Authors Mike Howell and Ryan Neuhaus have responded to what they see as a wave of anti-ICE messaging aimed at children by releasing a picture book meant to offer a different perspective and push back against efforts to “indoctrinate kids into open borders ideology.”
Social media and some classrooms are filled with sharp criticism of federal immigration enforcement, and that messaging is reaching young kids. Mike Howell and Ryan Neuhaus stepped in with a picture book meant to counteract the trend and present a view that respects the role of agents who enforce the law. Their effort is framed as a direct response to activists who label enforcement officials as villains in every story about borders and immigration.
Their project targets the messaging children absorb at home and in school, arguing those early impressions shape civic attitudes. Howell and Neuhaus want children to see federal officers as people doing a difficult job under the law, not as caricatures of cruelty. That is a straightforward argument about fairness in storytelling and the need to present multiple viewpoints to young readers.
Parents and conservatives have long argued that children deserve balanced explanations about institutions that keep a country functioning. This reaction is part of a broader pushback against what some call ideological training in schools and media. The authors’ book aims to offer a counter-narrative that supports law and order while still allowing for compassion and discussion about immigration policy.
Those who promote anti-ICE messaging often frame the debate as one of moral purity, where anyone enforcing the law is automatically wrong. Howell and Neuhaus reject that black-and-white framing and instead present nuance, showing that people who enforce laws can also be human and deserving of respect. The picture book format lets them introduce that complexity in a way young readers can digest without political jargon.
The response also touches on who gets to shape a child’s worldview: parents, educators, community leaders, or activists on social platforms. The authors are staking a claim for parents and authors to offer alternate stories rather than letting a single narrative dominate. Their approach assumes readers should have exposure to different perspectives so they can form independent opinions as they grow.
Critics of this push will say the book is political or reactionary, while supporters will call it a necessary corrective. Either way, the debate highlights the larger cultural conflict over how to teach children about civic institutions and national sovereignty. For conservatives who prioritize border security and the rule of law, pushing back against what they see as one-sided portrayals of ICE is part of defending those principles.
At the center of the conversation is the quote that motivated much of the authors’ work: “indoctrinate kids into open borders ideology.” That phrase captures the anxiety among many parents and authors who fear young people are being trained to accept a single policy stance without question. Howell and Neuhaus are responding with a creative tool meant to reintroduce balance into early education and storytelling.
The effort by these two writers is a reminder that books and stories shape civic imagination from an early age. Whether you agree with their perspective or not, their book is designed to add a voice supportive of enforcement and legal order to the marketplace of ideas. In a time when cultural institutions are hotly contested, offering another narrative is a clear political and cultural choice that aligns with conservative concerns about borders and authority.
