Fear and Anxiety Over ICE Operations Disrupt Florida Classrooms

The return to school in South Florida is overshadowed this year by the anxiety gripping many immigrant families. Heightened immigration enforcement measures are raising concerns about the safety and stability of their children in educational settings.

According to a report from El Nuevo Herald, in Miami-Dade County, where over 82,000 students are English learners and many come from families with mixed immigration statuses, both parents and teachers acknowledge an unprecedented level of worry. Some parents, like Roselia—an undocumented mother of four—confess to avoiding school activities out of fear of being detained.

"We go from home to work and back home," Roselia explained, expressing her fear that one day her children might come home from school and not find her there. This fear is exacerbated by recent incidents, such as the case of Catalina, a Colombian mother who was detained along with her husband and separated from her children, kindergarteners, and third graders, who were deported to Colombia.

"They were doing so well... happy... studying," Catalina shared with the Herald over the phone from a detention center.

Impact of Immigration Policies on School Communities

Immigration lawyers and advocates warn that programs like 287(g), which allows local law enforcement to act as immigration agents, heighten the risk of arrests, even during school commutes. Although the Miami-Dade and Broward districts claim there are no records of ICE agents entering schools, the law does permit their entry with a court order or consent.

Educators, such as César García, a high school teacher at iPrep Academy in downtown Miami, report that they are already developing protocols to protect students in the event of an officer presence at a school.

Organizations like the Hope Community Center and the Florida Immigrant Coalition advise families to prepare guardianship documents and update emergency contacts to prevent parental separation from their children. "It's a widespread phenomenon; there's a great deal of emotional distress," stated Felipe Sousa-Lazaballet, the executive director of Hope Community Center.

Community and Political Responses

Community leaders and politicians, including Congresswoman Frederica Wilson, emphasize that fear should not prevent children from attending school. "Students should be safe, protected, and learning," she stressed. However, the lack of clear guidance on how schools should respond to immigration operations continues to fuel uncertainty in many communities.

Protective Measures for Families

Recently, immigration attorney Richard Hujber, with nearly three decades of experience, noted that more clients are seeking advice on how to protect their children and assets.

The initial step, he advises, is to establish legal guardianship through a family court, a process that can take months and is best initiated before any arrest occurs. Another crucial recommendation is granting a power of attorney to a spouse or trusted individual to manage bank accounts, properties, or businesses in the event of detention.

He also emphasizes the importance of ensuring all children have a valid passport, regardless of citizenship status, to facilitate reunification with their parents abroad or to visit them. Moreover, he urges families to be aware of and exercise their rights when dealing with ICE, such as knowing that agents cannot enter a private residence without a court order signed by a judge.