Report: Fear from Immigration Enforcement in High Schools ^{CEFR B2}

A national report released by the UCLA Institute for Democracy, Education, and Access documents how intensified federal immigration enforcement has created fear across many public high schools. Coauthored by UCLA professor John Rogers and UC Riverside’s Joseph Kahne, the study draws on an online survey of 606 public high school principals conducted between June and August 2025, plus follow-up interviews with 49 principals in July, August and early September. The research focused on effects during the first months of the second Trump administration; the full report was published on December 9, 2025.

Principals described deep and widespread disruption. The survey found that 63.8% of principals say immigrant students are missing school because of fears tied to immigration policies and hostile rhetoric, and 35.6% reported bullying of students from immigrant families, with taunts such as “Can I see your papers?” and “Go back home.” Additional findings show 70.4% reported heightened safety concerns for students and their families, 77.6% said their schools developed plans for possible visits from federal immigration agents, 47.2% created protocols to support students if parents were deported, and 44.8% provided professional development for staff to support immigrant families.

Principals described serious impacts: chronic absenteeism, post-traumatic stress disorder and anxiety among students, parents avoiding everyday activities, and some students missing school to care for siblings after a parent’s detention. Kahne said, “When families are forced into hiding, and students are bullied or stay home out of fear, we are failing the very purpose of public education.” Rogers added that “the fear is everywhere.” School leaders are creating safety plans and partnerships, but they are doing so under great pressure and uncertainty.