Immigration Crackdowns Create Fear Culture Within U.S. High Schools

(MENAFN) Intensified immigration enforcement operations throughout the United States have fostered a "culture of fear" within public secondary institutions, resulting in elevated rates of peer harassment, classroom absences, and psychological trauma among students from immigrant backgrounds, media outlets reported Wednesday.

Academic investigators at the University of California, Los Angeles' Institute for Democracy, Education and Access (IDEA) conducted a nationwide assessment involving more than 600 high school administrators to examine how Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations affect educational communities, media documented.

"Students from immigrant families have expressed concerns about their well-being or the well-being of their families," said the report, with 70.4% of principals confirming the trend.

School attendance patterns and scholastic achievement deteriorated significantly, with 57.8% of administrators indicating that families had permanently relocated from their districts mid-academic year.

A Michigan principal documented Hispanic pupils being labeled "border hoppers," while a Minnesota administrator observed white students demanding, "Can I see your papers?" from Latino classmates.

In Nebraska, verbal aggression directed toward immigrant pupils was characterized as progressively "hostile and derogatory."

Research findings revealed that 63.8% of school leaders had students absent from classes due to immigration-related rhetoric or policies, and over one-third reported instances of bullying or harassment against immigrant students.

Despite possessing minimal jurisdiction over federal immigration matters, 77.6% of educational institutions formulated protocols to address potential visits by federal agents.

Nearly half established emergency arrangements for pupils whose legal guardians face possible deportation.

"Principals are telling stories of students being dropped off at school and worrying that will be the last time they see their parents," IDEA Director John Rogers was quoted by the newspaper as saying. "It speaks to a normalization of a system that creates extraordinary trauma."

Responding to the findings, Department of Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin dismissed the research as "fear mongering," asserting that ICE does not target children in schools.

"Those blaming ICE for students getting bullied and low attendance are smearing law enforcement," she said.

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