U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz expressed outrage at reports that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents detained and interrogated Filipino teachers on Maui. 

What You Need To Know

  • Sen. Brian Schatz called the detention and interrogation of Filipino teachers on Maui "racial profiling and a shameful abuse of power"
  • Consistent with President Donald Trump’s promise of mass deportation of undocumented immigrants, ICE detentions, arrests and deportations have sharply increased since Trump returned to office in January
  • The state Department of Education confirmed that the teachers involved are part of the J-1 Visa program that has allowed qualified teachers from the Philippines to fill vacant positions in Maui classrooms
  • No arrests were made as a result of the raid

“This is racial profiling and a shameful abuse of power,” Schatz said. “We are a nation of laws, but the broad ICE raids this week are clearly designed just to instill fear. Our teachers, our visitors, and our neighbors deserve dignity and safety, not fear of seemingly arbitrary harassment.” 

Consistent with President Donald Trump’s promise of mass deportation of undocumented immigrants, ICE detentions, arrests and deportations have sharply increased since Trump returned to office in January.

In his Executive Order 14159, "Protecting the American People Against Invasion" dated Jan. 20, 2025, Trump said that "aliens unlawfully within the United States present significant threats to national security and public safety, committing vile and heinous acts against innocent Americans. … Enforcing our Nation's immigration laws is critically important to the national security and public safety of the United States." 

The EO also directed the Secretary of Homeland Security to "promptly take appropriate action to use all other provisions of the immigration laws or any other Federal law … to ensure the efficient and expedited removal of aliens from the United States."

The state Department of Education confirmed that the teachers involved are part of the J-1 Visa program that has allowed qualified teachers from the Philippines to fill vacant positions in Maui classrooms. Over the last two years, more than 130 Filipino teachers have helped to fill the state’s teaching shortage.

No arrests were made as a result of the raid.

Schatz’s office has been in contact with the department and has offered assistance to teachers affected by the raid.

Michael Tsai covers local and state politics for Spectrum News Hawaii. He can be reached at michael.tsai@charter.com.