As schools across the nation reopen, many immigrant families are expressing fear due to the Trump administration's focus on undocumented migrants. Educators, experts, and parents report heightened anxiety among these families, particularly in large districts like Los Angeles and Chicago.

Chicago Public Schools (CPS) has announced new measures to protect immigrant students. The district will not allow Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents or federal law enforcement to enter its facilities without a criminal warrant signed by a federal judge. This policy aims to create a safer environment for students and their families.

In Los Angeles, over half a million students have returned to school. The Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) is collaborating with local law enforcement to ensure the safety of its immigrant students. Superintendent Alberto Carvalho emphasized the district's commitment to providing a secure space for all students, regardless of their immigration status.

The fear of deportation has intensified among immigrant families nationwide. Esmeralda Alday, a former education director in San Antonio, noted that the anxiety among families has reached unprecedented levels since Trump took office. Some mixed-status families, where one or both parents are undocumented, have withdrawn their children from school due to perceived threats from ICE and actual detention orders received in the mail. Alday stated, "It’s coming at our families from every angle. It’s affecting our families from all angles, almost leaving them with no choice but to self deport."

Viridiana Carrizales, co-founder of ImmSchools, highlighted the dread many families feel about sending their children to school. She reported that some parents are so fearful they avoid leaving their homes. Carrizales claimed that the administration's actions are not just targeting undocumented immigrants with criminal records but are affecting all immigrants. "They don’t want our kids. They don't want immigrant kids in schools, they don't want them to get educated and that’s what’s happening," she said.

Carrizales also warned that the lack of support for these children could have broader negative implications for society. As families brace for potential crackdowns this school year, Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin stated that no arrests have occurred on K-12 school grounds during Trump's second term. She emphasized that ICE has not conducted any raids on K-12 campuses. McLaughlin reassured that U.S. citizen students should not fear deportation or ICE actions, even if their parents are undocumented.

In a significant policy shift, the Department of Homeland Security lifted restrictions on ICE operations in schools and other sensitive areas, such as churches and hospitals. McLaughlin defended this decision, arguing that it allows immigration agents to perform their duties effectively. "Why would you want a criminal to take safe harbor in a hospital or house of worship or a school?" she asked.

Despite these reassurances, student absenteeism has surged in Texas school districts due to fears of federal law enforcement. Carrizales and Alday noted that this trend continued into the summer learning period. Many schools are now worried about declining enrollment numbers for the current school year. In Los Angeles, board member Tanya Ortiz Franklin reported similar attendance issues, with families exploring virtual learning options.

Franklin noted that undocumented families are increasingly anxious about attending school events, such as back-to-school night. "They’re struggling with the question of do I come to this one event that could be helpful for my child or do I ensure that I am here for them when they get home at the end of the day and it’s a no brainer for those who are genuinely fearful," she said. This anxiety is particularly affecting immigrant communities in Los Angeles, including Latino, Black, and Asian populations.