Miami-Dade County middle school science teacher is facing deportation after being detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), according to the teacher’s union.
The United Teachers of Dade confirmed Thursday that the educator, who has not been publicly identified, was taken into custody at an immigration hearing. The teacher is a Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipient and has lived in the U.S. since childhood.
DACA is a federal program established in 2012 that allows undocumented immigrants who were brought to the U.S. as children—often referred to as “Dreamers”—to legally live and work in the country. While DACA does not provide a path to citizenship, it offers temporary protection from deportation and renewable work permits.
Despite their immigration status, the teacher had the proper authorization and documentation to work for Miami-Dade Public Schools, the union confirmed. The school district also acknowledged that one of its teachers had been detained by federal authorities but did not provide further details.
This case raises concerns about the security of DACA recipients, many of whom work in essential fields, including education. While DACA provides protection from deportation, recipients must regularly renew their status, and immigration policies can change under different administrations. The Trump administration has been revoking several immigration programs.
Local advocates and educators are now questioning how this detention could impact other DACA recipients. With over 580,000 active DACA recipients in the U.S., cases like this could set a concerning precedent for Dreamers who have built their lives in America.
