Ken Blackwell

Ohio Education Association by Ken Blackwell

BREAKING NEWS: Ohio Education Association President Jeff Wensing issues written instructions directing educators to refuse cooperation with ICE and deny federal immigration enforcement access to public schools. Wensing has distributed a formal letter to OEA local leaders, activists, and staff members detailing how educators are expected to respond if U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is present in or near Ohio schools. This is not informal advice. This is official statewide guidance issued by the head of a powerful public sector union. 

The letter claims its purpose is to keep schools “safe and welcoming,” but its substance lays out a deliberate protocol to obstruct, delay, and deny lawful federal immigration activity inside taxpayer funded institutions. The letter opens with the following statement. “The Ohio Education Association is committed to ensuring that our schools remain safe, welcoming places for every student and educator. In light of questions we have received about immigration enforcement activity, we want to share guidance on how educators should respond if U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is present in or near Ohio schools.” 

The framing is intentional. ICE is presented not as a lawful federal authority, but as a disruptive force requiring defensive response. The letter immediately instructs educators to avoid direct cooperation with federal agents. “Educators should refer immigration enforcement officers to their Administrator. Our role is to educate, support students, and follow district policy and the law.” What follows is not general principle. It is a checklist. It is operational. It is designed to control outcomes. Under the heading “If ICE Is Present at or Near Your School,” the Ohio Education Association instructs its members as follows. “Do not share information about students, families, or coworkers.” “Do not consent to entry on behalf of the school.” “Immediately notify school administration and follow district procedures.” “Ask for identification and documentation and direct agents to school administration.” “Only a judicial warrant signed by a judge (not an administrative ICE warrant) may authorize entry into non public areas of a school or access to student records.” “Do not physically interfere.” These are not reminders. They are directives. “Do not consent to entry on behalf of the school.” “Only a judicial warrant signed by a judge may authorize entry.” 

The message is unmistakable. Federal immigration officers are to be denied access unless the most restrictive legal standard is met, regardless of lawful authority or circumstance. That is not neutrality. That is obstruction by policy. The letter then addresses student records and makes its intent explicit. “Student information is protected under FERPA and Ohio law. Immigration status should not be requested or disclosed.” Not improperly disclosed. Not disclosed without a warrant. Not disclosed at all. The Ohio Education Association then provides what it calls “Helpful Legal Resources.” These include materials from the National Immigration Law Center on “Schools and Immigration Enforcement.” They also include guidance from the American Civil Liberties Union titled “Know Your Rights: Schools and ICE.” The resources further include “Know Your Rights: If ICE Visits Your Home.” 

A public school teachers union is distributing guidance to its members not only about resisting ICE at schools, but about responding to ICE at home. That alone should raise immediate red flags. The letter concludes with a pledge of continued advocacy. “OEA will continue to advocate for policies that protect students, educators, and public schools, and we will share updates if guidance changes.” There is no ambiguity here. There is no plausible deniability. This is official instruction from the president of a statewide teachers union directing public employees on how to refuse cooperation with federal immigration enforcement. 

Public schools are taxpayer funded institutions. Teachers are public employees. They do not possess unilateral authority to override federal law. They do not get to create sanctuary policies by memo. They do not get to instruct thousands of employees to block lawful enforcement while hiding behind vague claims of student protection. If a private organization issued written instructions telling employees to refuse cooperation with federal agents, it would face immediate investigation. A public institution should face at least the same level of scrutiny. 

This letter demands investigation. It demands sworn testimony. It demands accountability. Parents deserve to know what instructions are being issued inside their children’s schools. Taxpayers deserve to know how their money is being used. Federal authorities should examine whether this guidance constitutes coordinated obstruction of federal immigration operations. This is not education policy. This is active support of interfering with enforcement of America’s immigration laws! Feel free to give Jeff Wensing a call at (800) 282-1500 and politely tell him what you think of his letter.

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