CR's February 20, 2026 Times Standard Article :Immigration fears are creating new barriers to education

Published on Feb 17 2026

Shortly after the start of last fall semester, I asked my granddaughter, who attends a local middle school, if she was enjoying school. Instead of excitement for the new school year, she shared that she was scared. I asked her why and what she told me broke my heart. One of her classmates told her that President Trump is going to deport her, her family, and “anyone who looks like them.”  

Visualize waking up in the morning, being excited to go to school, a place where you should feel protected, and realizing that you are not safe.  Imagine comprehending, maybe for the first time in your young life, that there are people who hate you simply because of the color of your skin, your name, what you wear, or how you speak. As an adult Black man in America, I have experienced, and continue to experience, racism, but seeing bigotry and prejudice directed at my grandchild, or any child for that matter, is both angering and deeply distressing.  

As deeply disturbing as my granddaughter's experience was, it was not surprising. Children have not been immune to all the news stories and graphic images of ICE raids in US cities. "Mass deportations” were a cornerstone of Trump’s campaign, and he has moved quickly to pursue what he calls the largest domestic deportation operation in U.S. history, supported by an unprecedented increase in recruitment and funding for ICE. In the process, even U.S. citizens have been swept up in raids, while undocumented immigrants are simply disappearing from streets, job sites, and, in some cases, schools. Of course children are scared. 

On January 20, 2025 the Trump administration repealed policies that protected certain “sensitive” locations from immigration enforcement, including schools. Over the past several months, we have seen immigration authorities target workplaces, farms, college campuses, elementary schools, and private homes, creating significant anxiety for our undocumented students and their families.  

As we have seen recently, notably in Minnesota, but elsewhere as well, the administration’s immigration enforcement has caused chaos and fear in US cities and reached a deadly and important turning point after federal agents fatally shot two U.S. citizens, Renee Good and Alex Pretti, in separate incidents in Minneapolis. The shootings confirmed what many people in the country had feared. The escalation is dangerous and anti-democratic.   

It is also having deeply troubling effects on young students. A February 2, 2026 Los Angeles Times article reported that attendance at one Minneapolis charter school plummeted to below 50% as ICE immigration raids terrified students and staff regardless of immigration status. Of course, the culture of fear created by the Trump administration’s use of ICE has extended beyond Minneapolis. At College of the Redwoods, we have students who are reportedly afraid to physically attend classes for fear of ICE showing up.  

For generations, we have upheld education as the foundation for better opportunities. But the fraught politics of immigration are creating new barriers for our immigrant children and their families in accessing both K-12 schooling and higher education. I fear that what hope we have in reversing the accelerating cycle of intimidation, chaos, and violence will not come from the government. It will come from the people. We have seen this in the courage of the people of Minnesota who, despite freezing temperatures, constant threats of physical violence, tear gas, and unlawful arrests and detainment, continue to defend their neighbors and stand up for their constitutional rights.  

We must do the same here at College of the Redwoods. My faculty and staff colleagues went into higher education to provide educational access to all who endeavor to better themselves. We see the terrible toll the fear of ICE is having on our students’ mental health, physical safety, and educational outcomes. Our faculty are forced to spend time learning how they can protect our immigrant students rather than focusing on teaching. 

This is unconscionable. 

To meet this new moment, CR is acting in a balanced and lawful way to support and protect our learning community. In alignment with California’s recently updated requirements under Senate Bill 98, we will provide timely notification to students and employees if federal immigration enforcement activity is confirmed on our campuses while continuing to safeguard student privacy and require proper judicial warrants for access to non-public spaces. We will also continue to provide training for all employees and collaborate with community organizations such as True North, Centro Del Pueblo, and Immigrant Legal Defense. Together, we hope that these measures will protect our students, staff, and faculty, and reduce uncertainty and anxiety, allowing us to focus on our mission and dedication to teaching and learning.