A new PIQE study finds immigration enforcement anxiety is reshaping school attendance, mental health, and family decision-making for Latino TK and kindergarten students statewide.
The Parent Institute for Quality Education (PIQE) today announced the release of a new research report, Latino TK/Kindergarten Attendance Under Pressure in California, authored by Monique Escobedo, Ph.D., Director of Research at PIQE. The report examines how shifting federal immigration policies and intensified enforcement are shaping school attendance for Latino transitional kindergarten (TK) and kindergarten students across California.
Despite preliminary estimates of student enrollment, the Trump administration’s immigration curb has left immigrant families and communities fearful of returning to school each day — from the nation’s capital to Los Angeles, California — according to education leaders and experts who spoke to ABC News. The immigration operations near LAUSD, home to over 400,000 students, coincided with a drop in more than 16,000 students to start the current school year, according to an LAUSD spokesperson.
Drawing on six focus groups with 38 Latina/o and Indigenous caregivers from the Bay Area, Central Valley, and Los Angeles, the study documents how fear of immigration raids, racial profiling, and family separation intersects with longstanding barriers such as low socioeconomic status , transportation, work schedules, and limited childcare. Despite these pressures, many caregivers report making extraordinary sacrifices to keep their young children in school and to protect their emotional well-being.
“Many of the caregivers in this study–regardless of citizenship status–described how immigration raids in or near their communities caused extreme anxiety and initial feelings of confusion and fear” said Monique Escobedo, Ph.D., Director of Research at PIQE, and author of the report. “They want their children in classrooms where they can learn, grow, and feel safe. Meanwhile, Latinos are also navigating a political climate that is directly targeting their communities–often based solely on appearances. Their stories detail both the heavy emotional toll that current immigration enforcement strategies have taken, but also the remarkable courage, planning, and steadfastness that these caregivers maintain to ensure that their children have consistent and equal access to education.”
The report highlights four major themes: children’s mental health and emotional distress, deep mistrust of information and law enforcement, the protective strategies families are putting in place, and caregivers’ unwavering belief that education in the United States can open doors for their children. It also offers insights on how schools, districts, and policymakers can respond through clearer communication, culturally and linguistically responsive outreach, and supportive early learning environments.
“This report is a powerful reminder that attendance is not just about getting students through the school gate,” said Ryan E. Alcantara, Ph.D., Interim CEO and President of PIQE. “For many Latino families, showing up every day requires resilience in the face of complex legal systems and economic hardship. Schools and districts have an opportunity, and a responsibility, to stand with caregivers by making campuses welcoming, ensuring families know their rights, and tailoring supports so that every child can attend school consistently and without fear.”
