the Voice of
The Communist League of Revolutionary Workers–Internationalist
“The emancipation of the working class will only be achieved by the working class itself.”
— Karl Marx
the Voice of
The Communist League of Revolutionary Workers–Internationalist
“The emancipation of the working class will only be achieved by the working class itself.”
— Karl Marx
May 18, 2026
ICE detained two high school students from the Republic of Congo outside their school in Mississippi on April 21, accusing them of violating their student visas. But thousands of community members pressured authorities to release them.
For decades, federal law has made it difficult for foreign youth to study at public high schools. They can’t stay longer than a year. They have to pay thousands of dollars as “tuition.” The school must be on a list of federally approved schools.
The Makoka brothers had studied for two years at private, historically black boarding school Piney Woods, which draws at-risk and foreign youth and is on the list. But last summer they asked to transfer to a public school, Hancock High School. It is not on the list. But the private school did not inform anyone that the transfer voided their visas.
ICE agents claim someone “reported that there were two African kids at Hancock.” Ten ICE vehicles swooped in. Agents grabbed the brothers and sent Max, age 15, to a group home in Texas. They sent Israel, age 18, to a detention camp in Louisiana.
As in Minneapolis, the arrests hit a nerve. The area around Hancock is 85% white and is considered conservative. But the outgoing and athletic Makoka brothers are popular. Classmates and teachers immediately wrote letters in protest. Around 3,100 people mostly from the area signed a petition demanding their release. Politicians up for reelection quickly championed the brothers. ICE released them after nine days! They need to find another school, and Israel is forced to wear an ankle monitor, but they are back in their community.