After Donald Trump's inauguration, CentroNía bilingual preschool prepared for potential ICE interventions, reflecting a broader climate of fear permeating the child care sector, largely staffed by legal immigrants. As ICE established a presence in historically Latino neighborhoods, preschools altered everyday practices, opting to limit outdoor activities to protect families from possible deportation actions.
In a recent incident, a Hispanic teacher was arrested at a Chicago preschool, instilling fear among immigrant workers and families reliant on their services. As the largest mass deportation campaign in history unfolds, the child care industry faces increasing challenges due to personal anxieties and a growing worker shortage. Many immigrant staff, despite being legal, are pressured to leave their positions or change their roles out of fear of ICE presence.
At CentroNía, where staff must have legal work authorization, operations have adjusted. Parents are discouraged from traditional festivities, and staff must implement changed methods for engaging children. Instead of field trips, children are observed indoors. The emotional toll extends beyond staff, impacting children as well. Observations in various schools indicate that immigration-related stress leads to behavioral changes in preschool-aged children, revealing the broader impact of political climates on educational environments.
