The Unreported Toll ICE Raids Are Taking on the City’s Youngest Residents

In Chicago, a significant number of students are refraining from attending school, not due to a lack of interest in education, but as a result of intensified Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids. These raids, which feature heavily armed agents and nighttime helicopter operations, have instilled fear among families, as highlighted by advocates. The arrival of "Operation Midway Blitz" has resulted in over 800 undocumented immigrant arrests since September 8, a move at odds with municipal officials' positions. Stacy Davis Gates, president of the Chicago Teachers Union, criticizes the anxiety permeating the city. Reports allege that aggressive ICE tactics, including the deployment of tear gas near schools, have affected attendance at institutions like Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. Paideia Academy. This phenomenon is not isolated to Chicago; similar patterns are observed in Chelsea, Massachusetts. The ramifications of these actions on youth require urgent attention, as ongoing federal actions threaten the well-being of vulnerable communities.