Fear and Resilience: The Impact of ICE Raids on Undocumented Students in Los Angeles

Strategic Insights -

Undocumented students and those with mixed-status families in Los Angeles are living in heightened fear amid a series of ICE raids in the city. The raids, which have taken place over the past two weeks, have sparked a wave of protests and have left families feeling isolated and uncertain about their future. As a result, students are choosing to stay inside, skipping graduation ceremonies and avoiding grocery shopping due to fear of being deported.

Key Takeaways:

  • Over 40 migrant workers were detained at a garment factory in Los Angeles as part of a series of ICE raids across the city.
  • Undocumented students and those with mixed-status families are experiencing heightened fear and trauma due to the raids, with many students missing school and skipping graduation ceremonies.
  • Teachers are becoming advocates and resource distributors for their students, helping them develop longer-term resiliency and addressing the trauma caused by the raids.
  • The Los Angeles United School District has 770 funded PSWs who provide mental health care and counseling onsite, but not all schools can afford to have a PSW full-time or onsite.
  • Students who normally rely on free lunches at school during the summer may be at a disadvantage due to the fear of being outside with the ICE raids.
  • The district has asked the Los Angeles regional food bank to supplement meals with produce bags at different school sites that can be taken home and shared with the whole family.

Statistics:

  • 95% of schools in the second-largest school district in the nation have full-time PSWs.
  • 90,000 students are enrolled in the summer school session.
  • 582 schools will be serving breakfast and lunch Monday through Friday during summer school and afterschool programming through 26 July.
  • 171 student and family resource navigators are funded by the district, who provide referral and case management services within school-based health clinics.
  • The Los Angeles regional food bank will be supplying produce bags at 25 school sites that can be taken home and shared with the whole family.

Sources:

  • Angélica, social studies teacher (Los Angeles)
  • Martha Meléndrez, psychiatric social worker (LAUSD)
  • Dr Laura Enriquez, associate professor of Chicano/Latino studies at the University of California Irvine
  • Monica Caballero, special education teacher (United Teachers of Los Angeles union rapid response network)
  • Dana Rusch, associate professor of clinical psychiatry at the University of Illinois Chicago
  • LAUSD spokesperson
  • Los Angeles regional food bank
  • People over Papers, a community-led initiative to document ICE activity