11-Year-Old Shares Fears Over Immigration Enforcement, Global Tensions

Violet Hall expresses concerns about ICE actions and the impact on her community.

Published on Mar. 1, 2026

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In a letter, 11-year-old Violet Hall from Saco, Maine describes feeling increasingly scared by news of immigration enforcement actions and global political tensions, which she says are impacting her school and community. She worries that fear is becoming the norm for her generation.

Why it matters

Violet's letter provides a rare first-hand account of how heightened immigration enforcement and geopolitical conflicts are affecting young people, highlighting the emotional toll and sense of instability being felt by children in communities across the country.

The details

Violet, a fifth grader, says she's been hearing more news about events like the situation in Venezuela and tensions over Greenland, which she feels have brought global issues closer to home. But she's most concerned about Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) actions, which she says have led to classmates going missing from school, all of whom are not white. Violet worries this climate of fear is becoming normalized for kids her age.

  • Violet has noticed an increase in news coverage of global events in recent months.
  • Violet has observed multiple students going missing from her school in the past week.

The players

Violet Hall

An 11-year-old fifth grade student in Saco, Maine who wrote a letter expressing her fears about immigration enforcement actions and global political tensions.

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What they’re saying

“I'm scared that fear is becoming normal. And I'm scared that if we're not careful, fear might be the only thing that kids in my generation know.”

— Violet Hall, Fifth grade student (centralmaine.com)

The takeaway

Violet's letter highlights the profound impact that heightened immigration enforcement and geopolitical conflicts can have on young people, underscoring the need to address these issues in a way that prioritizes the wellbeing and sense of security for children in affected communities.