SAN FRANCISCO — As the Trump administration intensifies its stance on immigration, families living in the U.S. without legal status are grappling with the safety of their children attending school.
In various school districts, educators have been proactive in reassuring immigrant parents that educational institutions remain safe environments for their kids. However, anxiety heightened when the administration publicly declared that the enforcement policy enacted in 2011, which had prohibited federal immigration agents from making arrests in certain ‘sensitive locations’ like schools, churches, and hospitals, was being revoked.
Carmen, a grandmother from Mexico, expressed her shock and concern about this new directive, emphasizing the fear and uncertainty it brings to families like hers. Despite her worries, she took her grandchildren, ages six and four, to school in the San Francisco Bay Area after receiving reassurances from school officials about their safety. She mentioned that the school’s commitment to alert families about potential risks has somewhat alleviated her anxiety.
The atmosphere of fear stems from President Trump’s promises to deport millions of undocumented immigrants, causing distress among various immigrant communities across the nation. Though initial days of his presidency did not witness the anticipated raids, fluctuating immigration policies have left many feeling uncertain about their future. This unease is affecting school attendance, as families are contemplating whether or not to send their children to school, given rumors about immigration agents infiltrating educational facilities.
Attending school is crucial for students, especially for those from low-income backgrounds who rely on schools for food, mental health support, and other essential services. The revocation of protective measures against arrests in schools means that immigration agents, specifically from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP), could now operate within educational settings. The Department of Homeland Security commented that “criminals will no longer be able to hide in America’s schools and churches to avoid arrest.”
Daniela Anello, the leader of D.C. Bilingual Public Charter School, voiced her dismay regarding the policy change. “It’s horrifying. There’s no such thing as hiding anyone,” she stated, highlighting the irrationality of such an approach. A significant number of school-age children, estimated at around 733,000, are in the U.S. illegally, alongside many more who have U.S. citizen status yet have undocumented parents.
In response to the rising concerns, education leaders in several states have committed to advocating for the rights of immigrant students. For instance, California has provided schools with guidance on local laws that limit involvement in immigration enforcement. Likewise, the Chicago Public Schools Board of Education passed a resolution affirming its refusal to assist ICE and emphasizing that federal agents would not be permitted access to schools without a proper criminal warrant. New York City schools have also been reminded of their policies surrounding immigration status inquiries.
Contrastingly, many districts remain silent, not providing reassurances for their immigrant families. At Georgia Fugees Academy Charter School, which serves refugees and immigrants, educators have seen legal families intimidated by the broad deportation proposals under the new administration. “Even students who aren’t at risk of deportation are frightened,” Chief Operating Officer Luma Mufleh noted, explaining how the school adjusted its academic calendar anticipating high absences following Trump’s inauguration.
The implications of this new enforcement policy could lead parents, anxious about deportation, to keep their children home from school, even if they’re unlikely to face immediate threats. Michael Lukens, director of the Amica Center for Immigrant Rights, suggested that this approach appears intent on making life so challenging for immigrant families that they might decide to leave the country voluntarily.
Public sentiment leans away from the idea of arresting undocumented children in school settings. A recent survey indicates that only a small fraction of U.S. adults support this course of action.
For Iris Gonzalez in Boston, schools remain one of the few places where she feels secure as an undocumented immigrant. Having navigated the school system with her children for nearly ten years, she trusts that her family will not face scrutiny there. “Education is important,” she reinforces, while posing concerns about being stopped in public spaces.
Meanwhile, Carmen, who came to California to escape a life-threatening situation back in Michoacan, Mexico, remains worried about her family’s future amidst the administrative changes. Under the previous president’s asylum-seeker program, her family arrived, but ongoing asylum hearings have yet to secure them a permanent status. “My biggest fear is that we don’t have anywhere to go back to. It’s about saving our lives and protecting our children,” she states soberly.
