American Federation of Teachers (AFT) President Randi Weingarten promoted a nationwide back-to-school boycott of retail large Target over the weekend because the firm had not condemned ICE operations in Minnesota — the location of its headquarters — prompting criticism from schooling advocates and a call for federal scrutiny.

“We gave Target ample time to stand with the communities in which they operate and help their neighbors, but its silence about federal immigration abuses has been deafening,” Weingarten said in a assertion.

“The issue could not be more pressing: Seven months since the murders of Alex Pretti and Renée Good, masked ICE agents are still in our streets, our schools and our communities, terrorizing families in the name of Donald Trump’s illegal and immoral assault on immigrants striving for their American Dream,” she continued. “That’s why we’re urging our members to avoid Target and patronize more ethical shopping alternatives this back-to-school season.”

Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), speaks as Starbucks employees go on strike outside a Starbucks retailer. Getty Images

Weingarten also shared a video on Instagram, where she directed households to the AFT’s “Shop Smart, Not Target” web site, which maps native back-to-school procuring alternate options. The group launched the marketing campaign Wednesday after sending Target CEO Michael Fiddelke letters in February and March.

In a assertion to Fox News Digital, DHS rejected the AFT’s characterization of ICE.

“ICE enforces federal immigration laws, protects public safety, and conducts enforcement pursuant to federal laws and applicable agency policies. Target is not a sensitive location,” an ICE spokesperson said. “However, the current policy provides guidance for officers and recognizes that enforcement actions in or near protected areas require consideration of the circumstances and applicable law. ICE will continue to conduct lawful actions wherever necessary to protect the American people.”

The spokesperson further said that ICE did not goal faculties and called AFT’s assertion a false narrative.

“This is just another false narrative to try and demonize our brave ICE law enforcement, who are facing a 1,300% increase in assaults against them and an 8,000% increase in death threats,” the spokesperson said.

AFT President Randi Weingarten launched a nationwide back-to-school boycott of Target for not condemning ICE operations in Minnesota. Getty Images

“ICE is not going to schools to arrest children—we are protecting children. Criminals are no longer able to hide in America’s schools to avoid arrest. The Trump Administration will not tie the hands of our brave law enforcement and instead trusts them to use common sense. If a dangerous illegal alien felon were to flee into a school, or a child sex offender is working as an employee, there may be a situation where an arrest is made to protect public safety,” they said.

“ICE’s position remains straightforward: its officers enforce the immigration laws enacted by Congress and carry out the agency’s mission to protect national security and public safety. ICE is engaged in targeted law enforcement operations to apprehend and remove aliens in the country unlawfully and will continue to do so despite grandstanding by politicians and criminal illegal alien supporters,” the spokesperson informed Fox News Digital. “Aliens placed into removal proceedings receive due process. Once it is exhausted, ICE carries out the removal order. Dangerous rhetoric from politicians and activists demonizing our brave ICE officers has led to the over 8,000% increase in threats against DHS law enforcement who are heroically performing their congressionally mandated mission to remove criminal illegal aliens from communities across the country.”

Corey DeAngelis, a Heritage Foundation analysis fellow, informed Fox News Digital Sunday that utilizing the group’s pension affect against Target raised fiduciary considerations and warranted a federal investigation.

“This partisan war on Target smells like a breach of fiduciary duty given that AFT members’ pension funds own 6.79 million shares of Target stock, which Weingarten has already leveraged to pressure the company into opposing ICE,” he said. “The Department of Justice should open an investigation into the AFT using their pension funds and political influence to bully companies into falling in line with their socialist agenda.”

Weingarten urged members to “Shop Smart, Not Target” via a web site, citing “federal immigration abuses” and “terrorizing families.” Getty Images for Democracy Forward

“Urging educators and families to avoid Target is not an appropriate use of the union’s resources or influence,” he added. 

This isn’t the AFT’s first time batting against the retail large.

DeAngelis also equipped Fox News Digital with a chart monitoring Target’s closing share worth against several AFT actions, including Weingarten’s letters and the group’s March boycott decision.

Sonja Shaw, a candidate for California superintendent of public instruction and Chino Valley Unified School District board president, informed Fox News Digital on Sunday that labor leaders were prioritizing political energy while college students continued to wrestle academically.

“Teachers’ unions are supposed to fight for teachers. Instead, union leadership has become a political machine obsessed with money, power and influence while our children continue to fall behind,” she said. “In California, more than half our students are not proficient in basic reading and math. When a system produces those results year after year, that isn’t success. That’s education malpractice.”

California’s newest statewide assessments confirmed 48.8% of college students met or exceeded English language arts requirements and 37.3% met or exceeded math requirements.

Heritage Foundation’s Corey DeAngelis called for a federal probe into AFT’s use of pension funds to strain Target. Getty Images

The AFT’s March decision explicitly called the effort a boycott and urged its 1.8 million members, households and allies to keep away from Target until the firm stood with the Twin Cities.

DeAngelis’ request adopted the July attraction by Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Mo., for the Labor Department to examine whether AFT leaders coordinated with retirement-plan fiduciaries to use members’ belongings for political goals.

House lawmakers individually demanded solutions about reports that member dues helped finance Weingarten’s e-book, “Why Fascists Fear Teachers,” while she acquired royalties.

Teachers spend an common of $895 of their own cash every 12 months on provides their college students want, according to a 2025 instructor spending survey.

Fox News Digital reached out to the AFT and Target for remark, but did not instantly obtain a response.