Fear and danger rise as ICE and immigration tensions present themselves more in today’s society. Students skipping school, people avoiding their special spots, and protests erupting all over the country. How are young students handling and responding to these challenges?
According to The Guardian, since January 2025, the Trump administration has deported well over 200,000 people. Hundreds of thousands of immigrant children occupy the U.S., ranging from infants to teenagers. This leads to hundreds of thousands of children having their education harmed and put in jeopardy.
For many children, school is a safe place, and depending on their home situation, it can be a source of calm in their lives. Before the recent immigration enforcement, schools were considered a safe space from the real world, including immigration issues.
Unfortunately, this is not the case anymore.
Reportedly, school principals nationwide have received detailed directions numerous times on how to deal with immigration officers trying to take children from school. Many schools have implemented training for their teachers and administrators, along with resources for immigrant children and families, in case they’re put in this situation or one similar to it.
Cases like this have been heard of from all around the country. Even now, “safe cities” aren’t so safe anymore. Anxiety and fear rise, and division is a growing problem in the “Melting Pot” country.
In recent months, absence rates in the US have skyrocketed by 22%, according to The New York Times. Parents are terrified to send their children to school, scared that their children might never return.
Education has, and continues to play, a huge role in how successful people become and the life that people can build for themselves. Education is one of the most important tools anyone can have to navigate life. When children are being held back from getting an education, it’s setting them up to fail in life and not giving them a fighting chance. Even legal immigrants are scared to go to school, losing an education they have every right to experience.
ICE continues to stalk and prey during vulnerable times on the immigrant people – some of whom played a significant role in building our country and continue to improve it. Throughout the history of the United States, immigrants, both legal and illegal, have improved the economy and expanded the workforce by millions. By doing the grunt work in the U.S., immigrants can boost consumer spending, which in turn benefits the economy tremendously.
Families are being ripped apart and left vulnerable. According to the website Changing Perspectives, problems other than absence rates are becoming more and more apparent in these students. Students are experiencing anxiety, depression, panic attacks, and even PTSD. Most students are struggling with navigating their feelings and fears, creating worse outcomes for these children and teens.
Teachers all over the country, specifically in the bigger cities, have reported a growing number of empty seats, and even more questions arise around the topic. While Oakmont has not seen instances like this, surrounding communities have seen a significant number of issues present themselves in their towns.
States and towns all over the country are seeing more and more cases like this one. Some teachers and even students have seen and reported bullying and isolation of students affected by this. Since these problems are presenting themselves so young in these children’s lives, it is expected to have a long-lasting effect on their physical and mental health.
Many school teachers and administrators have the same stance on this issue. Students should feel safe and secure at school, no matter where they come from.
“Unfortunately, we have many politicians who have made it commonplace to purposely lie and misinform in order to spread hate…the vast majority of immigrants, legal or not, are peaceful people who are just trying to make a better life for themselves or their families, NOT murderers, rapists, or drug dealers,” commented Oakmont principal Mr. Jeffrey Lizotte.
School is a place for learning and socializing; it should be protected from the real, aggressive world just outside the school doors.
