[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 4 (Wednesday, January 7, 2026)]
[House]
[Page H105]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT AND SCHOOLS

  (Ms. Bonamici of Oregon was recognized to address the House for 5 
minutes.)
  Ms. BONAMICI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my profound 
opposition to this administration's aggressive and cruel immigration 
enforcement actions, especially targeting students and parents near 
schools.
  Throughout the last year, the Trump administration's hard-line 
immigration enforcement campaign has terrorized communities and created 
an environment where many students don't even feel safe going to 
school.
  Children can't learn when they are living in constant fear.
  At a townhall meeting last year, a fourth grade student, a 10-year-
old, gave me a handwritten letter saying that she was afraid that ICE 
was going to come into her school and take her friends.
  Children may not understand the complexities of the immigration 
system, but they know that masked people indiscriminately kidnapping 
people off the street is wrong and terrifying.
  In July, a Beaverton, Oregon, father was dropping off his child at 
preschool. With his child in the car, ICE surrounded him, traumatizing 
the child, other parents, and preschool teachers. ICE then arrested the 
father within sight of the school.
  In October, two Oregon high school students were at a drive-through 
coffee shop near their school. They were surrounded by multiple ICE 
agents who were pointing guns at them. That is terrifying, outrageous, 
and obviously dangerous.
  At a recent city council meeting, an Oregon high school student 
bravely shared his concerns and the concerns of his peers, especially 
those who cannot speak up for themselves because they are too afraid. 
This compassionate student has been raising money to help people in his 
community whose lives are being torn apart by this administration's 
immigration enforcement tactics.
  Mr. Speaker, hundreds of students across northwest Oregon have 
bravely protested the ongoing immigration enforcement that is happening 
in their communities, and I am grateful for their acts of peaceful 
protest that are calling attention to these injustices.
  The reality is that too many students are afraid to leave their 
homes, even to go to school. At a time when chronic absenteeism is at a 
record high, more students are switching to attending school online if 
they can because they don't feel safe, or they stop going altogether.
  A small school district in northwest Oregon told me that more than 
150 students have withdrawn this year, an increase of 120 since this 
time last year. It is likely that most of them left school because they 
are afraid of ICE. Statewide, it is estimated that more than 10,000 
students are now unaccounted for.
  Recently, the Department of Homeland Security claimed that the media 
is force-feeding the public stories about parents and children being 
afraid to return to school. This is categorically untrue. Despite what 
the Department of Homeland Security wants people to believe, ICE is 
creating significant levels of fear, including around schools.
  Mr. Speaker, this is not about targeting criminals. It is about 
targeting, arresting, and detaining people because of their national 
origin or the color of their skin. This ought to send chills down the 
spines of everyone in this body and this country.
  As someone who has dedicated years of my career to education and 
striving to create a better future for children, I am appalled but, 
sadly, not surprised that this administration continues to terrorize 
children, using the same playbook as when they separated families at 
the border.
  Let me be clear: According to the United States Supreme Court, all 
children, regardless of their immigration status, have the right to 
attend public schools. The ICE tactics that we are seeing of targeting 
students and families will have lasting effects on children and 
families, and they will cause generational trauma.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to show some empathy and kindness. 
Work with us to protect sensitive locations. Work with us on humane 
immigration reform. We cannot allow these abuses of power and these 
lawless actions to continue.
  Let's put an end to this ugly chapter in our country's history and do 
better for our Nation and our children.

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