Advice on immigration advocacy, raids and enforcement
Posted: January 23, 2025
Updated: June 23, 2026
Educators, students, and families are understandably concerned about the safety of their families and communities because of President Donald Trump’s aggressive immigration enforcement and reshaping of the country’s immigration laws.
The National Education Association recently issued a new toolkit to support members with vulnerable immigration status, such as Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and Temporary Protected Status (TPS). Due to the Trump administration’s attacks on immigrants, NEA members with DACA or TPS may wish to pursue employment-based work visas or green card sponsorship. The toolkit explains those options and was developed in collaboration with Path 2 Papers, a project at Cornell Law School.
Unauthorized immigrants live in 6.3 million households that include more than 22 million people; this includes 4.4 million U.S.-born children who live with an unauthorized immigrant parent. Trump’s policies have caused fear and upheaval, mass panic in immigrant communities, and harmed school environments by causing increased absences, decreased student achievement, and parental disengagement.
While many of Trump’s proposed immigration actions have faced legal challenges, it is imperative for our teacher leaders and members to be aware and prepared regarding the impact that immigration issues can have on schools and our communities.
Immigration guidance compiled by the NEA lays out information regarding immigration and schools, including information about enrollment issues, Plyler v. Doe, and Safe Zones resolutions, how educators can safely engage in immigration advocacy, a FAQ about mass raids, a Know Your Rights guide for immigration enforcement, and an update on the DACA program.