As schools across the country reopen, immigrant families are increasingly anxious over the Trump administration’s aggressive targeting of undocumented migrants, according to educators, parents, and advocacy groups.

Chicago and Los Angeles — the nation’s second- and third-largest public school districts — have rolled out new protections to reassure families. Chicago Public Schools announced it will deny Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents entry to school facilities unless they present a criminal warrant signed by a federal judge.

In Los Angeles, more than half a million students returned to classrooms under heightened security measures. The Los Angeles Unified School District said its police force is working closely with local law enforcement to safeguard immigrant students. “Every child deserves a safe space, regardless of immigration status,” Superintendent Alberto Carvalho stressed.

The moves reflect mounting concern among mixed-status households — families where U.S.-born children live with undocumented parents. Educators say some parents have already withdrawn their children, fearing raids or deportation orders. “It’s coming at our families from every angle,” said Esmeralda Alday, a former bilingual education official in San Antonio. “Some feel they have no choice but to self-deport.”

Immigrant advocates warn the climate of fear has left families reluctant to send children to school or even leave their homes. “These families dread school drop-offs because they fear being detained,” said Viridiana Carrizales, co-founder of ImmSchools. “This is not just about targeting criminals — immigrants as a whole are being treated as targets.”