ICE Crackdown Leaves Students Traumatized, Teachers Say
Immigration enforcement is intensifying across the U.S., and it’s not just targeting those who have committed serious crimes.
Reports and videos continue to emerge of children watching their parents being detained, and, in some cases, children themselves being taken or left in uncertain circumstances. Teachers say their students are frightened and traumatized by what they’ve seen and heard.
Starting in 2017, the U.S. government adopted a “zero tolerance” immigration policy that resulted in the separation of thousands of families. Children were labeled “unaccompanied” even when their parents were detained nearby, and many were transferred to the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR).
According to the Immigration & Human Rights Law Review, as of March this year, more than 1,300 children remain unaccounted for. Their whereabouts are unknown, were they deported, lost in the system, or placed without proper documentation?
Meanwhile, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has expanded operations nationwide. From neighborhoods to workplaces, agents have been conducting raids that often sweep up both documented and undocumented individuals.
In one Illinois case, even workers with legal papers were detained, reinforcing that fear knows no borders.
Children Are Paying the Price
No child should have to wonder whether their parents will come home after work, or whether their school might become the next site of an immigration raid.
The American Psychological Association (APA) warns that the stress and fear caused by these policies contribute to serious mental health risks, including anxiety, depression, PTSD, and suicidal thoughts for both children and adults. The constant uncertainty erodes trust, safety, and emotional stability.
Schools No Longer Feel Safe
Historically, schools were recognized as “sensitive locations” where immigration enforcement was not permitted. But those protections were revoked earlier this year, according to the American Immigration Council, leading many parents to pull their children out of school.
In cities like Chicago, teachers report that students arrive anxious and withdrawn. Some schools have distributed “Know Your Rights” materials and reopened remote learning options so students can stay home if they feel unsafe.
Local officials have sounded the alarm: “Operations around schools are increasingly more and more common,” said Chicago Alderman Byron Sigcho-Lopez. “It’s caused so much fear and terror in schools.”
Teachers are seeing that trauma firsthand. “Everyone’s very anxious,” said Sheena Shukla, a Chicago Public Schools social worker. “Can you imagine telling a 12-year-old that people are out there who might want to take their family?
We can’t shield our children from these realities, so we provide them with a level of support that they can understand.”
Every child has the right to safety, family, and education without fear. When immigration actions cause children to worry about losing their parents or being taken from school, those rights are violated. Schools must remain safe places where every child is protected, supported, and free to learn.
