This is my PERSONAL statement regarding ICE activity near school grounds yesterday morning in east Charlotte.
We are aware of ICE activity that took place just off CMS property yesterday morning, in full view of students and families arriving at school. I want to say, personally and plainly: I am upset by what happened. It is deeply disturbing that this occurred so close to a school, in a place where children should only ever feel safe, supported, and welcome.
Let me be clear: this did not happen on CMS property. But it happened in the heart of our school community—and that alone is enough to cause fear, harm, and heartbreak.
As a member of the CMS Board of Education, I cannot make statements on behalf of the board. But I can speak from my own values: no child should be afraid to go to school. No family should fear being near a school building. The presence of ICE in a drop-off zone is not just a policy issue—it’s a violation of the trust our families place in schools as safe spaces.
My colleague Board Member Monterrey (Monterrey 4 CMS ) said it best: our students deserve safety, dignity, and protection, no matter their immigration status. I share her urgency. I share the heartbreak many of you are feeling.
While CMS has guidance in place for how schools respond to ICE activity, that guidance stops at the school property line. The law limits what we can do beyond that line—and that’s the problem. We need laws that protect families coming to school for school reasons. Schools and their surrounding areas should never be staging grounds for immigration enforcement.
The trauma from this kind of visibility—especially for immigrant and mixed-status families—can be long-lasting. It shatters peace of mind and undermines the critical relationship between schools and the families we serve.
To our community: I see you. I stand with you. And I am committed to doing everything within my authority to protect our children. We need change. We need advocacy. And we need lawmakers to recognize that safety around schools is non-negotiable.
— Melissa Easley
Human, Parent and
CMS Board of Education Member
Here is a link to the social media post that the board stated in February regarding ICE regulation in CMS and board policy. If you have any questions or concerns please reach out to me at melissam.easely@cms.12.nc.us or via my contact form here.
