In Washington D.C., CentroNía, a bilingual preschool, has been directly impacted by the presence of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) since the beginning of the Trump administration. As ICE agents began to frequent their historically Latino neighborhoods, the staff had to implement safety protocols regarding potential ICE visits. Teachers refrained from taking children to public parks and libraries, previous extensions of the classroom, out of concern for their safety.
The impact of ICE was palpable when CentroNía chose to cancel its much-anticipated Hispanic Heritage Month parade, an event that allowed immigrant families to showcase their cultures. The decision came as ICE started stopping legal staff, creating an aura of anxiety and fear among teachers and parents. The situation deteriorated into painful moments for many when a teacher was arrested within a preschool in Chicago, further amplifying the fears of immigrant child care workers and families.
The policies introduced under Trump's administration have drastically altered the child care landscape, as schools that heavily rely on immigrant workers face alarming changes. Many of these workers are legally residing in the U.S., yet they remain fearful of ICE presence and heightened enforcement actions, prompting some to leave the field altogether. CentroNía, which conducts thorough background checks to ensure all staff have work authorization due to its reliance on immigrant workers, has seen the repercussions of policy changes that have stripped legal status from countless immigrants.
CEO Myrna Peralta highlighted the pervasive influence of ICE on daily operations, stating that decision-making is constantly overshadowed by the threat of enforcement actions. Teachers and children are often confined indoors rather than exploring the neighborhood, illustrating how fear runs deep in these communities.
Numerous stories of staff encounters with ICE reveal the emotional toll this environment has wrought. Staff members have shared experiences of being detained or questioned, while many teachers report deteriorating mental health as anxiety permeates the work environment. Observations from other schools indicate that even children exhibit signs of stress and anxiety, showcasing the widespread impact of immigration enforcement on communities across America.
