A recent report showed heightened immigration enforcement is taking a toll on children enrolled in Head Start, a popular early childhood program in Illinois.
The New York Times reports U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is aiming to arrest about 2,000 people per day, without the visibility of previous operations.
Lauri Morrison-Frichtl, executive director of the Illinois Head Start Association and other Head Start leaders, said aggressive deportation efforts have been widespread. A recent poll from the organization showed behavioral and psychological effects on both immigrant and non-immigrant children.
“Children in our classrooms, anytime they hear a siren or a whistle, have a meltdown because that's a sign that something bad is going to happen,” Morrison-Frichtl explained. “Then, if their parent was late picking them up, they lose it because they thought their parent had been captured by ICE.”
The survey, which includes accounts from directors, staff and parents, found ICE activity also caused an increase in absenteeism and an erosion in family engagement and routines. Morrison-Frichtl noted trauma recovery will require years of ongoing work within Head Start programs and the broader education system.
Poll results showed Head Start centers have had to divert limited resources to crisis response measures, such as creating safe zones for children and families. Even though the report focused on firsthand accounts related to heightened activity surrounding Operation Midway Blitz, Morrison-Frichtl stressed ongoing documentation is important.
“Because 20 years from now, people may forget and say, ‘Oh, that never happened,’” she emphasized. “I wanted to make sure we documented the stories because they're so powerful, and who would've thought that something like this would've happened in our time?”
State officials recently launched the Illinois Department of Early Childhood to consolidate fragmented services and streamline access for families and providers. Experts said leaders in the field will need to prioritize how to support students and communities affected by immigration enforcement.
Head Start leaders warn of lasting trauma from ICE enforcement was first published by Public News Service and was republished with permission.
Judith Ruiz-Branch is a Producer with PNS.
