Maine Schools Grapple with Attendance Drops Amid ICE Crackdown

Districts consider remote learning options as immigrant families fear sending children to school

Jan. 27, 2026 at 6:55pm

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A federal immigration enforcement operation in Maine has led to thousands of student absences across the state, with districts in targeted areas like Portland and Lewiston seeing notable drops in attendance as immigrant families fear sending their children to school. Schools are now considering remote learning options and preparing for potential student walkouts, while the state's education department is providing guidance to superintendents on how to handle the situation.

Why it matters

The ICE crackdown has created a climate of fear in immigrant communities across Maine, disrupting K-12 education and raising concerns about equitable access to learning. Schools play a vital role in providing stability, nutrition, and support for vulnerable students, so the attendance drops threaten to exacerbate existing achievement gaps.

The details

Since the ICE operation began last Tuesday, over 200 people have been arrested in Maine. Federal agents have been spotted in major cities like Portland and Lewiston, leading to widespread fear among immigrant families. In Portland, over 1,100 students were absent on a recent Friday, including nearly half of the district's multilingual learners. Other districts like Westbrook, South Portland, and Biddeford have also reported attendance drops. In response, Portland is considering offering remote learning options, while South Portland is working to ensure students have technology access to continue their education from home.

  • The ICE crackdown began last Tuesday, January 21, 2026.
  • On Friday, January 24, 2026, over 1,100 students were absent in the Portland school district.
  • On Saturday, January 25, 2026, a track meet involving teams from Portland, Deering, and South Portland High Schools saw a number of competitors missing, as many athletes' families have immigrated to the United States.

The players

Ryan Scallon

Superintendent of Portland Public Schools.

Pender Makin

Maine Commissioner of Education, who has been providing guidance to superintendents on how to handle the situation.

Micheline Ntumba

A Portland Public Schools parent and employee who was detained by ICE after dropping off her child at Portland High School.

George Entwistle

Superintendent of the South Portland school district.

Rosemarie De Angelis

Chair of the South Portland Board of Public Education.

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What they’re saying

“Her detention has hurt our community and left her children with no head of household.”

— Ryan Scallon, Superintendent of Portland Public Schools

“I don't know how long this reality will last for us, but I know that we will need to continue to rely on each other in this time.”

— Ryan Scallon, Superintendent of Portland Public Schools

“We are really looking at options to make sure that our students have access to learning, but also feel they are safe getting to and from school.”

— Sarah Lentz, Chair of the Portland Board of Public Education

“How can we get as many kids to school as possible?”

— Rosemarie De Angelis, Chair of the South Portland Board of Public Education

“I was happy to film this race for my friend, who was too scared to come see her daughter compete, even though their family is here legally.”

— Andy Schmidt, Parent

What’s next

The Portland school board will discuss a proposal for remote learning options at its meeting on Tuesday, January 28, 2026.

The takeaway

This crisis highlights the significant impact that federal immigration enforcement can have on local communities, particularly on vulnerable populations like immigrant students and their families. Schools are grappling with how to balance providing a safe and supportive learning environment with the very real fears that families are facing, underscoring the need for compassionate and equitable policies that protect all students' access to education.