Immigrant Family's Struggles Highlight Impact of Immigration Crackdowns on Children

Fri Oct 17 2025 11:00:49 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

A Guatemalan mother reflects on the turmoil her family faces after her husband's deportation, as fear spreads among immigrant families in Washington D.C. schools.

Following a recent immigration enforcement wave in Washington D.C., families of undocumented immigrants are feeling the pressure, with some children missing school out of fear. One mother recalls how her husband's sudden detention and deportation has left their three children distraught, highlighting broader concerns about the effects of immigration crackdowns on student safety and attendance.

WASHINGTON (AP) — A Guatemalan mother of three reflects on the chaos her family faces since her husband's abrupt detention and deportation. Their ordeal began when he left their Washington apartment to buy milk and diapers, only to be pulled over and later taken to a detention center in Virginia.

The mother, fearing repercussions from immigration authorities, remained anonymous while sharing details about her family's struggles. She has been apprehensive to send her two sons to their nearby charter school, leaving them home until a volunteer helped transport them. One of her children has missed school due to the anxiety stemming from their father's absence.

Schools in Washington recently reopened amidst a significant surge in law enforcement presence, complicating the situation for families of immigrants. This crackdown has left many families feeling vulnerable and fearful, given the stories of arrests in their neighborhoods. Ben Williams, a teacher and board member for the District of Columbia, expressed the palpable fear children feel about police presence affecting their daily lives.

In communities like Mount Pleasant, immigrant families have reported their children developing intense fears of police. Local residents, recognizing this anxiety, have organized “walking buses” to help children safely reach their schools. These volunteers remain vigilant, ready to respond to any sightings of immigration enforcement.

Research links increased immigration enforcement near schools to lower academic performance and attendance rates among Latino students, many of whom have familial ties to undocumented immigrants. Despite the claims of officials that ICE does not conduct operations in schools, educators assert that the chilling effects of such enforcement on children's attendance are real and felt.

The mother of three, contemplating a possible return to Guatemala amid fears of deportation, reflects on the dreams she once had for her children, now overshadowed by uncertainty. As her children express their aspirations of becoming a doctor and a police officer, she fears that the American dream she envisioned is slipping away.