School districts in the United States have reported a sharp drop in attendance amid President Donald Trump's ongoing ICE raids.
The situation has resulted in as many as two-thirds of students in various classrooms being temporarily absent. The efforts of ICE have reached New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Denver, among others. School districts said that many students are staying home as they fear that they or their parents could be deported.
Trump Administration's ICE Raids
Before the latest Trump administration policy that gave ICE agents more leeway to target schools, bus stops, and other educational facilities, the U.S. Constitution guaranteed a free public education to every child. This was regardless of their immigration status.
Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, warned that permitting law enforcement to conduct raids on school grounds or in hospitals and clinics undermines trust between families, law enforcement, and the government.
He added that the situation will only scar native-born American families as well as immigrant families, noting that the impacts and harms will be felt by entire communities across the nation, according to USA Today.
School police in Texas are investigating a mother's accusation that her 11-year-old daughter died by suicide after classmates bullied her because of her family's immigration status. Federal immigrant agents have largely avoided conducting enforcement sweeps or detentions at or near "sensitive" areas.
These include schools and churches, but there have been exceptions to this in case of emergencies. After Trump returned to office, he quickly rescinded that longstanding policy and ordered agents to use "common sense" in making arrests where necessary.
Protecting Students in Schools
Since then, state education departments and local school systems across the U.S. have issued guidance on handling potential visits from federal immigration officials. JD Supra reported that some of the largest school districts in the country have reinforced or expanded existing measures designed to protect immigrant students and their families.
Conversely, other districts stated that federal agents will not be permitted on school grounds unless they have a judicial warrant. They also noted that staff are encouraged to contact legal counsel if agents appear in their area.
The Trump administration's new immigration policies have come as many Republican lawmakers in Oklahoma and Tennessee have put forward various proposals. These would make it much more difficult or sometimes even impossible for children who are in the country illegally, as well as U.S.-born children of parents who have no documentation, to attend school at all, as per the Associated Press.
