UPDATE: A new study has just revealed alarming trends in high schools across California and the nation. Research from UCLA and UC Riverside confirms that immigration raids by ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) have created a “climate of distress,” leading to a significant rise in bullying and a drop in attendance among immigrant students.
The study found that 70% of public high school principals surveyed reported that students from immigrant families expressed heightened fears for their safety due to ongoing ICE crackdowns and negative political rhetoric. This urgent report, released today, highlights the distressing impact on school environments as 36% of principals indicated that immigrant students have faced increased bullying.
The survey, conducted from May to August with 606 principals across the country, reveals that 64% of schools have seen a marked decline in attendance, a trend echoed by other researchers in California’s Central Valley and Northeastern states. This decline in K-12 enrollment could affect cities like Los Angeles, San Diego, and Miami, with estimates showing tens of thousands of affected students.
Principals across the nation, including those in Minnesota, Nebraska, and Michigan, have reported a surge in hostile and derogatory language directed at classmates from immigrant families. One California principal poignantly noted, “It just doesn’t feel very American,” while another described staff members “breaking down in tears” over the plight of affected students.
In response to these challenges, nearly 78% of principals reported that their schools have developed plans to manage visits from federal agents. Additionally, 50% have contingency plans in place for situations involving deportations of students’ parents. Schools in Los Angeles County have emerged as leaders in this effort, implementing unprecedented measures to protect families. For instance, L.A. Unified has arranged direct home-to-school transportation for at-risk students, reinforcing their commitment to safety.
The urgency of this situation is underscored by events earlier this year when Los Angeles principals successfully turned away immigration agents attempting to enter elementary schools under false pretenses. At a public meeting, school board member Karla Griego shared a troubling account of a parent taken into custody while attending a school meeting.
Schools like Alliance Morgan McKinzie High School in East L.A. have noted attendance dips from the high 90% range to low 90s following significant ICE raids, with principal Rosa Menendez stating, “A lot of our kids are afraid to come to school.” In light of escalating fears, the charter school has increased supervision, ensuring staff members are present at bus and train stations to monitor student arrivals and departures.
Menendez, a child of Salvadoran immigrants with undocumented family members, expressed the added layer of stress on school communities, saying, “Coming off the heels of COVID, we were trying to keep our kids safe and healthy, and now it’s a whole other layer of safety.”
Despite the Department of Homeland Security stating that ICE does not target schools, the Trump administration’s recent rescindment of protections for “sensitive” locations has raised alarms. This policy change has left schools vulnerable to immigration enforcement actions.
The emotional toll on educators is profound, with many feeling a “double sense of duty” to protect students while fulfilling their educational roles. One principal shared that teachers have joined local immigrant rights networks, actively ensuring safe pathways to school. The heightened anxiety is palpable, as concerns about potential ICE raids now compound longstanding fears of school violence.
Maria Nichols, president of the Associated Administrators of Los Angeles, commended the district for its swift action in providing protocols for potential raids. However, she lamented the strain on principals due to staffing cuts, which have left fewer assistant principals to share the burden of these responsibilities.
As the nation grapples with these pressing issues, school leaders from coast to coast express their anxieties. A principal from Idaho voiced her fears of ICE agents arriving with judicial warrants, emphasizing, “I feel like I’m responsible for their safety. I hate that, because I don’t feel I’m able to protect them.”
The findings of this study underscore the urgent need for communities and policymakers to address the fallout from immigration enforcement on students and their educational experiences. Schools are not just centers of learning; they are sanctuaries for students who now face unprecedented challenges in their pursuit of an education.
As these distressing situations continue to unfold, parents and educators are left to navigate a complex landscape of fear, uncertainty, and an urgent need for support.