Since the beginning of the Trump administration, government officials have taken steps to decrease the federal government’s role in public school education, all while illegally holding funds in the Department of Education. The administration has allowed Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids in K-12 public schools and threatened districts around the country in an attempt to control local instruction.
Beginning in Jan. 2025, ICEraids have grown from involving adults in the streets, to young children in schools. A young mother living in Texas felt the impact of the ICE raids when she was picking up her fifth grade son from school. When her son didn’t initially walk out with his class, she feared that her son may have been taken.
“I think that allowing ICE raids in school is a foolish and unnecessary thing to allow,” junior Alexandra Herrmann said. “These children being affected are innocent and it doesn’t make sense to bring these children into this situation when they have nothing to do with this,”
As these raids continue to become more common throughout the country, students and teachers have begun to navigate the fear fueled by the government in tearing families apart. A study from UC Riverside proves that just the thought of their family being split apart includes anxiety, depression and behavioral issues in children in school, according to UC Riverside.
“I honestly think that is disgusting what the government is doing, since everyone has the right to education,” junior Amy Gonzales said. “There are already many people who are uneducated and it is unfair to take away their right of having an education. This is just taking a step backwards.”
While federal law prohibits the government from deciding how public schools should set up their curriculum, instruction, staffing or text materials, President Trump along with his administration have attempted to overlook this. The Trump administration has tried to control how public schools discuss DEIA – diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility and gender inclusion, according to American Progress.
President Trump has ignored direction from the U.S. Department of Education to create an environment where LGBTQI+ students can feel included. As such, he has placed an executive order to get rid of federal support to include DEIA and gender identity in public school materials, according to American Progress.
“Everything going on in schools is very traumatizing and fearful for the children attending these schools,” Herrmann said. “The separation of families and making them feel unwanted and unincluded is not good at all.”
