Teachers describe immigration enforcement's impact on classrooms in challenge of Trump policy

"In one testimonial after another, teachers detailed all the ways President Donald Trump's immigration crackdown has shaped their work and the lives of their students. In a court filing Thursday, educators around the country described rumors of immigration raids that scared away students, immigrant parents who stopped sending their children to school altogether, and stories of parents and students - including one middle schooler - being picked up by Immigration and Customs Enforcement at school bus stops."

"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 was filed last year by an Oregon farmworkers union and a group of churches that argued the policy change was "arbitrary and capricious." The American Federation of Teachers, the National Education Association and three preschool employees joined the suit in September."

"As the impacts of immigration enforcement on schools and health care facilities grew, the plaintiffs filed a petition asking a judge to halt the Trump administration policy as the lawsuit proceeds. "In recent months - and escalating in the past several weeks - immigration enforcement agents have made startling incursions into cities and towns around the country, including unprecedented and unrestrained surges in and around vital community institutions such as schools and healthcare facilities," attorneys wrote."

Teachers reported that immigration enforcement measures have disrupted learning more than the COVID pandemic in Chelsea, Massachusetts. Educators nationwide detailed rumors of raids that scared students away, immigrant parents stopping children from attending school, and incidents of parents and students, including a middle schooler, being picked up by ICE at school bus stops. The incidents underlie a lawsuit challenging a policy that allows immigration enforcement access to schools, houses of worship and medical facilities. The suit was filed by an Oregon farmworkers union and churches; national teachers' unions and preschool employees joined. Plaintiffs petitioned a judge to halt the policy while litigation proceeds.

Read at Boston.com