Just hours after retaking office, President Donald Trump removed restrictions that had previously barred ICE from operating in sensitive locations like schools, hospitals, and churches. Months later, schools—especially in California’s Central Valley—are seeing a sharp drop in attendance as immigrant families choose to keep their children home out of fear of deportation.
A new Stanford University study led by education professor Thomas S. Dee revealed a troubling trend: school absences surged by 22% following a series of immigration raids earlier this year. The study analyzed attendance across five school districts in the southern Central Valley, covering over 100,000 students, many from mixed-status families.
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The jump in absences is the equivalent of a student missing 15 days of school per year, up from an average of 12. Immigrant parents told researchers they feared being arrested and deported while their children were in class, so they kept them home rather than risk separation.
Although ICE isn’t targeting schools directly, the fear created by nearby raids and a broader crackdown has left a deep impact. Many parents describe living under constant anxiety—amplified by viral social media stories of family separations and children placed in foster care.
Classroom Impact and Funding Risks
The consequences go beyond individual families:
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Student learning suffers, with teachers adjusting lessons to help kids catch up.
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Counselors now spend more time helping students manage fears about deportation.
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School funding is also threatened, as California ties school budgets directly to attendance rates.
Dee’s study highlights how even off-campus immigration enforcement can seriously disrupt school communities.
Policy Shift and Federal Response
The policy reversal happened on January 20, just hours after Trump’s return to the White House. It ended an Obama-era guideline that classified schools, churches, and hospitals as off-limits for immigration enforcement.
A DHS spokesperson said the rollback allows ICE and CBP to go after “criminal aliens—including murderers and rapists.” However, the White House remains firm on its stance despite mounting evidence of unintended consequences.
Abigail Jackson, a White House spokeswoman, responded to the Stanford study saying:
“Illegal immigration is incredibly disruptive to all Americans, including families, students, and teachers. The Trump administration won’t apologize for enforcing the law and restoring order to American communities.”
As raids continue and attendance drops, many educators worry this policy shift could have long-lasting effects—not just on immigrant families, but on public education itself.
