Impact of I.C.E. immigration raids on schools

In this episode of “Horizonte,” we speak with Marisol Garcia, President of the Arizona Education Association, about the impact I.C.E. immigration raids are having on schools in Arizona.

According to Garcia, increased immigration enforcement is causing fear among students in immigrant communities, leading to higher absenteeism and anxiety in schools. Garcia said educators report many students are struggling to focus, worried about family members being detained or deported. This decline in attendance may also impact school funding, which is tied to student presence.

Garcia explained schools are working to reassure families by emphasizing safety policies and offering alternatives like online learning. Teachers and unions continue to support students emotionally and academically, striving to maintain stable learning environments despite growing uncertainty and stress affecting both students and educators.

“Schools are one of the most stabilizing factors in our children’s lives. We need those places to be safe for all of us,” Garcia said. She noted that even routine moments, like a police car passing by, can trigger anxiety and disrupt a student’s ability to feel safe.

“These are innocent children who want to go to school and learn,” Garcia said. “Having kids, in the back of their head, not sure of who’s going to be at home when we get home instills this instability.”

Garcia emphasized that when students miss school due to fear, the consequences extend beyond academics.

“We’re hearing from students who are saying, ‘I’m afraid to go to school because I don’t know if, when I get home, my parents are going to be there. When students are not in school, they’re not learning, and it affects their performance. It creates more disparities in education,” Garcia said.