Educating Through Uncertainty: The Impact of Immigration Enforcement on the Nation’s Schools From 2017 to 2025

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session Saturday 1:45 pm
  In Roundtable Session: Latinx Communities and the Navigation of Contested Educational Space

Abstract

In a significant departure from prior immigration policies, the second Trump administration has removed schools as ‘safe spaces’ for undocumented students, causing educators to navigate shifting immigration and education policies. This paper is a replication study of a 2017 survey conducted by Ee and Gándara (2020) on K12 educator perceptions of immigration policies and their effect on students and families. We added semi-structured interviews to the study. Data include 217 survey responses and 15 semi-structured interviews. Data show that about 87% of educators reported students' concerns about immigration issues, with fear a main concern. Qualitative data parallel survey findings and further show how messaging from administrators to teachers varied significantly. We offer scholarly implications from the study.

Authors

• Maria R. Coady, North Carolina State University

• Alejandro Amaya, North Carolina State University

• Patricia Shimura Ambrosio, North Carolina State University

• Zaina Dali, North Carolina State University

• Xinyan Fu, North Carolina State University

• Hakima Harris, North Carolina State University

• Majid Komasi, North Carolina State University

• Rocio López Caicedo, North Carolina State University

• Kerianne Peaden, North Carolina State University