Deportation anxieties loom over the commencement of the new academic year for families with mixed statuses
In some school districts across the country, the spectre of immigration enforcement is causing a ripple of anxiety, with absenteeism on the rise. This is particularly evident in Chicago, where fears of ICE agents have led to students staying home from school.
According to reports, a second-grade teacher named Roy in the Chicago public school system has observed some students missing school for a month due to these fears. The nationality of Roy is not specified in the available sources.
The fear is not unfounded. M., a woman living in rural southern Maryland, had a close encounter with what she believed to be immigration enforcement at a bus stop, causing her to run back home. M. and her husband, who have lived and worked in the U.S. for around 15 years, are undocumented and fear ICE enforcement around schools due to their immigration status.
M. is not alone in her fears. After an incident at her husband's landscaping job a few weeks ago, where immigration agents showed up, the family has gone into a stricter lockdown. M. has also avoided taking her children to public places like pools, aquariums, and parks this summer due to the same fear.
Educators in Chicago are taking these fears seriously. Stacy Davis Gates, president of the Chicago teachers union, stated that all options are being considered to ensure student safety and education. One such measure under consideration is offering online classes as a precautionary measure.
It is important to note that ICE agents cannot enter a school without a warrant. Furthermore, it is unconstitutional to deny students access to public education based on immigration status in certain cities like Chicago and New York. Attempts to ask about immigration status in schools have been struck down as unconstitutional in certain cities and states, such as Alabama a few years ago.
M. is relieved that school is back in session as she spent most of the summer indoors with her four children. However, the fear of taking kids to school has impacted attendance, causing increases in absenteeism during ICE operations in districts across the country, such as California's central valley.
As the issue of immigration enforcement continues to be a hot topic, it is crucial to ensure that the education of all children is not disrupted. The rights of undocumented families to access public education and live without fear of deportation are fundamental to a fair and just society.
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