Declining Immigrant Enrollment in U.S. Schools

Across the United States, public schools are experiencing sharp drops in enrollment from immigrant families.

Strict immigration enforcement, deportations, voluntary return to home countries, and a major slowdown in new arrivals have reduced the number of newcomer students in both large cities and small towns.

Miami-Dade, one of the country’s largest school districts, saw new-to-country enrollment fall from more than 20,000 two years ago to about 2,550 this year, wiping out roughly $70 million from its budget.

Similar declines are visible in Denver, Houston, northern Alabama, Chicago suburbs, and Massachusetts. Some districts have even closed newcomer programs because so few students are enrolling.

Fear of Immigration and Customs Enforcement has also pushed many families to withdraw the