How Immigration Policy Disrupts Latino Students' Education
The classroom should be a place of learning, not fear—yet for Latino students across America, that's exactly what it has become. Nearly one-third of Latino parents now refuse to sign up for public benefits even for U.S.-born children, and schools are developing emergency guidance for potential ICE operations, revealing an educational crisis that extends far beyond attendance sheets. This trend represents a sharp increase in absenteeism specifically tied to enforcement fears, creating an educational crisis that extends far beyond individual classrooms.
The situation has worsened since January 2025. Policies that once protected "sensitive locations" like schools were revoked in January 2025, allowing ICE agents to conduct enforcement actions directly at schools. Before President Trump took office, immigrants could access these sensitive locations which also include health care facilities, courthouses, and libraries without much worry of encountering immigration enforcement, but that protection has now vanished.
The psychological toll is measurable. UCLA researchers found that the schoolwork of immigrant students suffers when immigration officials show up and these students also face higher incidents of bullying from classmates. Over half of Latino families and 74% of Latino immigrants express deep concern that friends and family members may face deportation, creating a climate of chronic stress that follows children into their classrooms.
The educational consequences extend beyond individual students. Schools anticipate declining attendance due to rising fear among students and their families, while fear of deportation can lead to lower educational attainment and has become a barrier to Latino college attendance, potentially creating a lost generation in the knowledge economy.
Despite legal protections like Plyler v. Doe that guarantee educational access regardless of immigration status, the reality in classrooms tells a different story. Schools across the nation are developing guidance for potential ICE operations and implementing safe zone initiatives, but the mere need for such measures illustrates how immigration policy has infiltrated educational spaces meant to nurture the potential of all children.
Want to learn more?
Our Impact Partner, Multicultural Classroom hosts weekly podcasts to discuss how to create vibrant, safe, and supportive spaces to learn. Two recent episodes that relate to the topic of immigration and the classroom are Empowering Latinx Voices in the Education and Navigating Immigration Challenges.
For practical steps to support children and families near you, we encourage you to check out these resources to Support Students from Immigrant Families (The Southern Poverty Law Center). We know parents who’ve signed up to be designated observers at school drop-offs and pick ups and others who’ve served as witnesses as legal custodianship of children is extended in case of deportation. There are many ways to get involved and we encourage you to listen to the needs in your own community.
