In New Haven, Connecticut, where over one in six residents is foreign-born, the fear of immigration enforcement is keeping children from attending school. The recent Trump administration’s crackdown on immigration has caused chaos and instability for immigrant families, with students constantly worried about their parents or themselves being detained by ICE (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement).
Cora Muñoz, the assistant principal at Wilbur Cross High School, has witnessed firsthand the impact of these fears on her students. She has received distressing calls from guardians, sobbing as they inform her that their child has been detained by immigration agents. The school district has worked hard to build trust with immigrant families, providing them with resources and legal information, but the constant threat of deportation has been impossible to fully alleviate.
Enrollment of English language learner students in Connecticut has dropped by over 3.8% between 2024 and 2025, with a 7.3% decline in New Haven. Families are keeping their children home, afraid to send them to school in case immigration enforcement is around. Students have stopped participating in extracurricular activities and college courses, as they adjust their dreams to fit within the new anti-immigrant reality.
Madeline Negrón, the New Haven public schools superintendent, has prepared her district to respond to any potential ICE raids. She has developed a policy outlining the steps to be taken, including legal verification of warrants, before allowing immigration agents into school buildings. However, the fear remains palpable, with students constantly on edge and teachers observing a marked increase in sadness and disengagement.
“They’re our kids, and they’re being detained in these cages,” said Matt Brown, the Wilbur Cross principal. “And the day before, they were eating pizza in our cafeteria.” The repeated targeting and mistreatment of these students has left educators and advocates feeling frustrated and powerless to protect their community.
The consequences of the Trump administration’s mass deportation campaign on immigrant education vary greatly depending on the local context. But in New Haven, the impact has been severe, with children’s learning and development suffering as they grapple with the constant fear of losing their families.
