Imagine being a young child, and you’re waiting for your mom or dad to pick you up after school. When they don’t show up right away, the feeling can be terrifying especially when you hear news about immigration officers taking people away. In San Antonio earlier this year, a mom didn’t see her son walk out with the rest of his classmates, and within those few minutes her mind was racing. Her son was just in the bathroom but those few minutes felt like a “nightmare.”.
There are many students from immigrant families who are now skipping school or feeling anxious due to the increased immigration enforcement across the country. A survey created by local San Diego teachers who work with immigrant students found almost 50% of students expressed fear or anxiety this year, and many were due to raids or enforcement efforts. For many students school was once viewed as a safe place. Now it gives students the feeling of fear for immigrant communities.
For a while, school used to be seen as a safe place for kids. Now, for many students fears are very real. An East Leyden sophomore said “it’s scary coming to school knowing my parents can be in danger.” She explained that her fear makes it harder for her to focus on her work while she is at school.
Many experts say this kind of anxiety can be common in schools among immigrant families. There are multiple teachers who have noticed students struggling with stress, fear, and worry. Education Weekly says “about half of all educators surveyed who work with immigrant families said their students have expressed fear or anxiety this school year as a result of federal immigration enforcement efforts”…“ The report also found that 24% reported reduced student attendance, and an equal share of their students were experiencing distraction or lack of engagement in class.”
The majority of the students who some showed so much confidence have now become quieter or withdrawn than usual. The American immigration council says “when students are afraid to go to school or are too distracted by the threat of family separation to focus, their education suffers”. This fear is sometimes shown in lower grades, missing homework, and trouble focusing.
Some students have had to change schools or even had to leave the country. The National Education Association said that “some students stopped coming to school entirely or transferred to different schools in other parts of the country. Other students decided to move back to their home countries because they didn’t feel particularly safe.” This decision can cause disruption in learning or routine.
The NEA reports that children often see scary events saying “what they see are their classmates, their family members, their neighbors often being apprehended in violent and confusing ways…”and this for children, creates a sense that nowhere and no one is safe”. Not only does this fear affect school but it also changes how students act in their neighborhoods, homes, or even at bus stops.
The American Immigration Council says that the U.S immigration and customs enforcement has increased operations “through workplace raids, neighborhood sweeps, and community targeting, including near schools and places of worship.” When enforcement started occurring in the places people thought were safe, fear spread through the community.
For a few students, school buses provide students a sense of safety. An anonymous Leyden student said “ Thankfully the school buses can take me to school without having to worry about my parents’ safety.” While you may expect students would appreciate the school buses less, some say the buses give a sense of relief for students who are worried about their families while at school.
Experts say this stress can affect students for years. Julie Romanowski, an early childhood specialist from SIRS Issue Research explained “what happens in our childhood is going to deeply impact us”…”what our parents choose for themselves,children, and family will have a long lasting impact.” Many immigrant families, especially parents, go through difficult choices that can affect their children’s education, safety, and well being.
Students described how their fear affects their everyday lives. An Anonymous Leyden student said “it’s scary coming to school knowing my parents can be in danger.” Another student says “ It’s not easy feeling safe when a few blocks down from school someone was tragically killed by immigration enforcement officers.” Even though they are protected in school, they still sense fear knowing they are innocent.
Many teachers and researchers believe that the issue not only affects their grade or attendance but their sense of safety, their identity, and their mental health. Schools are trying to help, and there are even a few districts that have partnered with legal aid groups or reassure families.
Students peek out the classroom window wondering if their parents made it home or to work safely. Others are afraid to raise their hand with their minds being filled with fear they are trying to face. Being in the hallways, the lesson may not always be math or reading, but learning how to cope with not knowing what comes next.
