Columbia Heights Schools Close After Threat as Community Reels From Federal Enforcement Fallout

COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, MN
All schools in Columbia Heights Public Schools were closed Monday, February 2, after district officials cited a credible threat, a decision that unfolded against the backdrop of weeks of fear, grief, and national scrutiny tied to federal immigration enforcement in the north-metro suburb.

In an early-morning alert distributed via social media and the district’s messaging system, administrators instructed families that no students or staff should report to school. Superintendent Zena Stenvig said the closure was ordered “out of an abundance of caution” after a threat was received overnight. The district did not disclose the specific nature of the threat.

The Columbia Heights Police Department confirmed it is leading the investigation in coordination with regional and state law enforcement partners. Officers conducted precautionary sweeps of school buildings, and by Monday afternoon authorities reported no suspicious devices or packages had been found. The investigation into the source of the threat remains ongoing.

The district serves approximately 3,400 students across five schools, including Columbia Heights High School, Columbia Academy, Valley View Elementary, Highland Elementary, and North Park School for Innovation.

A Community Already on Edge

The abrupt shutdown did not occur in isolation. Columbia Heights has been under intense national and local attention since January following a series of federal immigration detentions involving families with children enrolled in the district. Advocates and educators say the cumulative effect has profoundly shaken students’ sense of safety.

At the center of that scrutiny was the detention of Liam Conejo Ramos, a 5-year-old Valley View Elementary student, who was taken into custody by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement during a routine after-school pickup on January 11. Images of the child being escorted by federal agents spread rapidly online, igniting protests and a national debate over enforcement actions near schools, which are traditionally treated as sensitive locations.

After nearly three weeks in federal custody, a judge ruled that procedural requirements had not been properly followed. Liam and his father were released and returned to Minnesota on Sunday, February 1, less than 24 hours before the district announced the school closure.

Ripple Effects Inside the Schools

Since the beginning of the year, community groups and local officials report that dozens of parents connected to the district, along with at least three students, have been detained in federal operations across the area. While federal officials have stated that children are not targeted, educators say the distinction has offered little reassurance to families.

Attendance at several elementary schools has dipped noticeably, according to district discussions, as parents express fear about drop-off and pickup routines. School board members have held emergency meetings in recent weeks to examine “safe haven” policies, expand mental health resources, and support students experiencing anxiety and trauma linked to the enforcement activity.

Monday’s closure, though prompted by a specific threat, underscored how quickly concern can escalate in a community already operating under strain.

Schools Affected by the Closure

District officials said they will continue to communicate with families as the investigation progresses and as plans are finalized for reopening. For many in Columbia Heights, the hope is not only for classrooms to reopen safely, but for a sense of normalcy to return to a school community that has found itself at the intersection of public safety fears and a national immigration reckoning.

MinneapoliMedia