Multiple school systems across the United States have documented sharp increases in student absences during Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations under President Trump's renewed immigration crackdowns. Districts in Charlotte, Chicago, Minneapolis, California, and Texas reported thousands of students suddenly staying home when ICE operations intensified in their communities.
The attendance drops suggest Trump's immigration enforcement strategy is affecting entire families, including children who are in the U.S. legally. More than 70 House Democrats recently wrote to Education Secretary Linda McMahon stating that "ICE tactics are causing undeniable harm to students — harm that will likely lead to years of trauma in school communities."
In Charlotte-Mecklenburg schools, where nearly one-third of students are Hispanic, officials reported that 15% of students stayed home during one day of the ICE operation "Charlotte's Web" — far exceeding typical absence rates. Chicago saw daily attendance drop by more than 1 percentage point compared to previous school years, representing roughly 3,200 additional absent students per day during Homeland Security surges that coincided with the school year's start.
The pattern extends beyond major cities, with California's Central Valley seeing school absenteeism jump more than 20% during ICE and Border Patrol raids, according to a Stanford University study. In Minneapolis, educators reported that federal agents' presence disrupted school operations, including incidents where agents pulled over school buses.