ICE on Long Island: How schools are trying to reassure students fearful of immigration crackdown

When a Walt Whitman High School student was fearful to attend school amid increased immigration enforcement in the area, Principal John Murphy said he and his staff acted swiftly. 

"We knew of a young man, who was living on his own ... very nervous about leaving the house," Murphy said. "He’s having trouble even trying to go to work. He’s struggling socially and emotionally."

The South Huntington school principal said his team went to the student’s home on a Friday to conduct a wellness check and make sure the student knew he was safe at the school.

The high schooler, who was not identified, was back in the classroom by Monday, Murphy said.

As the Trump administration continues what it has promised to be the largest deportation campaign in U.S. history, educators on Long Island said they have sought to reassure students and parents that schools remain a safe place.

Since June, there have been about 150 sightings of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in Nassau and Suffolk, according to Islip Forward, which tracks such occurrences. Last month, ICE agents were spotted carrying out enforcement activities near schools in Brentwood and Hempstead during students' first week back from summer break, Newsday previously reported.

The heightened enforcement has caused some students, who may have undocumented family members or lack legal status themselves, to question if they should attend classes, educators said. Officials in Hempstead said they saw a dip in attendance the day ICE agents were seen near the middle school.

"We are deeply aware that changes in the broader environment can cause anxiety for some families," Brentwood schools Superintendent Wanda Ortiz-Rivera said in a statement. "Our role is to provide reassurance, resources and consistent support."

 

Shortly before President Donald Trump's inauguration in January, state officials issued guidance on the rights of immigrant students that said "law enforcement officers may not remove a student from school property or interrogate a student" without the consent of a parental figure, unless a warrant or other order had been issued.

The Department of Homeland Security, which has said more than 2 million undocumented people have been removed or have self-deported from the country since January, issued a statement last month emphasizing the federal agency does not target schools.

"U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is not conducting enforcement operations at, or ‘raiding,’ schools," Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said. "U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is not going to schools to make arrests of children."

She noted, "Criminals are no longer able to hide in America’s schools to avoid arrest. The Trump Administration will not tie the hands of our brave law enforcement and instead trusts them to use common sense."

'They're not alone'

After Trump was elected last year, educators at Walt Whitman High said they saw a drop in attendance.

The South Huntington school district enrolls more than 5,600 students, about half of whom are Hispanic, according to figures provided by the district. Many of the students' families hail from countries like El Salvador, Ecuador and Colombia, among others.

"It’s a microcosm of America," Murphy said.

Teams — consisting of teachers, assistant principals and social workers — responded to the dip in attendance by going to students' homes to speak with families and visiting churches or other religious institutions to provide guidance, among other outreach initiatives. The efforts continued into the summer, Murphy said.

"I don’t want any of my students to feel singled out or feel that they’re not wanted in this place, and I think it’s important that they are reminded of that," he said. "The most important thing they could do for themselves and their families, and future families, is to better themselves educationally."

So far, attendance is back to normal levels this year, he said.

Dan Rivera, pastor at Huntington Assembly of God in Huntington Station, said a few families who attend the church have been directly impacted by ICE enforcement. While there is fear among some community members, he said there is also hope the situation will improve.

He lauded the efforts of South Huntington district officials, who he said have helped fill the void left by such enforcement. The educators, along with other community organizations, have provided meals to families who have lost a primary caregiver. Some have attended parent-teacher conferences in place of a guardian, he said.

"When the school steps in like they've been stepping in... it lets them know that they're not alone," Rivera said. "It lets them know that they have value."

Social workers at the forefront

As stress and anxiety in immigrant communities on Long Island has grown, social workers are playing a vital role in assuring students that schools remain a haven for them.

Stephanie Soto, a social worker in Freeport public schools, said some of the students she speaks with have expressed fears over what could happen to them, or their friends and families.

"It just takes one event or frightening situation to create a traumatic experience," she said.

Soto said families have voiced concern in the community because of the increased immigration enforcement and the uncertainty that may follow.

"We’ve had situations where parents contact schools and share, 'This is my backup plan if anything happens,' " she said.

Soto said some students are curious after seeing posts on social media or hearing rumors about ICE enforcement in the area.

"We encourage the conversations," she said. "We’re trying to have open dialogue with the families and students and make sure that if you’re worried about anything, if you have questions, we are here with open arms to support you and do the best we can."

If students are fearful to come to school, Soto said a staffer is designated to contact the student to speak with them.

"We want to listen to you," Soto said. "We want to make sure your voice is heard."

In Roosevelt, where a high school senior was detained by ICE in June, schools Superintendent Shawn Wightman shared a similar approach.

"Through our counseling and social work departments, we have increased outreach and crisis-response capacity and enhanced access to multilingual mental health and family engagement services," he said in a statement. "In partnership with Northwell Health, the district provides on-site and referral-based behavioral health supports that include individual counseling, family therapy and school-avoidance interventions."

He said the services are coordinated across the district’s five schools to meet the "social needs of students who may be experiencing fear, anxiety or uncertainty" related to ICE enforcement activity in the community.

"Our message to every student and family is clear: Schools are safe havens for learning and support," he said. "Roosevelt UFSD remains steadfast in its commitment to protecting the well-being of all students, regardless of background, while maintaining compliance with all applicable laws and regulations."

Ortiz-Rivera, the Brentwood superintendent, echoed those sentiments.

"I want every parent to know that their child is safe, supported and loved in Brentwood. ... We need our students in school; they are the heart of our community and the reason we do this work," she said. "Together, we will continue to ensure that every child who walks through our doors feels welcomed, inspired and ready to succeed."