HIALEAH, Fla. — Across Florida, fear of immigration arrests near schools is driving many immigrant families to pull their children out of classrooms, causing steep and unexpected drops in enrollment in several major districts.
For Alex Rodriguez Silva, that fear became too much. The 40-year-old U.S. citizen and his fiancée Ana, a Brazilian immigrant who overstayed her visa, decided to leave Hialeah this summer. With two children — one undocumented and the other a U.S. citizen — they packed up and moved to Denver in search of safety.
“We couldn’t take it anymore, the constant fear that one of us could be disappeared by ICE,” Silva said. “My kids deserve a place where they feel safe and welcome.”
The family’s departure reflects a growing trend. Since the Trump administration lifted protections that barred immigration enforcement in “sensitive areas” like schools in January, many families have opted not to enroll their children in Florida’s public schools this year.
Enrollment Drops Across Major Districts
Officials say the impact has been dramatic.
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Orange County Public Schools reported 6,600 fewer students this year — more than double the number expected to transfer to charter schools.
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Broward County saw enrollment fall by 11,300 students, and
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Miami-Dade County, the state’s largest district, lost 13,000 students — nearly three times what administrators had forecast.
School leaders say the sharp declines are concentrated in immigrant-heavy neighborhoods.
“Allowing immigration enforcement near schools creates a culture of fear,” said Stephanie Vanos, an Orange County school board member. “Families feel like non-white people don’t belong here.”
Although there have been no confirmed immigration raids at schools, even the possibility has shaken communities. The Los Angeles Unified School District previously reported that federal agents attempted to enter two schools earlier this year, heightening national concerns.
Teachers and Students Caught in the Fear
The anxiety extends beyond families. In Hialeah, middle school science teacher Wualner Sauceda — a DACA recipient — was detained at an immigration hearing in January and later deported to Honduras. His removal sent shockwaves through his school.
“When a beloved teacher is detained and deported, it weighs heavily on students,” said Andrew Spar, president of the Florida Education Association. “It undermines the idea that schools are safe spaces.”
Even without direct raids, the fear has led to rising absenteeism and emotional distress among immigrant children.
A Statewide Climate of Uncertainty
In Miami-Dade County, board member Luisa Santos said fewer families are moving into the state — just 2,000 new out-of-state students this year, compared to an average of 7,000 annually.
“There’s a general sense of fear and distrust,” Santos said. “People worry school could be disrupted at any moment by immigration agents.”
Despite reassurances from local officials that ICE has not entered schools, families remain on edge.
Silva said his decision to leave Florida came after his eldest child began crying at school drop-offs, terrified that her undocumented mother might be taken away.
“She’s brown, she has an accent, and that makes her a target,” Silva said. “Every day I feared my kids would see their mom arrested in front of them.”
Now living in Colorado, Silva says his family finally feels some relief — but he remains haunted by the sense that America no longer feels safe for mixed-status families.
“Every moment I should be enjoying with my family,” he said, “I’m thinking about the day ICE comes for Ana. I’m constantly scared I’m going to lose them.”
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