Photo credit: hechingerreport.org
When President Donald Trump took office, one of his first actions was to eliminate specific protections aimed at limiting immigration enforcement in areas considered sensitive, such as schools. This decision reversed a longstanding approach and instilled fear in immigrant families, jeopardizing the essential American belief that every child deserves access to education.
The repercussions of this policy change are evident across the nation. In Denver, which welcomed around 4,000 immigrant children during the 2023-24 school year, the local school district has filed a lawsuit against the Department of Homeland Security, claiming that the fear of potential immigration raids is adversely affecting student and parent attendance.
A federal judge recently denied Denver’s efforts to secure an injunction that would prevent U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents from making arrests on school premises, leaving the district and others like it to handle the resulting crisis without legal protections.
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The situation in Denver highlights a broader national issue. When families live in fear of immigration enforcement, student enrollment suffers. For instance, New York City has seen a significant decline in attendance, as thousands of newcomer students have refrained from attending school since the policy shift. One parent of Venezuelan descent recounted that nearly 100 children in her shelter chose to remain home out of fear of deportation.
In Fresno, California, reports indicate a decrease of 700 to 1,000 students attending school daily since the advent of this new immigration policy. Many educators are receiving urgent calls from anxious parents concerned about rumored immigration actions. One principal even went so far as to personally deliver groceries to a family living in fear while providing emotional support during a particularly terrifying time.
For those parents who opt to send their children to school, anxiety persists. In Brooklyn, for instance, a Venezuelan father took to placing photocopies of his children’s asylum applications inside their backpacks. Yet, he experienced a moment of panic when their dismissal time was delayed. “There’s such fear and uncertainty,” he expressed to reporters.
Every individual in the U.S. can trace their roots back to immigrant ancestors, with the exception of Indigenous peoples. The landmark Supreme Court case Plyler v. Doe (1982) established that all children, irrespective of their immigration status, should have access to public education. The Court recognized that denying education to undocumented children inflicts lasting hardship on their futures.
Despite this legal right, many families are now reluctant to send their children to school for fear of deportation. Educators, already tasked with addressing challenges such as active shooter drills and mental health support, now must also safeguard their students against immigration enforcement, placing an additional emotional burden on the entire school community.
The repercussions of immigration enforcement in educational settings transcend immediate fears. The ongoing crisis of chronic absenteeism can be attributed to a significant erosion of trust between families and schools. When parents worry that their child’s drop-off could lead to family separation, it creates yet another obstacle to education. The long-term consequences of lost instructional time are profound and damaging.
A Stanford University study on local immigration policies revealed that such enforcement significantly disrupts school communities, with at least 320,000 Hispanic students displaced in areas where local police collaborated with ICE in 2018. Consequently, enrollment among Hispanic students fell by over 7 percent, illustrating the severe implications of fears related to education and safety.
In response to these challenges, various school districts across the nation are implementing proactive measures. For instance, New York City’s principals are mandated to immediately contact district attorneys if ICE attempts to enter school grounds. Similarly, officials in Los Angeles are distributing information cards to parents clarifying their rights, while in Fresno, the district is actively educating families on their rights and advising on strategies for asset management and planning for potential custody situations.
The American Civil Liberties Union, alongside the Education Law Center in Pennsylvania, has issued guidance to school districts, with several, including Norristown, Wilkinsburg, and Pittsburgh, beginning to develop formal response protocols. New proposals in California aim to set a precedent for other states, mandating warrants for immigration actions on school campuses and establishing safety zones surrounding schools.
Related: Child care centers were off limits to immigration authorities. How that’s changed
However, legislative measures and legal claims alone are insufficient. Schools must also build comprehensive support systems. Collaborating with community organizations to create secure transport options and providing two-way bilingual communication channels for families are critical steps in the right direction.
Even the most well-intentioned efforts within schools cannot fully address the repercussions created by policies that instill fear in families about sending their children to school. Educational institutions should be havens for learning, devoid of anxiety. Yet for numerous students, the fear of violence or the threat of immigration enforcement has become part of their daily school experience.
This issue transcends a mere policy adjustment; it fundamentally questions whether the United States will uphold its commitment to ensuring that every child has the opportunity to learn freely. As educators strive to protect their students from fear, it’s clear they cannot shoulder this burden alone.
Source
hechingerreport.org