Updated: 14 Jul 2026
Reports: ICE activity negatively affects students and educators.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has disrupted schools and school communities across the continuum, impacting learning for a broad swath of students.
38
Out of 77 Chicago communities saw sharper attendance drops during Operation Midway Blitz (2025)
~40%
Of hard-hit communities have large immigrant or Latino populations
Impact
Increased immigration enforcement, combined with the rescission of the Sensitive Locations guidance that had protected school campuses from ICE activity, has resulted in traumatic enforcement operations on and near school campuses. Recent reports indicate that aggressive enforcement has caused trauma for students, educators, and the broader community. As a result, educators have been pushed to take on a greater emotional support role.
Illinois Response:
- Illinois has taken legislative action to protect students and educators amid ongoing immigration enforcement activities. HB 3247 (Safe Schools for All) codified students’ right to public education and established protections surrounding student information. HB 1312 (the S.A.L.T. platform) requires universities and childcare centers to have procedures in place to address enforcement on campus and requests for information from officials. While the implementation of these programs is ongoing, early reporting has indicated a lack of compliance in some universities.
Here's What ICE Operations Have Meant for Students, Families, and Learning in Elgin
Possible Federal Action:
- Congress might codify sensitive locations protections at the federal level to help students and families feel safe when they are in school.
- The Government Accountability Office (GAO) may consider investigating the effects of immigration enforcement on the learning conditions for all students.
Possible State Action:
- Continue to identify areas where immigrant students and families are vulnerable and codify protections at the state level.
- The Illinois General Assembly and state agencies should support districts, universities, and early childhood providers as they work to comply with and implement new regulations consistent with Illinois law, such as providing implementation and monitoring compliance guidance. One example is the Illinois Department of Early Childhood’s Toolkit.
- State agencies might consider providing consistent updates and guidance to districts around student privacy protections and potential responses to federal enforcement actions.
- Increase mental health support for those impacted by ICE actions, including prioritizing the recruitment and retention of school-based mental health professionals and early childhood mental health consultants and using data from the Universal Mental Health Screenings to assess and address student needs.
Learn how federal changes are impacting Illinois school communities
How has immigration enforcement impacted your community?
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