Florida Immigration Policies Spark Decline in School Enrollment

Recent changes to immigration policies in Florida have led to a significant decline in public school enrollment, particularly among immigrant families. Reports indicate that fear of potential immigration arrests near schools has prompted many families to withdraw their children from education institutions, impacting several large school districts across the state.

Fear Drives Families to Leave Florida Schools

Alex Rodriguez Silva, a natural-born American citizen, recently relocated his family from Hialeah, Florida, to Denver, Colorado. Silva cited the pervasive fear of being targeted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) as the driving force behind their decision. “We couldn’t take it anymore, the constant fear that one of us could be disappeared by ICE,” he explained in an interview.

Silva’s fiancée, Ana, arrived in the United States in 2009 and overstayed her tourist visa. Their children were enrolled in a public elementary school until the Trump administration lifted protections against immigration enforcement in sensitive areas, such as schools, in January 2023. This policy shift prompted Silva and many other immigrant families to reconsider their children’s educational options.

According to education leaders in Florida, the impact of immigration policies on school enrollment has been startling. The Orange County School District reported a decrease of approximately 6,600 students this year, which is more than double the anticipated loss of 3,000 students. School board member Stephanie Vanos attributed most of these departures to families from immigrant communities.

Impact on School Communities

“Allowing immigration enforcement activities near schools sets up a culture of fear among immigrant families,” Vanos stated. “There’s this narrative that non-white people don’t belong here.” Following the policy changes, Orange County schools experienced a notable rise in absenteeism, particularly among students from immigrant families. Although absentee rates have stabilized, the decrease in enrollment remains a concerning trend.

In a similar vein, Broward County also faced a significant decline in enrollment, losing over 11,300 students this school year. According to Sarah Leonardi, a member of the Broward School Board, the impact appears concentrated in immigrant communities, where families are often hesitant to speak out due to fear of repercussions. “Families and communities where there is a lot of immigration tend to not speak up about these issues in public ways because they’re scared,” she noted.

Miami-Dade County, which oversees more than 400 schools with a majority Hispanic enrollment, also reported a drop of over 13,000 students, far exceeding the projected decrease of 5,000. Superintendent Jose Dotres indicated that while the enrollment decline could not be definitively linked to immigration enforcement, the atmosphere of fear surrounding potential ICE activity has certainly contributed.

Notably, despite the absence of confirmed immigration raids at public schools since the policy change, there have been reports of ICE agents attempting to interview students in California schools. This has only heightened concerns among families about the safety of their children in educational environments.

The emotional toll of these policies is palpable. Silva shared that his oldest child began to show distress at school drop-off times, often crying and asking to be dropped off by him instead of Ana, who lacks legal permanent status. This fear, coupled with anxiety over potential deportations, has led families like Silva’s to seek refuge in other states.

“The life that I should be enjoying with my fiancée and my kids feels like it’s passing right by me,” Silva mentioned, reflecting on the anxiety that shadows their daily life. “Every moment I should be spending with them, I’m thinking about the day that Ana gets arrested in front of our kids.”

The situation underscores a broader issue within the educational landscape of Florida, where families feel increasingly marginalized. Andrew Spar, president of the Florida Education Association, emphasized the need for schools to remain safe spaces for all students. “Any time we impugn the sanctity of our schools and their ability to carry out their mission, we do harm to the future of this state and country,” he stated.

As Florida school districts continue to navigate the implications of changing immigration policies, the long-term effects on enrollment and the wellbeing of students remain to be seen. For many families, the desire for a safe and nurturing educational environment is increasingly compromised by fear and uncertainty.

This article was produced by Fresh Take Florida, a news service of the University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications.