Los angeles: A new nationwide survey has uncovered significant challenges faced by immigrant students in the US, highlighting how intensified immigration enforcement by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is fostering a "culture of fear" in public high schools. This atmosphere has reportedly led to a rise in bullying, absenteeism, and emotional distress among these students.

According to Anadolu Agency, researchers at the University of California, Los Angeles' Institute for Democracy, Education and Access (IDEA) conducted a survey involving over 600 high school principals nationwide. The study explored the impact of ICE activities on school communities, with the findings published in The Guardian.

The report indicated that 70.4% of principals observed immigrant students expressing concerns about their and their families' well-being. The survey also revealed that 57.8% of principals noticed a decline in attendance and academic performance, as some families left their communities during the school year.

Instances of bullying were reported, with a principal in Michigan noting that Hispanic students were derisively called "border hoppers." In Minnesota, there were reports of white students asking their Latino peers, "Can I see your papers?" In Nebraska, the language used against immigrant students was described as increasingly "hostile and derogatory."

The survey found that 63.8% of principals noted school absences due to immigration-related rhetoric or policies, and over one-third reported bullying or harassment incidents against immigrant students. Despite limited control over immigration issues, 77.6% of schools devised plans to respond to potential visits by federal agents, and nearly half created contingency plans for students whose guardians might face deportation.

IDEA Director John Rogers highlighted the emotional toll on students, citing principals' accounts of students fearing that being dropped off at school might be their last moment with their parents. Rogers emphasized that this reflects a normalization of a system causing "extraordinary trauma."

In response to the survey, Department of Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin criticized the study as "fear mongering," asserting that ICE does not target children in schools. McLaughlin stated, "Those blaming ICE for students getting bullied and low attendance are smearing law enforcement."