Chelsea Schools Add Staff After ICE Activity Near Drop-off Zones
Superintendent Almi Abeyta told families that extra personnel will monitor exits as concerns grow about federal agents in the neighborhood.
By Thomas Obasi ·
Parents in Chelsea, Massachusetts, woke to new routines this week as school staff prepared for the possibility of federal immigration agents near pickup and drop-off lines. Chelsea Public Schools sent an advisory to families on Wednesday, acknowledging reports of enforcement activity in the district. The move aims to stabilize attendance and reduce the anxiety that has been building among households since agents began appearing in the area.
Superintendent Almi Abeyta told NBC10 Boston that staff members had first-hand knowledge of agents operating near several public schools on Wednesday. She said the primary concern was the fear parents might feel about sending their children to class. Abeyta noted that a small number of students were absent on Thursday following the notification. The district is placing extra staff at dismissal times to build trust and calm families.
The uncertainty extends beyond the school buildings. In neighboring Revere, Carmen Chicas said she spends time preparing her daughter for potential separations from family members. Chicas recalled a recent conversation where her daughter asked what she should do if agents came to take them away. The parent said these mental preparations are now a constant part of their daily life as they navigate the fear of enforcement.
Local advocacy groups are also stepping in to provide a visible presence. Gladys Vega, executive director of La Colaborativa, said her organization is seeing more reports of enforcement in Chelsea and nearby communities. On Thursday, Vega and her team walked students out of a high school because many were nervous. That same morning, Vega recorded a video of agents questioning a man in Chelsea who was later allowed to leave.
The man, who asked to remain unnamed, said he is a legal resident and believed he was racially profiled during the encounter. He reported that he was still shaking after the interaction. Vega said she believes the presence of advocates changed the outcome, stating that without them, the man would likely have been taken into custody in handcuffs.
ICE responded to questions from NBC10 Boston by reiterating that it does not disclose details about its operations. The agency denied targeting schools, calling such claims a false narrative that demonizes its agents. The response did not clarify whether agents had been operating near the specific school locations cited by the district.
