Impact of Trump's Immigration Policy on Schools Revealed by Educators

Sat Feb 21 2026 16:05:35 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Teachers nationwide share their experiences and challenges amid the immigration enforcement policies of the Trump administration, detailing a climate of fear affecting students and their families.

In a recent court filing, educators revealed how President Trump's immigration policies have led to widespread fear among students and immigrant families, resulting in lower attendance and significant disruptions in schools across the country. Teachers provided anonymous testimonies, illustrating the adverse effects of immigration enforcement actions near schools, including instances where students and parents were detained by ICE.

In a compelling testimony, teachers across the United States described the substantial impacts of President Donald Trump’s immigration policies on their classrooms and the lives of their students.

During a recent court proceeding, educators elaborated on how rumors of impending immigration raids have led to significant reductions in student attendance, while immigrant parents have stopped sending their children to school entirely. Alarming reports include instances of parents and children, including students being detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) personnel at school bus stops.

These revelations are part of a lawsuit against a Trump administration policy that increased the vulnerability of schools, places of worship, and healthcare facilities to immigration enforcement actions. Filed by farmworker and teacher unions along with various educational institutions, this lawsuit claims the policy is “arbitrary and capricious.”

The plaintiffs recently requested a judge's intervention to suspend the policy as the legal proceedings continue. They expressed that the actions of immigration enforcement in recent months, particularly around essential community institutions, have been alarmingly frequent.

Previously, the Department of Homeland Security had guidelines in place preventing immigration enforcement agencies from conducting operations in areas deemed sensitive, including schools and places of worship. However, after Trump’s administration took office, these policies were rescinded, enabling ICE to pursue individuals in those locations.

Educators emphasized that this shift has created a fear-based environment in classrooms. In one case, a middle school teacher recounted how rumors of a raid led to half of the students being absent. Another instance described a teacher witnessing a student detained at a bus stop.

A union leader from Chelsea, Massachusetts, remarked that the fear instilled by immigration enforcement has been more disruptive to student learning than the COVID-19 lockdowns. Many students, fearing for their safety and that of their families, are avoiding school altogether.

As the situation develops, educators across the nation continue to grapple with the implications of these policies on their students, leading to calls for significant reforms regarding how immigration enforcement operates around educational settings.