Attendance among English language learners in Chicago schools has dropped as news coverage of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations intensifies.
One high school in Chicago noted a four-point decline in attendance since the start of these operations, as families, fearing deportation or police interactions, keep their children at home, according to data from Chalkbeat.
A study from Stanford University reported a 22% increase in absenteeism across five California school districts from January to February compared to the same time last year, largely due to ICE activity in those areas.
Advocacy groups are urging schools to move beyond the “Know Your Rights” campaign and provide online learning options and other resources to support students who miss classes.
Initially, attendance numbers for the first month before significant ICE enforcement were similar to last year’s rates. However, once the operations started in Chicago, attendance dropped by 1.25 percentage points—this was more than double the decline seen in the first two months of the previous two years, as reported by Chalkbeat.
According to officials at Chicago Public Schools (CPS), which caters to around 324,000 students, attendance for English learners was down 1.3 percentage points during the first nine weeks compared to the same timeframe last year.
Adaku Onyeka Crawford, director of the Learning Opportunities Program at The Advancement Project, acknowledged the understandable fear among families. “It’s natural for parents to want to keep their children safe. If that means staying home, then so be it. Now’s the time to reinforce that schools are secure spaces for everyone,” she stated.
CPS allows for excused absences related to concerns over a student’s mental, emotional, or physical well-being.
The district is also working directly with families affected by these issues to provide academic and social-emotional support, utilizing platforms like Google Classroom to help maintain connections when students are absent.
Some organizations, including the Chicago Teachers Union, are advocating for expanded virtual learning opportunities for immigrant families, though this approach is not without challenges.
The virtual academy developed by CPS mainly serves students with specific medical needs and those enrolled in part-time accelerated courses. Although discussions for future expansion may occur, the district has made it clear that current offerings won’t cater to broader student populations.
There’s a concern that pushing immigrant students toward virtual education could further marginalize them unless community desires align with such choices.
“There’s been significant learning loss due to COVID-19 during the virtual school period, which has left English language learners and undocumented students depending on this option as if they were second-class citizens,” Crawford explained.
“Unless communities truly want that and schools can deliver the same quality of education for those targeted by current policies, I wouldn’t support it,” she added.
Senate Democrats are appealing to Education Secretary Linda McMahon to encourage ICE to implement a policy restricting its activities to at least 1,000 feet away from school grounds.
This request follows changes made by the Trump administration that lifted restrictions on ICE entering school buildings, although there haven’t been any verified incidents of ICE entering classrooms since.
The Democratic Party’s letter mentions several instances involving ICE near schools, including an incident where two women were arrested in front of students in Chicago.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) stated these women were driving recklessly and were approached by law enforcement after a sudden stop in traffic near the school. They did not comply with instructions from officers.
President Trump’s administration’s focus on urban ICE operations has sparked significant backlash from local and state authorities.
Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker recently called for a pause in ICE operations until after Halloween to ensure families could enjoy trick-or-treating without fear, a request that was denied by DHS.
Reports indicate a decline in 911 calls since ICE operations commenced in the city, particularly in neighborhoods with high Mexican-American populations.
DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin reassured that the department is “not targeting schools.”
“Our law enforcement is carrying out the mission of keeping America safe by removing dangerous criminals,” she stated. “Those not in the country illegally and not breaking any laws should feel secure. It’s unfortunate that some elected officials are creating fear, which leads to an increase in attacks against ICE officers,” she continued.
Advocacy groups have previously concentrated on a “Know Your Rights” initiative for schools and families, focusing on what to do if ICE comes near school buildings. Recently, however, some organizations have shifted to helping parents prepare for the potential deportation of a family member and the best ways to support their children following such an event.
“As an organization, we are speaking with families about emergency plans since these situations are becoming more likely. We’re assisting those affected amidst deportations and family detentions,” shared Lorena Tour Roman, co-founder and chief operating officer of Imschool.
“We are addressing this pressing issue by helping families prepare, looking at childcare options and identifying emergency contacts who can step in if a parent is detained,” she noted.
