Schools Confront Anxiety Over Trump’s Actions on Immigration
Rising Anxiety Among Parents and Students
In Fresno, California, social media rumors about impending immigration raids at the city’s schools left some parents panicking — even though the raids were all hoaxes. In Denver, a real immigration raid at an apartment complex led to scores of students staying home from school, according to a lawsuit. And in Alice, Texas, a school official incorrectly told parents that Border Patrol agents might board school buses to check immigration papers.
Trump’s Immigration Policies Affecting Schools
President Donald Trump’s immigration policies already are affecting schools across the country, as officials find themselves responding to rising anxiety among parents and their children, including those who are here legally. Trump’s executive actions vastly expanded who is eligible for deportation and lifted a ban on immigration enforcement in schools.
Families Struggle to Separate Facts from Rumors
As they weigh the risks, many families have struggled with separating facts from rumors. In the Alice Independent School District in Texas, school officials told parents that the district "received information" that U.S. Border Patrol agents could ask students about their citizenship status during field trips on school buses that pass through checkpoints about 60 miles from the Texas-Mexico border. The information turned out to be false.
Immigration and Schools: A Growing Concern
Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents are not known to have entered schools anywhere. However, the possibility has alarmed families enough that some districts are pushing for a change in the policy allowing agents to operate in schools. Denver Public Schools last week sued the Department of Homeland Security, accusing the Trump administration of interfering with the education of young people in its care.
Conservatives Question Right to Public Education
Around the country, conservatives have been questioning whether immigrants without legal status should even have the right to a public education. Oklahoma’s Republican state superintendent, Ryan Walters, pushed a rule that would have required parents to show proof of citizenship — a birth certificate or passport — to enroll their children in school. The rule would have allowed parents to register their children even if they could not provide proof, but advocates say it would have strongly discouraged them from doing so.
The Impact on Students and Families
The implications of immigration policy for U.S. schools are enormous. Fwd.us, a group advocating for criminal justice and immigration reform, estimated in 2021 that 600,000 K-12 students in the U.S. lacked legal status. Nearly 4 million students — many of them born in the U.S. — have a parent living in the country illegally.
Conclusion
As the debate surrounding immigration policy continues to unfold, schools across the United States are grappling with the consequences of the uncertainty and anxiety it brings. While some argue that immigration enforcement in schools is necessary, others believe it is a threat to the education and well-being of students and families.
FAQs
- What is the current policy on immigration enforcement in schools?
The Trump administration has lifted a ban on immigration enforcement in schools, which allows Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to operate in schools. - How many students in the U.S. lack legal status?
Fwd.us estimates that 600,000 K-12 students in the U.S. lack legal status. Nearly 4 million students — many of them born in the U.S. — have a parent living in the country illegally. - What is the impact of immigration raids on students?
Immigration raids have been shown to impact academic performance for students, even those who are native-born. Studies have found lower attendance and a drop in enrollment among Hispanic students when local police participate in a program that deputizes them to enforce immigration law.
