On Sept. 11, Superintendent Ryan Scallon sent a letter to the PPS community regarding the detention of a PPS parent by unidentified law enforcement near Talbot Community School. Read the letter:

September 11, 2025

Dear Portland Public Schools’ Families and Staff,
I am writing to inform you about an incident that took place on the Talbot school access road today. At approximately 8 a.m., unidentified law enforcement agents in unmarked vehicles detained a parent after they dropped off their child for school. The agents were wearing vests marked “Police.” A district administrator approached the officers to inquire about their presence. The officers did not state what agency they represented. We have confirmed with the Portland Police Department that it was not Portland Police officers. 

School and district leadership are in touch with local authorities about this incident and our student support teams are providing appropriate counseling and assistance to the affected family.

As I shared in my August 20 back-to-school message, our priority is to do everything we can to cultivate safe and inclusive school communities for all students, staff, and families. While we do not have confirmation which organization these agents represented, members of our community are concerned about Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) presence in our city. Our school leaders have been provided instructions on what to do should an immigration enforcement agency or other unknown individual approach staff or students or try to enter a school. School leaders have been providing similar information to staff during back-to-school trainings.

Our protocols, available here, provide guidance to PPS staff to safeguard students’ well-being in the event of enforcement action on or near Portland Public Schools’ grounds, buses, or events. In addition, our schools encourage families to know their rights and have information on-hand in multiple languages for those that may need added support. These resources are also available online. We have also engaged with Portland Police. They have confirmed that if they learn of any proposed enforcement action planned at a school, they will work to ensure that it does not occur there.

Today’s incident is troubling and the impact on our school community is chilling. We are continuing to gather information and may be limited in what we share as we continue to support the family and school community. We will continue to partner with families so they can be confident in our commitment to creating a welcoming, safe, and inclusive environment for all students, staff, and families. If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to me.

Sincerely,
Ryan Scallon
Superintendent