Throughout recent months, the United States has seen an undeniable surge in I.C.E. arrests, raids, and overall activity. Many feel that their community and culture are under attack. These acts by I.C.E. have had a direct impact on the mental health and wellbeing of youth in affected communities. In predominantly Latinx communities, students are led to fear for their families and community, wondering if their people are safe within their own local markets, restaurants, and even their own homes.
Los Angeles, California, has long been considered a sanctuary city for immigrants. Thousands of undocumented people come to California in hopes of a better life. Many strive towards the ‘American dream’ by working tirelessly to provide for themselves and their families. Their hard work and dedication has allowed the city of Los Angeles to become a city full of life and culture.
However, earlier in 2025, the city saw a series of violent raids by ICE officers. Immigrants were taken from their workplaces, and held in detention centers with unsanitary conditions. This series of attacks tore apart families, leaving their children to wonder if and when they would be reunited.
Much of the youth in communities that have been impacted by ICE have faced fear of deportation, being separated from their loved ones, and overall anxiety. Regardless of the steps the city has taken to combat I.C.E, these efforts offer little to no comfort to the students who have been directly impacted.
To measure and put into perspective the effects I.C.E has had on students, a poll was conducted for students and teachers to describe their experiences. Questions asked were the degree of which people knew about I.C.E. activity in general and in their community, shifts in behavior, and general questions about how these events have impacted them.
When asked if I.C.E. has directly impacted them or their community, 79.3% of polled participants voted that they and their community have been affected by the raids and attacks conducted by I.C.E, 13.8% were unsure, and only 6.9% of students are in communities that have not suffered raids. 82.8% of students reported a noticeable change in behavior due to I.C.E., including but not limited to absences in school, anxiety, and isolation.
The last questions for to those who completed the survey were how they would describe the impact these events have had on students mentally, what they want people to understand about I.C.E, and their overall opinions on what is happening in their community. These were some of the responses received:
“Speaking as a student myself, I can definitely say the vast majority of us are constantly worried about our families, especially with the inability to maintain contact with our families during the school day. It only creates a palpable atmosphere of fear that spreads across our community,” 16-year-old Andrea Jimenez said.
When asked what people should know about the effects of I.C.E. on them and their community, many shared vulnerable responses, but one sticks out to me. “I feel that youth are witnessing an era of increased state authoritarianism and violation of basic human and civil rights. The current administration’s policies are undermining important democratic norms and are normalizing abuses of power,” history teacher Miguel Morales shared.
Conducting this poll confirmed the belief I had, I.C.E. activity is having an undeniable impact on student’s mental health. Tasks which were once seen as mundane, like grocery shopping or going to the park, are now rare occasions for some. This attack on our community is doing far more harm than good, and it is to the detriment of our students.
