Hispanic students of immigrant families are struggling to go to school due to their concern with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or the ICE. These students are concerned that they will be asked for their legal documents. The Hispanic community feels that ICE is going beyond their limits and wonders if it would be better to stand together nationwide or not doing anything at all.

“My children are very concerned [about] going to school,” a worried Hispanic mother says. “They say how disrespectful it is for them to be asked for legal documents in a 7/11 or [stores nearby my house].” She requested to remain anonymous.

Since President Obama approved his deportation reform for the immigrants who arrived to the U.S. after January 2014,  along with other individuals given deportation orders, life got tough for the rest of the Hispanic community. Not only are these individuals being detained by ICE, but many legal residents are having issues as well. 

It’s very frustrating to be asked for legal documents. In some states like Arizona, this injustice is legal. However, the constant searching and racial profiling are immoral and unconstitutional. If the ICE was doing its job, it would know exactly who was in this country illegally instead of scaring the entire Hispanic community. 

And realistically, it would be very hard to deport all Hispanic immigrants illegal or otherwise. ICE’s annual budget is roughly only $2.5 billion for its detention and deportation duties. 

The day when immigrant students decide not to go to school anymore out of fear will be a very sad day. What is the Hispanic community able to do about it? Just cross their fingers and ignore this issue? Though the ICE is just doing their job, they should not intimidate people or overuse their power. There are even rumors that a plan will be launched to start deportation raids against families who have entered the U.S. since the start of last year. This new system feels like a plague of racism over the Hispanic community, and must be stopped.