With President Trump now coming into office, he has not backed down on his promise of deporting illegal immigrants from the United States by allowing ICE to target homes, churches and hospitals. But now schools have made their way on the list of ICE’s many targets, letting them expand their power of enforcement, especially by giving them the right to conduct raids on these places. In the past, schools have been off limits for immigration enforcement, but that has changed since President Trump came into office. But should they be allowed to start terrorizing schools? Because that’s exactly what they are doing, terrorizing schools.
In a country that values opportunities, ICE raids are a shocking betrayal to the country’s principles and they are absolutely terrible to deal with overall. Schools should serve as safe spaces for children to learn and grow rather than being a target of immigration enforcement. Allowing immigration enforcement to go to public places like hospitals and churches is already horrible enough for immigrant families, but allowing them to go into schools is all the more terrible. President Trump claims he is deporting illegal immigrants who are criminals. But innocent children are not criminals.
They should not be living in fear at school when schools promise protection and safety. It is unacceptable for children to live in terror, constantly fearing that their right to learn may be violently interrupted. Raids can traumatize students, causing stress, anxiety and lower academic performance. Fear of ICE makes kids afraid to go to school, which makes them end up not going to school, which hurts their education and future, hampering their personal growth. Recently, students have been staying home instead of going to school, and they decided to join the protests by not going to school. Children in immigrant communities already live in fear with the constant fear that they or their loved ones could be taken away at any moment. Bringing this terror into their schools only amplifies their stress. Students should be focusing on their education, friends and dreams, not on whether they will see their parents when they go home at the end of the day.
Schools are not for law enforcement. No matter the situation. Schools are meant to be a haven for students to learn, where every child has the right to learn without having to deal with fear, discrimination, and external threats. The Supreme Court ruling in Plyler v. Doe shared that all children, no matter what their immigration status is, have a right to public education. By giving ICE permission to raid these schools, this violates the principle and creates unnecessary chaos which is not necessary at all. In the past, schools have been known to be safe from immigration enforcement, especially with Plyler v. Doe, but now that has changed in recent days.
Allowing ICE to make arrests in sensitive locations damages trust between immigrant communities and public institutions. Families may hesitate to go to schools, seek medical help or join community events because they fear detention. This fear not only affects individual well-being but also weakens the connections that hold communities together. And now the teachers and school administrators are in a difficult situation too since the ICE raids. They must choose between protecting their students and following federal rules. This creates a major conflict, as their obligation to keep students safe also clashes with the basic principles of education and children’s health. Many school districts and local governments have declared their schools as “safe zones” due to recent policy changes. They will not allow ICE agents on their property unless there is clear permission for them to enter. For example, the Los Angeles Unified School District has stated that it will protect all students. They believe schools should be safe spaces for learning, free from fear and intimidation.
It is important for concerned citizens to speak out against immigration enforcement in schools. We can work with local and state representatives to create laws that make schools safe spaces and prevent immigration enforcement as much as possible. This legal protection can help keep students safe from such actions. Supporting groups that provide resources and legal help for immigrant families can also decrease the negative effects of this policy. Allowing ICE arrests in schools is a serious mistake that puts the safety and education of many children at risk. Everyone has a role in protecting schools and making sure they are safe places for every child to learn.
