Immigrant families across the country have been watching the news with a knot in their stomachs—wondering what could happen during an ordinary drive to school or walk to work amid federal immigration enforcement actions in major cities.
Here in Los Angeles, that fear is visible in our immigrant school communities. It shows up in growing numbers of students missing school, in counselors increasing home calls and family visits, and in parents making the painful decision to keep their children home out of fear—even at the cost of their education.
In response, many L.A.-area charter public school leaders are stepping up—leaders like Christopher Carr, executive director of Aspire Public Schools Los Angeles. His leadership, teaching, and support staff have revisited safety protocols first developed in 2016 and retrained every employee to respond immediately if enforcement activity occurs near a campus.
“We wanted to ensure our schools are safe,” Carr said. “Nobody should ever have to live like that.”
Aspire has built what Carr describes as a “social safety net” for multilingual learners, newcomers, and undocumented families—hiring specialists, expanding wraparound services, and holding nearly three dozen Know Your Rights trainings that have reached more than 500 people.
In addition, on-campus mental health therapists are providing group and one-on-one counseling for students experiencing fear and anxiety. These supports are already making a difference, contributing to declines in chronic absenteeism and increases in students’ sense of belonging.
“As hard as it gets,” Carr said, “we’re here with our students and families.”
Another charter school leader taking action is Adriana Abich, CEO of Camino Nuevo Charter Academy, which operates six schools in Los Angeles.
Attendance has dipped sharply at times, with some Camino Nuevo schools seeing 40 to 60 students absent in a single day. Families tell staff they are fearful even walking their children to school.
Under her direction, Abich launched Camino Seguro, an initiative designed to protect and stand beside immigrant families.
For example, Camino provides licensed therapists on every campus, ongoing legal workshops, bilingual resources, and family support groups. Abich describes this moment as one when schools must be both “safe havens and battlefields”—places of protection and courage.
Camino has also invited community partners to line school routes with smiles and visible support—what Abich calls “joyful resistance.”
“You belong here. You are valued here,” she tells families. “Our job is to protect hope and possibility.”
For parents like Marisela, who asked that her last name not be used for fear of retaliation, that hope matters deeply.
Marisela and her husband came from Mexico and worry that one of them could be detained, leaving their children without a parent. Tears streamed down her face as she described the constant stress.
To cope, she limits her news intake, leads a parents’ running group to manage anxiety, and created a WhatsApp chat so families can share information and encouragement.
She says school counselors have been a lifeline.
“I love this country,” she said. “I only want to contribute to it.”
At a time when fear is keeping families home, charter public school leaders across Los Angeles are leaning in—building partnerships, expanding mental health services, educating families about their rights, and showing up visibly for their communities.
In doing so, they are reinforcing what public schools at their best have always been: anchors of trust, stability, and hope.
Myrna Castrejón has been the President and CEO of the California Charter Schools Association since January 2019. Innovate & Educate is an occasional column in which she explores statewide K-12 issues through a charter public school lens.