NEWTOWN, Conn. – The steep escalation in violence by immigration enforcement in communities across the country is deeply disrupting families and schools, with children, parents and school staff detained, and districts cancelling classes and shifting to remote learning. Schools are among the places where young people should feel safest, but are increasingly becoming places of fear, uncertainty, and distress.
In response, Nicole Hockley, co-founder and CEO of Sandy Hook Promise issued the following statement:
“Sandy Hook Promise has been hearing from district and school administrators, teachers, parents, and students that immigration enforcement in school communities is creating trauma, anxiety, absenteeism, and disengagement. This harms students, undermines learning and healthy development, and erodes the trusting relationships that schools rely on to function.
“Fear and insecurity negatively impact youth mental health, discouraging students from seeking help or reporting bullying, abuse, or mental health crises—allowing warning signs to go unnoticed and making schools less safe.
“Sandy Hook Promise believes schools must remain safe spaces where all students can learn without fear. The safety and well-being of children must be the top priority. No child should ever be placed at risk of physical harm. No student should carry the burden of trauma induced by violence or the threat of violence. And no family should fear sending their child to school.
“We are committed to protecting young people from any actions — by any group or agency — that create danger, confusion, or harm.
“Our research shows that clear, transparent school safety policies protect students and strengthen communities. Emergencies that pose an immediate threat to safety should be handled by trained designated staff who are integrated within the school culture and community, rather than by outside enforcement agencies. Schools must remain spaces of safety, stability, and trust for youth.
“Protecting children from harm is not a political issue – it is a shared responsibility and moral imperative. We urge the Trump Administration and Congressional leaders to work together to ensure that young people are safe, schools remain safe places for learning, and no child’s life is placed in jeopardy, regardless of their immigration status. Our children are depending on us. We must meet this moment with courage, care, and a commitment to prioritizing their safety.”
For educators and parents looking for practical advice to help support youth, here are some resources: Principles of School Safety: Safeguarding Student Well-Being (Source: Sandy Hook Promise); 10 Strategies for How Schools Should Respond to Help Children Impacted by ICE Raids (Source: Intercultural Development Research Association); and How to Help Children Cope (Source: Sandy Hook Promise).
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Sandy Hook Promise (SHP) envisions a future where all children are free from school shootings and other acts of violence. As a national nonprofit organization, SHP’s mission is to educate and empower youth and adults to prevent violence in schools, homes, and communities. Creators of the life-saving, evidence-informed “Know the Signs” prevention programs, SHP teaches the warning signs of someone who may be in crisis, socially isolated, or at-risk of hurting themselves or others and how to get help. SHP also advances school safety, youth mental health, and responsible gun ownership at the state and federal levels through nonpartisan policy and partnerships. SHP is led by several family members whose loved ones were killed in the tragic mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School on December 14, 2012.
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