Psychological Impacts on Schools in Immigrant Communities Due to ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement)

AbstractThis qualitative case study examines the psychological and social impacts of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) deportation practices on schools in immigrant communities across the United States. Large-scale deportation strategies have contributed to heightened fear, mistrust, and social withdrawal not only among undocumented immigrants but also among citizens and permanent residents who share linguistic, cultural, or ethnic identities with targeted groups. These enforcement activities interrupt family structures, discourage community engagement, and produce long-term mental health consequences. In addition to socio-emotional distress, deportation economies disrupt labor systems and influence political dynamics by normalizing coercive state authority. The findings reveal that ICE enforcement does not solely function as a legal mechanism but contributes to the institutionalization of insecurity, inequality, and psychological trauma within immigrant communities. Keywords: undocumented, insecurity, inequality, political, cultural, psychological trauma