As a girl who’s lived in Mexico, Texas, and California, I’ve experienced many sides of the political spectrum. Although I was too young to remember much of this, I still feel a strong connection to the two locations I’ve lived in my past. Growing up in border states has influenced much of my perspective on immigration, and having lived outside of the country, I have much empathy for the immigrants of America. However, their rights as Americans are being threatened by new legislation enacted by our 47th president.
With the new immigration laws under the Trump Administration, Executive Order 14159, known as “Protecting the American People Against Invasion,” threatens the future of immigrants seeking shelter in the United States. This act allows for expedited deportation without a court hearing, and denies refugees the right to asylum. Our country is built on values that foster liberty and diversity. Executive Order 14159 goes against everything we stand for, prioritizing documentation over our core value: Freedom.
Furthermore, this act expands the hiring of Immigrations and Customs Enforcement personnel, and the administration has launched large-scale mass deportation efforts across the country. Schools, the very place where students should feel safest, are being targeted for immigration raids. The Department of Homeland Security enacted the Sensitive Locations policy in 2011, preventing ICE from entering educational centers. However, in January 2025, Trump quickly demolished this policy once he gained office. The space that should be the safest for the youngest Americans has been compromised, and places student wellbeing in jeopardy.
These raids have led to a rapid decline in attendance in many immigrant-heavy communities. According to National Public Radio, areas such as Chicago experienced only 50-80% of students present in classes at one point. Not only are immigrant children left uncertain, fearing for their home, but they are unsafe in the one place that is supposed to be for learning. Schools should be sanctuaries, not another space of peril for students. Because of Executive Order 14159, safety is not guaranteed for any undocumented student. Learning is not guaranteed, because school is just another location in which they may be targeted.
Beyond physical safety, if we are to ignore the violence that is suggested with armed government employees in schools, there is an extreme and undeniable physiological toll on immigrant students. Living in a constant state of fear of deportation leads to stress, anxiety, and worse effects. A 2013 study by the Journal of Child and Family Studies found that children with deported parents were much more likely to develop aggression, conduct problems, and depression than children whose parents remained legal citizens. Rather than focusing on their education, these students are pulled away from their studies to a world of turmoil and uncertainty, straining their academic ability.
The Fourth Amendment of our Constitution bans unreasonable searches and seizures. In the case of immigration, this means that ICE is required to have a warrant to forcibly search homes and schools. Many individuals, however, are not aware of this. The lack of education going around allows ICE to enter houses regardless of warrants or not, since families have not received proper education regarding immigration protocol. Schools must become more than just places of learning for students: Know Your Rights programs can help both families and children learn about their legal protection. Additionally, counselors should receive specialized training to best help immigrant students. These trusted adults can help children find psychological and financial resources to support the families within their school community.
While this new legislation has created an upheaval in our nation, there is the opportunity to fight back. Schools across America have begun to implement sanctuary policies, in which students remain safe from ICE, and schools refuse to cooperate with or provide immigration information about students to government officials. These efforts provide more than just protection, they send a powerful message to our country: Education should remain uncompromised, and students should not be forced to choose between learning, or living in America. Will we allow Executive Order 14159 to control our school system, or will we stand for what is right: Inclusion, diversity, and equal opportunity? The strength of our nation and the future of our schools lie not in the laws that divide us, but the movements that unite us.