In Fresno, California, fears stirred by false social media rumors of immigration raids at local schools have left many parents anxious, despite the hoaxes being unfounded. Conversely, in Denver, a legitimate immigration operation at an apartment complex resulted in significant numbers of students opting to stay home from school, as highlighted in a recent lawsuit. In a similar vein, a school official in Alice, Texas incorrectly informed parents that Border Patrol agents might seek to check immigration documentation on school buses.
The immigration policies under President Donald Trump have sparked heightened unease in schools nationwide, prompting officials to address the growing concerns of parents and their children, even among those who are legally residing in the U.S. As the executive actions expanded the categories of individuals eligible for deportation and enabled the enforcement of immigration laws within educational institutions, the situation has become increasingly difficult.
While some school officials proactively encourage the attendance of immigrant children, others are not as supportive. Additionally, in states like Oklahoma and Tennessee, proposals have been introduced that could obstruct children without legal status, as well as U.S.-born children from undocumented parents, from accessing education altogether.
Many families face the challenge of sorting fact from fiction amidst rising fears. In the Alice Independent School District, officials miscommunicated that there was a possibility of U.S. Border Patrol agents questioning students about their immigration status during school trips in areas near checkpoints bordering Mexico. This alert turned out to be misleading.
Angelib Hernandez, who resides in Aurora, Colorado, has begun keeping her children out of school several days a week following Trump’s inauguration, and now does not send them at all out of fear that immigration agents could detain them at school, potentially resulting in the separation of her family. Hernandez, who arrived in the U.S. about a year ago seeking asylum, has been navigating complex immigration processes which have become even more precarious with recent policy shifts.
Over recent weeks, her anxieties have multiplied as she perceives a widespread belief that immigration enforcement will infiltrate Denver-area schools. Despite assurances from school authorities that children are safe, Hernandez remains skeptical. The fear of immigration agents entering school grounds, although not substantiated by actual occurrences, has been troubling enough for some districts to advocate for changes to policies regulating agent access to educational settings.
Last week, the Denver Public Schools district filed a lawsuit against the Department of Homeland Security, alleging that the Trump administration is interfering with the education of the young residents. The district noted that it accommodated 43,000 migrants last year, many of whom are children now enrolled in public schools. The legal action suggests that recent immigration raids, such as the one at an apartment, have contributed to reduced attendance in schools with high concentrations of migrant students.
Denver educators emphasize that the additional support they provide to families in crisis diverts critical resources from their primary educational mission, as pointed out by the district’s legal team. Nationwide, debates are looming over whether children lacking legal status should have access to public education.
In Oklahoma, Ryan Walters, the Republican state superintendent, proposed a rule necessitating parents to provide proof of citizenship, such as a birth certificate, to enroll their children in schools. While this rule was set to come with allowances for parents lacking documentation, advocates asserted that it would effectively deter many from attempting to register their children. However, even Governor Kevin Stitt vetoed this initiative, deeming it excessive.
Meanwhile, in Tennessee, some Republican lawmakers have presented a bill empowering school districts with the authority to determine the enrollment of undocumented students, potentially inviting legal challenges to overturn long-standing educational rights for all children in the U.S.
The ramifications of these immigration policies within American schools are profound. A 2021 estimate from Fwd.us indicated that around 600,000 K-12 students lacked legal status, with nearly 4 million students — many U.S.-born — having undocumented parents living in the country.
Research indicates that immigration operations can adversely alter academic performance among students, including those born in the U.S. In places like North Carolina and California, studies have noted decreased attendance and enrollment rates in Hispanic students when local police collaborate with immigration enforcement. Another investigation reported declines in test scores for Hispanic students attending schools near locations of workplace raids.
Fresno has witnessed a drop in school attendance of between 700 to 1,000 students daily since the onset of Trump’s presidency. School officials have repeatedly dealt with concerned parents reaching out regarding unfounded rumors of raids targeting schools. Carlos Castillo, the chief of diversity, equity, and inclusion at the Fresno Unified School District, remarked that the speculation about school raids stemmed from a broader sense of fear.
This atmosphere of anxiety transcends the status of individual students; it affects many families who fear for their relatives and friends, compounding their concerns over immigration enforcement in their communities. Castillo recounted a poignant moment when a principal, moved to tears, shared that a family felt too afraid to leave their home to purchase groceries. Taking action, the principal delivered groceries and lent emotional support during that challenging time.
To address these fears, the district has actively been working with families to help them understand their rights while providing guidance on sensitive topics such as asset liquidation or custody planning in the event of parental deportation. The district has also collaborated with local organizations to offer legal assistance, holding multiple meetings to ensure families feel informed and supported during these uncertain times.
