Warning Signs: Political Activism Over ICE Creeps into Virginia’s Public Schools
by Shelly Norden
the anti-ICE crowd is taking the fight against federal immigration enforcement to a school near you.
Political activism attacking U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is increasingly showing up inside Virginia’s public schools, raising questions about where education ends and national political campaigning begins.
In recent days, union-aligned posts have encouraged educators to oppose ICE through protests, national "days of action,” and activist trainings. Social media shared by the Virginia Education Association (VEA) shows educators holding "ICE Out of Schools” signs, wearing blue as a show of anti-ICE solidarity, and taking part in these activities during what appears to be the regular school day and inside school buildings.
In one post, VEA shared photos of educators with the caption, "We stand with our brothers and sisters in Minnesota and across the country in opposing ICE presence in our schools! Did you wear blue in solidarity with Education Minnesota today? Share your photo in the comments! #ICEOutSchools.” Several of the images appear to be taken inside classrooms, hallways, and other school spaces, suggesting organized political messaging taking place in publicly funded facilities.
Other posts show how coordinated the campaign has become. VEA promoted an event titled "Eyes on ICE: Document and Record,” described as a "Know Your Rights” training hosted by MoveOn and the NEA. The graphic encouraged participants to "get the tools you need to exercise your rights as federal agents terrorize our communities,” and urged members to join a national call to action. Another post encouraged supporters to "shine a light for Minnesota” by lighting candles on street corners in solidarity with anti-ICE efforts.
Not everyone within the union welcomed the approach. Some members questioned why union resources were being used for political activism at all. "What a waste of time,” one member wrote. "Why not send out a survey to us paying members to find out our opinions on the topic.”
Union Leadership and ICE Activism
Union leadership has been explicit about its role in national political advocacy. NEA President Becky Pringle made the union’s stance unmistakably clear in a video obtained by Moms for Liberty.
"Know that the NEA will continue to use its vast network of 3 million members, 51 state affiliates, and 14,000 local members in every congressional district to advocate, to partner, to take action, to educate, to organize, to mobilize to litigate," Pringle said. "As long as it takes, we will not cooperate. Knowing what research shows, that when 3.5 percent of the population engages in sustained, strategic escalation, those movements win, so we must continue to build our broad and sustained strategic escalation.”
NEA vice president Princess Moss did more than issue a statement. She posted on social media that she was "headed to Minneapolis this morning for #ICEoutofMinnesota Day of Truth and Freedom. When educators and communities stand up for truth, justice, and freedom, I stand with them. When Minnesota calls, we answer.” The post includes a photo of Moss on an airplane wearing NEA-branded clothing and uses hashtags such as #DayofTruth, #ICEOutOfOurSchools, and #Solidarity.
It’s clear that NEA leadership is actively participating in and promoting organized anti-ICE activism beyond Virginia’s borders.
Not the First Time Schools Have Been Used for Politics
The ICE-related activism now showing up in Virginia schools isn’t happening in a vacuum. Just months earlier, Restoration News exposed a Virginia public school that was used as the backdrop for a partisan political rally.
FOIA records obtained by Restoration News showed that Portsmouth Public Schools administrators worked with the Spanberger for Governor campaign to hold a political event inside I.C. Norcom High School on Aug. 8, the first teacher workday of the year. The rally took place during school hours and used taxpayer-funded staff time and school resources.
Photos and social media posts from the event show Democratic candidates Abigail Spanberger, Ghazala Hashmi, and Jay Jones giving campaign speeches beneath political banners in the school library. While division leaders later referred to the gathering as a closed "education roundtable,” the event was publicly promoted and held during paid work hours inside a public school. NEA vice president Princess R. Moss also attended the rally and shared photos from the event, further tying NEA leadership to multiple instances of political activity in Virginia schools.
Emails show that administrators encouraged teachers to attend the rally during their contracted workday, even though division policy clearly prohibits employees from engaging in political activity while on duty or on school property.
Schools as Political Backdrops
The ICE-related activism and the earlier Portsmouth rally point to a larger trend: Public schools are increasingly being used as backdrops for political advocacy, often during the school day.
Union-shared posts show educators being encouraged to wear coordinated political colors at work, participate in organized anti-ICE campaigns, promote or attend activist trainings hosted by outside groups, document law enforcement activity, and share political messages from inside school buildings. In many cases, classrooms, hallways, and common areas appear prominently in photos and videos shared online.
Every school division has policies stating that public school employees may not use their position, school property, or instructional time for political purposes. Critics argue the recent activity appears to cross those lines.
A Blurred Boundary
The VEA is a private organization, separate from school divisions and local governments. Teachers retain First Amendment rights, but courts have long made clear those rights do not extend to political advocacy while on the clock or using public school resources.
Critics say the concern goes even further. In many school divisions, districts collect VEA union dues through payroll systems, meaning taxpayer-funded administrative processes help support an organization now engaged in overt political activism. When combined with the use of school buildings, division resources, and paid work hours, they argue it raises serious questions about whether public funds are indirectly supporting political campaigns.
As debates over immigration enforcement intensify nationwide, the growing presence of political activism inside public schools is prompting renewed scrutiny over how, or whether, Virginia’s education system is maintaining a clear line between education, advocacy, and the use of public resources.
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Republished with permission from Restoration News
