Immigration Raids in Massachusetts Cause School Attendance to Decline

The Classroom Cost of Immigration Enforcement

When federal agents conducted a series of immigration sweeps across Massachusetts, the impact rippled far beyond the detention centers.

In cities like Chelsea and Milford, schools saw a sudden, sharp decline in attendance as families retreated into the shadows, fearing that a routine school drop-off could lead to a family separation. The fallout from these operations—collectively termed Operation Patriot 2.0—has left desks empty and academic progress stalled for students.

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The human stakes of this policy are perhaps best illustrated by the experience of Ana Michelle Ramirez Sanan. On September 26 of last year, she witnessed federal agents force her mother to the ground during a confrontation that left her mother injured and the family’s sense of security shattered.

Although her mother was ultimately released, the trauma of the encounter derailed Ramirez’s senior year. She struggled with debilitating anxiety and the weight of sudden caregiving responsibilities, eventually seeing her grade-point average fall by nearly a full point before she ultimately graduated.

Academic Recovery and the Community Toll

The absenteeism triggered by these raids is not merely a temporary dip; it represents a systemic barrier to education. Thomas Dee, a Stanford University professor whose research includes the impact of immigration raids on attendance, noted that the raids are actively undercutting academic recovery efforts.

Because teachers must spend extra time helping absent students catch up, the pace of instruction slows for the entire classroom, compounding the consequences of the missed days for everyone involved.

Data from school districts confirms that this trend is not limited to isolated incidents. In Chelsea, 12 percent of students were absent during the peak of the September 2025 raids. Similarly, in Milford, more than 400 students missed school in the days that followed.

For many parents, the decision to keep children home is a defensive measure. As Diana Santiago, a lawyer with Massachusetts Advocates for Children, explained, the immediate instinct for families is to keep their children close and protected, often viewing school as a potential risk rather than a safe haven.

Shifting Policies and Lingering Fear

The long-term effects of this climate are supported by research from Andrew Camp of the Annenberg Institute at Brown University. By analyzing attendance records in a midsize New England school district, Camp found that foreign-born students were 36 percent more likely to miss school on any given day after President Trump returned to office.

Unlike illnesses or seasonal absences, these missed days are irregular and unpredictable, which makes it increasingly difficult for educators to provide consistent support.

Immigration Raids in Massachusetts Cause School Attendance to Decline

Governor Maura Healey signed legislation earlier this year to stop immigration agents from operating in “sensitive locations” such as schools, child care centers, and hospitals. Massachusetts Education Commissioner Pedro Martinez, who emigrated from Mexico as a child, acknowledged the gravity of the situation while urging families to prioritize education.

“The fear is real, and we should not minimize it,” said Massachusetts Education Commissioner Pedro Martinez, who as a child emigrated from Mexico. “We are today in this very hostile environment. The only thing we can do is remind parents: ‘Your children need to be in school.’”

The View from the Front Lines

School administrators must balance their roles as educators with the reality of community trauma. In Lynn, officials have implemented a new attendance code—”community stressor”—to track absences specifically linked to immigration crackdowns, distinguishing them from routine truancy or illness.

Despite these efforts, superintendents like Andrew O’Leary in New Bedford report that they are often left sifting through rumors, trying to support families who are too terrified to leave their homes.

Nearly 1,500 people in Massachusetts detained in immigrations raids, ICE says

The data suggests that the secondary effects on public education are profound. For students like Ramirez, the path forward involves continuing her education at the community college level with plans to transfer into the mechanical engineer program at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth.

Yet, for many others, the fear remains a persistent obstacle. As state officials continue to refine policies to protect students, the reality remains that for many immigrant families, the classroom has become a place where the fear of the federal government outweighs the promise of a diploma.