‘I can’t focus on my schoolwork’: A high school student in the US agonizes her parents will be seized by ICE while she’s in class

Navigating the challenges of 10th grade is difficult enough for any high school student, but Janet Gonzalez, a 16-year-old resident of San Bernardino, has additional concerns. She is worried that she and her three siblings may be separated from their parents by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Janet's father, Marcos, is a 50-year-old construction worker who has lived in the U.S. for the past 25 years.

He obtained a work permit and humanitarian protection from deportation when he received Temporary Protected Status (TPS) in 1990, which allowed him to avoid deportation. However, the Trump administration has pushed to end TPS, and the Supreme Court recently ruled that the administration can terminate TPS for migrants from Haiti and Syria.

This could lead to the loss of protections for Marcos and 170,000 other Salvadorans by September 9. The uncertainty of their situation is affecting the whole family, causing Janet to struggle with focusing on her schoolwork. She often finds herself worrying about her parents while in class and discussing their possible separation with her family.

Many students across Los Angeles, the nation's second-largest school district, are experiencing similar fears. Last November, the district reported a 7,000 attendance drop due to students from immigrant families staying home and fewer new migrants registering. Research has shown that areas with immigration raids and enforcement have led to declines in academic achievement, increased rates of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and higher levels of anxiety and depression.

A survey conducted in December 2025 found that over 20% of adults in immigrant families with children reported that their families did not engage in essential activities due to immigration concerns. This fear has also led to many immigrants avoiding contact with U.S. government programs to prevent drawing attention to their immigration status.

Marcos Gonzalez is preparing his eldest son and daughter to care for his younger daughters if he and his wife are forced to leave. He is teaching his children their rights and has made them aware of the dangers of immigration raids. Janet and her family have stopped going out unless necessary and spend more time at home, trying to support each other while facing their anxieties.