By EVELYN

Image credit: NYT

As immigration enforcement continues to spread and intensify under President Donald Trump’s 2nd term, some elementary, high school, and university campuses are adopting measures to combat the consequences that enforcement imposes on students. Immigrant students across the country have expressed growing concerns about attending school due to fears of immigration raids on their campuses. A recent study conducted by Thomas Dee, a Stanford University researcher, analyzed student absences across five school districts in California over a span of three years. He discovered that student absences were 22 percent higher during immigration raids, in comparison to previous years, significantly impacting students’ learning. Earlier this year, several schools and districts initiated preparations for potential raids on or around their campuses. These developing protocols include providing online learning opportunities, guidelines, and mental health support. The following section illustrates how various school campuses and districts across the country have balanced student safety and learning amid heightened immigration enforcement, followed by a list of recommendations for schools. 

San Diego Unified School District 

Before President Trump’s return to the Oval Office, the San Diego Unified School District (SDUSD) implemented a series of resolutions focusing on the protection of immigrant students and their families. In December 2024, the SDUSD announced that its schools would not assist or allow immigration agents on their campuses without a warrant. In addition to these measures, the SDUSD created a page on their district website where immigrant students and their families can obtain information and resources about their rights, community organizations, and LGBTQ+ support. The district also stated that personal student information would not be shared outside of the school without consent from parents or legal guardians. The resolution also instructs students’ families to continuously update their personal and emergency information in the district database, ensuring that school personnel have access to accurate information and can contact family members at all times. By implementing district policies that reflect compassion, transparency, and protection, SDUSD sets a precedent for how public schools across the country can take extra measures to ensure safe learning spaces for students during an increasingly anti-immigrant climate.

California State University, Los Angeles 

On July 9th, 2025,  California State University of Los Angeles (CSULA) announced it would permit professors to switch their in-person courses to online learning environments as a response to the recent upscale in immigration raids across the country. This measure was taken because CSULA students expressed concerns over attending in-person classes for fear of potential detainment. Although raids have not occurred at the university, immigrant and undocumented students voiced their concerns, afraid that their public campus or the surrounding area could be targeted by immigration officials at any given time. This was especially the case as Los Angeles County has been a central area for immigration raids and enforcement in recent months. Heather Lattimer, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs at CSULA, announced in her letter to faculty and staff, “As a campus, we need to thoughtfully navigate these concerns as we seek to support all members of our Golden Eagle family”. CSULA acknowledges having no power to stop immigration officials from entering the university, but is taking extra measures to promote the safety of its students, especially those affected by recent immigration raids, while not limiting their access to higher education. 

K-12 Los Angeles School District 

Similar to SDUSD, the Los Angeles School District (LASD) acknowledged the academic and personal challenges that immigrant students and their families may face amid heightened enforcement. During the 2025 school year, LAUSD hired 770 psychiatric social workers and 171 family resource navigators to assist students with their mental and physical health needs. Additionally, individual family resource navigators, case management services, and medical assistance resources are available to students. Recently, school psychiatric social workers have provided weekly check-ins with immigrant students and their families, provided legal support for court cases, and fostered community circles for students to discuss their circumstances and emotions. These initiatives, in part, recognize the mental and physical health toll experienced by students and their families during unprecedented times. 

San Antonio’s Northside Independent School District 

San Antonio, Texas’s largest school district (SANISD), also acknowledged the effects of President Trump’s immigration executive orders on students earlier this year. The SANISD continued to follow its existing immigration-related policies tailored to protecting immigrant students and their families. Such protocols include a step-by-step guide for faculty to know what to do should immigration officials attempt to enter school campuses. The policies designate the principal of each school as the head of contact if immigration officials attempt to enter the campuses of SANISD. Each principal is responsible for asking for proof of a signed warrant, contacting student guardians, and notifying the Office of Student Personnel. In addition, principals are required to verify both students’ and immigration agents’ identities, note the reason for detainment, request why their school campus was targeted, and be present during student questioning. Designating principals as lead figures in immigration enforcement situations is an important example of how schools can create a safe learning environment where students have individuals they can trust. In a letter addressed to parents, Superintendent Gerardo Soto stated that SANISD is dedicated to protecting and providing a safe learning environment for all students, regardless of a student’s legal status. 

Recommendations for School Districts and Individual Campuses

Below are a few recommendations that leadership, administrators, and school personnel can consider pursuing in their respective campuses and districts:

1. Implement online learning options for students and allocate necessary academic tools such as laptops, headphones, or Wi-fi hotspots.
2. Consider adopting similar roles and actions, such as instituting resolutions that prioritize the protection of undocumented students and their families.
3. Facilitate immigration-related training for school faculty and administrators, such as how to handle immigration enforcement-related situations. 
4. Host“Know Your Rights” workshops for students and their parents. Given that the political climate continues to change, it is crucial to host these meetings, introducing crucial resources, and informing community members on the latest policy updates. 
5. Provide free mental health resources for students and their families with culturally competent therapists who can assist in processing these unique immigration-related circumstances.   
6. Host one-on-one check-ins between school administrators, immigrant students, and their families to foster a learning space where students and their loved ones feel heard and supported.
7. Have a step-by-step guideline available to school faculty and students’ parents to know what protocols to follow should immigration officials appear on/near school campuses.

EVELYN is a second-year doctoral Sociology student. She has a bachelor’s in Political Science and Criminology. Her research focus includes analyzing how U.S. immigration policies and legal institutions impact mixed-status families. As a first-generation college student and daughter of immigrants, her academic interests are deeply rooted in personal and community experiences. She is also involved in projects that examine educational access and resource equity for undocumented and mixed-status students.

DON’T FORGET TO SHARE THIS PAGE WITH YOUR FRIENDS!

Don’t miss out on the latest resources available for undocumented students, make sure to “like” our page on Facebook and subscribe (it’s free)!

Are you interested in hosting an immigration presentation or workshop at your school or organization? Learn more about the range of speaking engagements we offer here.

At My Undocumented Life we provide up-to-date information and resources for undocumented immigrants and allies. We post scholarship opportunities that are open to undocumented students, strategies for navigating the educational system, information on how to apply for DACA/Advance Parole, news on DAPA, and much more. Most importantly, we want to provide a sense of community to our diverse group of readers. Learn more about our work here: “About Us“

Categories: Educators/Counselors, UndocuAlly

Tags: education, Immigration, schools