as possible. APS lifted the lockdown after assessing that the school was not under an immediate threat.

APS acknowledged the concerns raised by families due to the recent activities of the Department of Homeland Security and ICE. To address these concerns, the district has put in place policies that limit access to school premises in order to safeguard the learning environment.

APS also says it will “continuously review and update its immigration policies in accordance with federal and state directives.”

“We are committed to designing safe, affirming and inclusive environments where all members of our community are respected and supported,” said Dr. Stacey Hodoh, APS Director of Strategic Communications and Media Relations. “These procedures ensure we can continue to prioritize student well-being during challenging times.”

Just days after he was inaugurated, President Donald Trump signed executive orders prioritizing the deportation of undocumented immigrants and challenging birthright citizenship for children born in the U.S. to parents who are in the country illegally. That has led to fears about possible ICE raids at schools.

ICE officials said the agency made 956 arrests nationwide on Sunday and 286 on Saturday. While some of the operations may not have been unusual, ICE averaged 311 daily arrests in the fiscal year that ended Sept. 30.

On Monday, On Monday, Geauga County Sheriff Scott Hildenbrand confirmed to 3News that 58 people detained by ICE were being held in Chardon. Officials at the sheriff’s department now say that number stands at 52 a day later. 

The Associated Press contributed to this report.