School districts across the U.S. are seeing large drops in attendance due to fears of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids. In some classrooms, as many as two-thirds of students have stayed home. Cities like New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Denver report that many families are afraid of deportation.
The U.S. Constitution guarantees free public education for all children, no matter their immigration status. However, a new policy from the Trump administration now allows ICE agents to target schools, bus stops, and other places where students gather.
Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, warned that allowing law enforcement to conduct raids at schools or hospitals would break trust between families and authorities. She also said it could traumatize children.
Fear and Tragedy
In Texas, an 11-year-old girl tragically died by suicide after being bullied over her family’s immigration status. This has raised concerns about the emotional toll on children in immigrant families.
In Oklahoma City, protesters gathered outside the State Department of Education to oppose ICE raids in public schools.
For many years, ICE generally avoided schools, churches, and other “sensitive” locations, except in emergencies. However, Trump removed this policy when he returned to office, telling ICE agents to use “common sense” when making arrests.
A federal judge recently blocked the Trump administration from conducting immigration enforcement at some churches. Denver Public Schools (DPS) has asked another judge to prevent ICE from targeting schools and bus stops.
Schools Respond to the Crisis
In Denver, ICE raids near a school earlier this month frightened students so much that many stayed home for days. Superintendent Alex Marrero said ICE agents even delayed school buses and detained two students’ parents, forcing the school district to find someone to care for them.
“No student can learn when they are stressed and scared,” Marrero said.
In Chicago, the teachers’ union has created “sanctuary teams” to help students in case of ICE raids. Many teachers worry about what will happen to kids if their parents are taken away while they are in class.
The Chicago Teachers Union reassured families that schools should be a safe space. “Donald Trump told everyone what he would do when he returned to office,” the union said. “Any leader not preparing for this is failing their community.”
Attendance Drops in Major Cities
In Erie, Pennsylvania, parents are also keeping kids home out of fear, said Monica Ruiz from Casa San José, a nonprofit for Latinos in Pittsburgh. “How do you learn when you’re scared?” she asked.
In Los Angeles, school attendance dropped 20% in one day. Officials believe this was due to a mix of ICE fears, protests, and the impact of recent wildfires.
New York City schools are monitoring attendance and working with individual schools to address concerns.
Debate Over Immigration and Schools
Lora Ries, an immigration policy expert at the Heritage Foundation, believes the fear of ICE targeting schools is exaggerated. She argues that undocumented students put a strain on school resources, and some Trump-aligned officials are even pushing to overturn a 1982 Supreme Court decision that guarantees free education for all students.
However, Marrero strongly disagrees. He believes the Trump administration’s approach is only causing fear and harming students’ education.
“If their goal is to scare people, then they have succeeded,” Marrero said. “But in what world do we want record-low attendance and students falling behind?”
