The start of the school year should be a time of excitement and possibility for Connecticut students as they return to their teachers, friends, and familiar routines. Instead, it’s turning into a nightmare in many of our communities where the joyful return to school is being overshadowed by a surge in ICE detentions, including those involving legal residents, that have taken place at school dropoffs, bus stops, and other places where children are left to witness a parent or loved one being taken away.
“Entire communities are living under a cloud of terror, with families keeping their children home for fear of what may happen on the way to school or back,” says CEA President Kate Dias. “Children are losing access not only to education but also, critically, to friendships, trusted adults, meals, healthcare, and other supports they receive at their neighborhood schools. Communities are scrambling to provide safe passage to and from school, as well as meals and other essentials. This is not what back-to-school should look like in Connecticut—or anywhere.”
Dias continues, “Our schools should be places of safety, stability, and belonging. Teachers are opening their classroom doors ready to build relationships and help their students thrive. But children cannot be expected to learn when they are anxious that a parent may disappear while they are in class—or when their families are too afraid to send them to school at all.”
With the 2025 expansion of the Trust Act, Connecticut stands as a leader in the fight for human rights, immigrant justice, and schools as safe spaces. Across the country, educators are leading the fight as well. Earlier this year, the National Education Association filed an emergency motion to stop ICE from indiscriminately operating in and around schools.
Check out resources to support educators, students, and their families during this challenging time.
