The Green Party leader has asked the Ministers for Justice and Education to guarantee that schools will no longer be targeted by "immigration snatch squads".
Trevor Sargent told the Into annual congress in Galway that schools must be "protected sanctuaries similar to an embassy or a church.
Green Party Leader Trevor Sargent
"The Government needs to firstly apologise and end its policy of snatching children as young as three from playschool for same-day deportation from the State," he said.
"The trauma on a near infant is unimaginable but the terrifying effect on the whole school is likely to leave a legacy of fear, nightmares and insecurity amongst fellow students for years to come."
"Education Minister Mary Hanafin must insist that schools have a protected status to safeguard children from such state-sponsored abductions. Embassies and churches already enjoy such sanctuary status," he said.
"Ultimately, Ireland needs a proper immigration policy and a quick humane way to process applications, including a right to seek work without being bonded to a specific employer."
Two Nigerian women living in Athlone were deported earlier this month leaving four children behind aged between eight and 18. Gardaí who came to a school seeking one of the children were criticised for their approach to the case, although officially the Garda says it cannot comment on individual cases.
Local people are continuing their campaign for the return of the two deported women, Elizabeth Odunsi and Iyabo Nwanze.