On February 17, 2026, the NAEd sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) urging them to enact practices to ensure that all students feel safe and secure attending school and all parents and guardians feel safe bringing their children to and from school. Education has long been recognized as the backbone of our American democracy, and we have a strong legal and moral tradition of educating all children, regardless of their or their family’s immigration status. Historically, schools have been protected spaces in our society designed to nurture healthy development and educate and socialize future generations to democratic values. Grounded in research on child development, school climate, and student well-being, the letter summarizes evidence showing that heightened enforcement activity negatively affects student attendance, achievement, engagement, and mental health. Research documents increases in absenteeism following enforcement raids, as well as long-term harms associated with fear of family separation including toxic stress. Moreover, these effects extend beyond students in immigrant families and impact entire school communities.
