In HP, a predominantly Latino community, fear has become a daily presence inside our classrooms. As ICE activity continues to affect undocumented families, its impact is increasingly visible in local schools. The Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD), the second-largest school district in the nation, has recently released information regarding the enrollment of their students. Enrollment dropped by approximately 4%, a decline that many educators, families, and Superintendent Alberto Carvalho, directly link to fear surrounding immigration enforcement. Carvalho stated,
“These declines reflect a climate of fear and instability created by ongoing immigration crackdowns…”
Mr. Benitez, an attendance counselor at HP stated, “I echo what the superintendent has said about the fear it has created in our communities when all these families want is to find a life the families want to be successful.”
Mr. Benitez recognized the fear that ICE raids around our campus have created within students and their families.
He explained, “They deserve a community and a place that’s safe to achieve their goals, dreams and aspirations.”
The effects of immigration enforcement fears are already noted within HP’s campus. When asked about recent changes in attendance, Mr. Benitez confirmed that the school has experienced a noticeable decline. “Yes, significantly,” he said, explaining that many families either returned to their home countries or did not return to school this year. According to Mr. Benitez, approximately 20 to 30 families from the school did not return.
While the district has taken measures to ensure the safety and wellbeing of students, worry remains present. Mr. Benitez shared that LAUSD has established a response team and provides resources through the “We Are One” website to support students and families if immigration enforcement occurs near campus. However, even with these precautions in place, the emotional toll on students persists.
The long-term impact of this fear extends beyond attendance. Mr. Benitez emphasized that students are being forced to live with constant anxiety, which affects their mental health and academic performance. He warned that these conditions may lead to continued declines in enrollment, an increase in dropouts, and fewer students applying to college.
What is happening in our community poses the question: how can students reach graduation when they are forced to choose between their safety and their education? Educators see that fear daily and understand the damage it causes. If immigration enforcement continues to push our students out of school, HP risks seeing fewer students graduate and pursue higher education. And for a community already fighting to raise graduation rates, the cost of fear can change this even more.
Written by Wendy Sanchez, Features Editor