During Donald Trump’s previous presidency, rumors about imminent immigration enforcement actions created panic within the Oregon community where Gustavo Balderas served as the school superintendent.
Speculation circulated that immigration agents would attempt to enter educational institutions, sparking anxiety among parents and students, despite there being no factual basis for these fears. As a result, school staff needed to locate students who were avoiding classes out of fear and persuade them to return.
“People just started ducking and hiding,” Balderas recalled as he recounted the tense atmosphere at that time.
As the nation anticipates potential turbulence once again, educators are preparing for the worst-case scenarios, depending on whether the president-elect follows through on his proposition to deport millions of undocumented immigrants. Even talk of this possibility can bring stress to immigrant children, as experts in education and law have observed.
“The constant threat of mass deportation significantly interferes with individuals’ ability to engage fully in society and hinders their children’s educational pursuits,” said Hiroshi Motomura, a professor at UCLA School of Law.
This unease has already permeated many communities.
“Students are still attending school, but they are frightened,” shared Almudena Abeyta, superintendent of Chelsea Public Schools, located in a Boston suburb historically favored by Central American immigrants. Recently, Haitian families have also begun settling in the area, enrolling their children in local schools.
“They are inquiring: ‘Is deportation going to happen to us?’” Abeyta mentioned, highlighting the distress evident among the students.
Many parents within this district have backgrounds from countries where government control over schools is prevalent, leading to fears that similar dynamics might be at play in the U.S. To alleviate their concerns, Abeyta reached out to families the day after the election, assuring them that their children are safe and welcome, irrespective of the political climate.
Although immigration authorities have largely refrained from arresting parents or students on school grounds, this has not always been the case. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has maintained a policy since 2011 to avoid enforcement actions near “sensitive locations,” which include educational institutions, hospitals, and places of worship. U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas reaffirmed this stance in a 2021 policy update, emphasizing the importance of access to essential services without fear of enforcement.
However, the Heritage Foundation’s policy direction for Trump’s potential second term, known as Project 2025, seeks to overturn the protections concerning “sensitive locations.” While Trump attempted to distance himself from these proposals during his campaign, he has nominated several individuals involved with the initiative for positions in his new administration, such as Tom Homan, proposed for the role of “border czar.”
Angelica Salas, the executive director of the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights in Los Angeles, expressed concern that any enforcement action — like the arrest of a parent dropping off their children at school — could incite widespread panic.
“If an incident occurs at one school, the news travels quickly, causing students to withdraw from attending classes,” Salas noted.
Balderas, now the superintendent in Beaverton, a suburb of Portland, has communicated a need for proactive planning to the school committee as they consider a more aggressive Trump administration. He revealed that Beaverton Schools will train employees on how to respond should immigration agents attempt to intrude on their premises.
“With Trump, anything goes,” said Balderas, who also leads the School Superintendents Association. “If something occurs, I expect it will happen far more rapidly than before.”
Many school administrators are cautious about discussing their preparations publicly, with some fearing that shining a spotlight on their immigrant student populations could lead to unwanted attention. An administrator from a Midwest school serving numerous children from Mexican and Central American backgrounds disclosed that they had invited immigration attorneys to assist families in making contingency plans in case of deportation but requested anonymity due to authorization restrictions.
Highlighting the needs of immigrant families might also create tension between superintendents and school board members. “This topic is incredibly sensitive,” remarked Viridiana Carrizales, the CEO of ImmSchools, a nonprofit that aids schools in supporting immigrant students.
Carrizales mentioned receiving 30 requests for guidance since the election, including inquiries from two Texas superintendents who felt their conservative boards would not support public affirmations regarding immigrant students’ educational rights or the districts’ preparations to keep immigration agents away.
Over two dozen superintendents and district communication representatives reached out by various parties either declined to comment or chose to remain silent.
“This situation is quite speculative, so we’d prefer to refrain from discussing it,” said Scott Pribble, a spokesperson for Denver Public Schools, which has provided assistance to more than 40,000 migrants over the past two years, including shelter and transit assistance.
Denver is located adjacent to Aurora, one of two cities identified by Trump as starting points for mass deportations. When pressed further, Pribble added, “Denver Public Schools is closely monitoring developments while continuing to serve, support, and protect all of our students as we have always done.”
Much like several larger urban districts, Denver’s school board enacted a resolution during Trump’s first term affirming its commitment to protecting its students from immigration authorities targeting them or their information. The resolution from 2017 stated that Denver would not grant access to students unless federal agents provided a legitimate search warrant.
The reasoning behind these policies is clear: students can’t focus on learning if they live in fear of immigration officials taking them or their family members while on school property. Districts assert that such policies not only safeguard their students but also uphold their constitutional right to free public education, regardless of immigration status.