WASHINGTON (AP) — A group of labor unions, representing millions of teachers and school workers, is fighting back against the Trump administration’s immigration policies in court. They argue that the arrests happening near school premises are instilling fear in children and teachers, prompting some students to avoid school altogether.
At the beginning of Trump’s second term, his administration lifted long-standing barriers that prevented immigration arrests in educational facilities, claiming it was necessary. However, this change violates the law, as outlined in the lawsuit brought forward by two major teacher unions: the National Education Association (NEA) and the American Federation of Teachers (AFT). Together, these organizations represent over 4 million educational employees across the U.S.
Also relevant to this lawsuit are educators from an Oregon preschool, where federal agents broke a car window to apprehend a father picking up his child. The aggressive approach led to the school locking down, with teachers distracting students with music to shield them from the chaos outside.
Teacher Lauren Fong, who was working with the child involved, expressed her discomfort regarding the situation. “Why a school? Why not some other place? It unfolded in front of so many young kids in a private parking lot,” she shared in an interview.
The educators join a previous lawsuit initiated in April by an Oregon farmworker union along with various churches. This case is also focusing on the administration’s move to permit immigration actions at places of worship. A revised version of the lawsuit was filed in federal court in Eugene, Oregon, earlier this week.
Tricia McLaughlin, an official from the Department of Homeland Security, remarked that agents are supposed to use discretion when making arrests at schools or churches. “They must get approval from a senior supervisor before taking actions in places like these,” McLaughlin noted, adding, “Such incidents are expected to be very rare.”
Change in Policy Landed Crowds in Trouble
For almost 30 years, immigration authorities were directed to stay away from “sensitive locations” such as schools, churches, and hospitals unless it was an absolute emergency. A 2021 memo asserted that enforcing immigration laws shouldn’t impede individuals’ access to medical care, children’s education, or religious activities.
However, the policy shifted on the day after Trump assumed office when the DHS revoked that guidance. They encouraged agents to apply “common sense” in their actions near sensitive areas, declaring, “Criminals will no longer find refuge in schools and churches.”
This lawsuit highlights multiple situations where masked ICE agents have made arrests on or near school and church grounds. In one astounding incident in Los Angeles, border patrol agents confronted a 15-year-old boy with disabilities, mistaking him for a suspected gang member while executing a chaotic search that exposed realities of an aggressive enforcement strategy.
Teacher Anxiety and Lower Attendance Rates
Following the inauguration, various school districts reported a noticeable drop in attendance rates as immigrant families chose to keep their children at home; some even decided to leave the country altogether. Reports from California’s Central Valley cited a significant surge in student absences, with a study revealing a 22% increase compared to attendances in previous years, attributed to rising fear among families.
The lawsuit contains accounts from anonymous teachers observing increased anxiety and a troubling drop in engagement from immigrant students or the kids of immigrants. High school instructors from Pennsylvania and Virginia claimed some students stopped attending classes altogether out of fear of in-school arrests. A speech pathologist at an elementary school in California noted parents were hesitant to enroll their children in special education due to fears of unnecessary information sharing.
“Our schools need to remain safe and welcoming environments for learning and exploration,” said AFT President Randi Weingarten.
In the meanwhile, NEA President Becky Pringle criticized the current administration for creating an atmosphere of fear and disorder, emphasizing that the costs are being borne by students, schools, and communities.
Church leaders involved in the suit voiced concerns regarding increased anxiety among parishioners, some even reporting dropping attendance. Legal representatives argue that the administration’s decision to allow immigration enforcement in churches infringes upon the First Amendment rights, making it impossible for congregants to attend services freely. The lawsuit contends that revoking the sensitive-locations directive breaches established administrative protocol.
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