Fact Check: Parents fear sending kids back to school due to immigration raids.

Fact Check: Parents Fear Sending Kids Back to School Due to Immigration Raids

What We Know

Recent research indicates that fears surrounding immigration raids have significantly impacted school attendance among children from immigrant families. A study conducted by Thomas S. Dee at Stanford University found that student absences in California's Central Valley increased by an average of 22% during January and February 2025, coinciding with intensified immigration enforcement activities. This increase was particularly pronounced among younger students, with absences in grades K-5 more than tripling compared to high school students (source-1).

Educators have reported similar trends across various regions. For instance, a teacher in Chicago noted that attendance dropped to between 50% and 80% following rumors of immigration raids, suggesting that many parents were keeping their children home out of fear of deportation (source-3). This sentiment is echoed by reports from other states, where educators have observed increased absenteeism among immigrant students due to heightened fears of immigration enforcement (source-5).

Analysis

The evidence supporting the claim that parents fear sending their children back to school due to immigration raids is robust. The Stanford study provides quantitative data showing a significant rise in absences that correlates with increased immigration enforcement, suggesting a direct link between parental fears and student attendance (source-1). This is further supported by qualitative accounts from teachers and parents who report that anxiety about deportation is a primary reason for keeping children home (source-3, source-4).

The reliability of these sources is high, as they include peer-reviewed research and firsthand accounts from educators directly involved in the situation. However, it is essential to note that while these reports highlight a significant issue, they may also reflect the perspectives of individuals who are particularly affected by immigration policies, which could introduce a degree of bias. Nonetheless, the consistency of the findings across multiple sources lends credibility to the claim.

Conclusion

The claim that parents fear sending their children back to school due to immigration raids is True. The evidence from both quantitative studies and qualitative reports indicates that heightened fears of deportation are leading to increased absenteeism among students from immigrant families. This situation underscores the broader implications of immigration enforcement on educational access and the well-being of affected children.

Sources

1. Student absences increased under threat of deportation efforts ...
2. Immigration Raids Add to Absence Crisis for Schools
3. The prospect of immigration agents entering schools is ...
4. Deportation Fears Keep Migrant Kids Out of School as '...
5. Children, schools face renewed fears over heightened ...
6. OPINION: America's promise of free education extends to ...
7. Fear of mass deportations pose new challenges for ...
8. Schools, families fretting over Trump administration's ...