WASHINGTON (AP) — The last time she saw her husband, the father of her three children, was when he left their Washington apartment a month ago to buy milk and diapers. Shortly after, he called to say he had been pulled over, but there was no reason to worry, as it was just local police. The next time she heard from him, he was at a detention center in Virginia.
Since that day, the 40-year-old mother of three has been too afraid to take her two sons to their nearby charter school. Like her husband, who has since been deported, she is an immigrant from Guatemala and has lived in the U.S. illegally for over a decade. She spoke on the condition of anonymity out of fear of being targeted by immigration authorities.
Schools in Washington reopened late last month against the backdrop of a significant law enforcement surge that has brought masked Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents into neighborhoods, breaking the previously quiet environment. This level of enforcement is expected to be replicated across other major cities as federal policy shifts under the current administration.
In some Washington communities, the fear created by police presence has caused emotional distress among children. Students have witnessed their parents detained, and many fear family members may be next. Teachers report that the atmosphere is grim, with children arriving at school anxious and concerned about their safety.
Volunteers in affected neighborhoods have initiated 'walking buses' to escort children safely to school, addressing parent fears about leaving their homes. However, the broader climate of fear has led to a decline in school attendance, with some studies linking these enforcement raids to lower academic outcomes among Latino students. Educators are alarmed as children remain home, unable to focus on their studies while worrying about family safety.
Research shows that in 2023, 4.6 million children in the U.S. lived with at least one undocumented parent, emphasizing the extensive reach of current immigration policies. As families grapple with the implications of enforcement actions, many are left reconsidering their futures dreaming of a life filled with better opportunities.
