Immigrant Students, Educators Fear ICE Raids Across US Campuses

Recent federal immigration enforcement efforts and policy changes have heightened fears among immigrant communities and students across the United States. President Trump's executive order expanding deportation priorities has caused anxiety at institutions like Mercer County Community College, where many Hispanic and Latino students worry about their safety and legal status. In Tennessee, proposed legislation requiring students to submit documentation to prove legal status raises concerns about privacy and the potential for ICE to access sensitive data, threatening students' right to education. In New Bedford, Massachusetts, the distribution of Department of Homeland Security fliers seeking information on unaccompanied migrant children has been criticized as an intimidation tactic by ICE, creating fear among immigrant families. Immigrant educators also face uncertainty following the termination of Temporary Protected Status for Venezuelans, impacting their ability to continue working and contributing to academia. Meanwhile, ICE operations in Nashville have led to nearly 100 detainments, prompting local student groups to call for protections against immigration enforcement at schools, though school officials affirm they do not inquire about students’ immigration status and prioritize their privacy and safety.