Teachers Describe Immigration Enforcement's Impact on Classrooms in Challenge of Trump Policy

Educators across the U.S. detail how Trump's immigration crackdown has disrupted learning and frightened families.

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

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In a new court filing, teachers around the country describe how President Donald Trump's immigration crackdown is emptying classrooms and frightening families. Educators detailed rumors of immigration raids that scared away students, immigrant parents who stopped sending their children to school altogether, and stories of parents and students being picked up by Immigration and Customs Enforcement at school bus stops.

Why it matters

The stories were shared as part of a lawsuit challenging a Trump administration policy that opened up schools, houses of worship and medical facilities to immigration enforcement. The lawsuit argues the policy was 'arbitrary and capricious' and has had a significant impact on schools and communities.

The details

The court filing included testimony from 60 teachers and health care workers from 18 states who described how immigration enforcement near their schools and medical facilities has challenged their work. Teachers detailed incidents like a middle school where half the students stayed home due to a rumor of immigration enforcement nearby, a student detained at a bus stop, and students switching to virtual learning after a parent was arrested by ICE at a bus stop.

  • In recent months — and escalating in the past several weeks — immigration enforcement agents have made startling incursions into cities and towns around the country.
  • Shortly after Trump took office, his administration rescinded the policy barring immigration authorities from making arrests in schools and houses of worship.
  • During a Chicago operation in October, agents released tear gas that engulfed a school playground and later arrested a teacher inside her preschool during morning drop-off.

The players

Donald Trump

The former President of the United States whose immigration crackdown policies are the focus of the lawsuit.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)

The federal law enforcement agency that has conducted enforcement actions near schools and other protected areas under the Trump administration's policies.

Kathryn Anderson

The president of the teachers union in Chelsea, Massachusetts, who says immigration enforcement has been more disruptive to learning than the COVID-19 pandemic.

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What they’re saying

“Right now, kids of all backgrounds are being prevented from going to school because of the extremely real fear that either they or their family members will be separated.”

— Kathryn Anderson, Teachers union president (AP)

“As an educator … having to help kids move through and exist in that fear (has) been a near impossible task.”

— Kathryn Anderson, Teachers union president (AP)

What’s next

The plaintiffs in the lawsuit, which include farmworker and teacher unions, churches and preschool educators, have filed a petition asking a judge to halt the Trump administration policy as the lawsuit proceeds.

The takeaway

This case highlights the significant disruption that the Trump administration's immigration enforcement policies have had on schools and communities across the country, with teachers describing how fear and uncertainty have impacted student attendance and learning.