Texas, Trump and Truancy: The Impact of Immigration Enforcement on Student Absenteeism

Abstract

In 2016, Donald Trump’s election marked the beginning of a transformative shift in the nation’s immigration policies and rhetoric. The administration swiftly announced its intention to deport millions of Americans, and to target all unauthorized immigrants regardless of their criminal history. ICE enforcement actions rose dramatically in the months that followed, while the share of criminal arrests decreased. Meanwhile, Trump’s use of derogatory, anti-immigrant language had a significant impact on the political climate, the effects of which were felt in communities across the country. Fear and anxiety surged among immigrants of all ages, although this thesis focuses primarily on the experiences of children. There are an estimated five million children in the United States who are either unauthorized or who reside with an unauthorized relative. Within this broader context, this thesis explores the relationship between immigration-related arrests and student absenteeism in the communities where they occur.

I find that chronic absenteeism was more prevalent in Texas school districts facing high levels of local enforcement. This relationship was not universal, and applied only to the state’s Hispanic and Limited English Proficient (LEP) students. The educational consequences of arrests were also shaped by schools’ demographic, economic, and educational characteristics.

Additionally, this thesis examines the efficacy of safe zone school resolutions as a policy response to rising absenteeism. More than one hundred school districts adopted these resolutions after the Trump administration took office, but there has been minimal research on their effects. My analysis of school board meeting recordings, resolution documents, and attendance outcomes provide insight into this strategy and its implementation in Austin and Fort Worth. I do not find evidence that either district mitigated the harmful effects of immigration enforcement, and consider a number of explanations for this occurrence.

President Biden’s inauguration presents a crucial opportunity to study, recognize and rectify the consequences of the last four years. My findings offer support for several proposals by the Biden administration, while also indicating the need for action on a local level. It is essential that school leaders work to combat distrust in their communities, and to support families in moments of crisis. Until a student’s immigration status does not interfere with their ability to attend school safely, we as a country have not upheld the universal right to public education.