NYC School Battles to Educate an Undocumented Teen Under Trump

(NEW YORK CITY) As immigration enforcement tightens under the Trump Administration’s second term, a Bronx high school built to serve new arrivals finds itself on the front line. Staff at ELLIS Preparatory Academy are working daily to keep an undocumented teen in class, even as federal actions—once kept away from schools—now seep into the school day through fear, absences, and sudden family moves. Educators say the promise is simple: school remains open, safe, and required by state law, no matter a student’s status.

New York officials reaffirm that promise. State guidance updated in January 2025 says all children ages 5 to 21 must receive free public education regardless of immigration status, and schools may not ask for a Social Security number or proof of status at enrollment. That legal protection has helped ELLIS Prep staff urge families to send students back to class after nearby immigration sweeps. But the climate has changed since the federal government rolled back limits on immigration arrests at places like schools.

The shift began when the administration rescinded the “sensitive locations” policy on January 20, 2025. That move removed a longstanding barrier to immigration enforcement near schools, hospitals, and houses of worship. Community groups and principals report that officers have been seen more often in neighborhoods around campuses, including in the northwest Bronx. According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, attendance has been disrupted as families weigh the risk of travel to and from school.

Policy changes reshaping school days

The federal government has tightened other pathways as well. Advocates say bans on access to Head Start, career and technical programs, and adult education have closed doors for many families. Legal challenges have slowed parts of that effort in New York, where courts granted a temporary reprieve through September 3, 2025, allowing undocumented immigrants to keep using those programs while cases continue.

A separate rule has stirred fresh fear: beginning April 11, 2025, some undocumented immigrants must register with the Department of Homeland Security. Families in the Bronx say they worry registration could lead to detention or deportation. Though schools are not part of that process, the fear spills into classrooms. Teachers at ELLIS Preparatory Academy say some teens are missing class to help siblings, change addresses, or meet with lawyers.

State leaders have tried to offset the fear with clear guardrails. Governor Kathy Hochul, Attorney General Letitia James, and Education Commissioner Betty Rosa have repeated that public schools are safe spaces and must not discriminate. The New York State Education Department has told districts to accept a wide range of residency documents, to enroll students right away even if paperwork is missing, and to give migrant and homeless students immediate entry with immunization proof allowed within 14 days. Official guidance is posted by the New York State Education Department at: https://www.nysed.gov/bilingual-ed/news/safeguarding-rights-new-york-state-immigrant-students.

Inside ELLIS Prep: reassurance, home visits, and rights education

On the ground, school leaders say trust-building matters as much as legal memos. At ELLIS Prep, staff hold “Know Your Rights” sessions in multiple languages, explain that students are protected on campus, and walk families through what to do if immigration agents appear at the door.

Counselors make home visits when a teen stops showing up, reminding parents that:

• Schools cannot share a student’s status.
• Officers are not allowed to remove a child from school without proper legal steps and parental consent.

This approach has helped, but not fully. After nearby enforcement actions, attendance dips. A counselor described a recent case of an undocumented teen who stayed home for days after federal agents were seen on her block. When staff visited, the family agreed to send her back, and the student said the school’s plan “gave her a lot of hope.” The return is fragile; every rumor of a raid threatens to undo the routine.

New York City schools have also adopted stricter data safeguards. Advocates, including the New York Civil Liberties Union, urge districts to:

• Limit collection of sensitive information
• Train front office staff on how to handle law enforcement requests
• Require written subpoenas or court orders before releasing student records

Principals say the consistent message—school is safe, information is protected, the door stays open—helps calm anxious teens who are unsure whom to trust.

Federal posture and local consequences

Federal officials, meanwhile, defend the tougher stance. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has emphasized aggressive actions against undocumented immigrants this year. Education and immigrant advocates warn that the tone alone can chill attendance, even if officers never enter a school building. The gap between federal enforcement and state education rights plays out every morning when teens choose between getting on the bus or staying out of sight.

Families and students ask the same questions: Is it safe to go to school? What if an agent knocks? Can we enroll without papers? State law answers yes to school enrollment, and schools must accept different proofs of address—like a lease, a letter from a shelter, or a bill. Schools cannot ask about immigration status, and parents do not need a Social Security number to register a child. For migrant and homeless students, the school must enroll right away and help gather records later.

Steps schools use to keep students learning

To keep students learning, schools have set up simple, consistent steps:

1. Enrollment first, documents later
   • The school must enroll the child immediately while working to collect any missing records.
2. Rights education
   • Staff explain in plain language that students can attend without fear of status checks at school.
3. Clear protocols for law enforcement
   • Schools require proper legal documents before sharing student data or allowing access, and they notify families.
4. Ongoing support
   • Counselors connect students to mental health services, help with transportation concerns, and call home after an unexplained absence.
5. Legal referrals
   • Families are encouraged to speak with immigration attorneys, especially about the April 11, 2025 DHS registration rule.

The legal horizon and what’s at stake

The next legal test comes in early September. If the temporary court order protecting access to certain education programs ends on September 3, 2025, some students could lose seats in classes that lead to jobs and certifications. Advocates plan further challenges, while New York’s leaders say they will keep enforcement outside school walls and education inside them.

For now, the goal at ELLIS Preparatory Academy remains steady attendance and steady nerves. Teachers say clear routines—morning greetings, small-group lessons, and time with advisors—make the building feel predictable when the world outside is not. Principals share scripts with front office staff so every family hears the same message about privacy and safety.

“When an undocumented teen stops attending, she falls behind in English, loses contact with mentors, and may leave school entirely. When she stays, she earns credits, builds a support network, and can plan for next steps.”

The outcome matters beyond a single classroom. New York’s school system is built to include those students. The law is clear, the protections are in writing, and the doors are open. What’s less certain is whether the federal pressure will keep rising, and, if so, how many more school days an anxious teen will miss before someone knocks on her family’s door, or before a counselor knocks on theirs. In the Bronx, educators say they’ll keep knocking first.