Immigration raids disrupt Nashville schools and attendance patterns

(NASHVILLE) Immigration raids across 2025 are reshaping daily life for many families in Nashville, and the impact is stark inside local classrooms. Metro Nashville Public Schools (MNPS) and city officials confirm a sharp rise in absenteeism among immigrant students after a series of high‑profile U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations led to nearly 200 arrests in the city during the spring and summer. Teachers say students are staying home out of fear, even when there is no confirmed ICE presence at schools or bus stops.

While Nashville‑specific attendance files for 2025 aren’t yet public, a recent national study found a 22% jump in daily absences in districts touched by immigration enforcement early this year, with the youngest students most affected. Local accounts from educators and advocates in Nashville match that pattern.

How fear is affecting families and classrooms

The fear is not abstract. Parents describe the risk of being stopped on the way to school, leaving many to keep children home for days at a time. Some students have missed multiple days in a row or stopped attending altogether, according to teacher reports shared with the district and community groups.

Counselors and non‑profit leaders warn that the disruption is compounding trauma for children who already lost classroom time during the pandemic. Teachers report higher anxiety among elementary students, and community workers describe children taking on adult roles—working extra hours or caring for siblings—after a parent’s detention. Educators say this often turns a short absence into prolonged disengagement.

Non‑profit leaders also say the emotional toll is heavy: children show signs of ongoing stress, sleep problems, and increased fear of public spaces. That concern runs through youth centers and after‑school programs, where mentors report students lingering well past closing because they feel safer there.

“Younger students are most likely to miss school during periods of stepped‑up enforcement,” community leaders say—an observation that echoes national evidence.

Policy changes and perceptions

The arrests themselves are only part of the picture. A policy change early this year heightened the sense of vulnerability. Federal guidance that previously limited immigration arrests in schools, hospitals, and churches was rescinded in January 2025 under President Trump, according to district communications. Even though MNPS says there have been no attempts by federal agents to enter schools, the end of that prior guidance has fueled worry that school grounds are no longer seen as protected areas.

Student activism and calls for action

In May 2025, more than 80 MNPS students wrote to Mayor Freddie O’Connell and Superintendent Adrienne Battle, urging city leaders to act. They called for clear bans on ICE entering schools and community spaces and said classmates were missing school because they feared immigration raids.

The letter—circulated among school clubs and youth groups—gave fresh urgency to campaigns already underway in immigrant neighborhoods to protect school access.

Official responses and supports

District leaders have moved to reassure families. MNPS has repeated a clear rule: ICE agents are not allowed on school property without legal authorization. The district says it has activated student support protocols, which include:

• Rapid outreach to families after multiple absences
• Expanded counseling services
• Coordination with trusted community partners

Superintendent Adrienne Battle highlighted The Belonging Fund, which offers emergency financial support to students and families affected by immigration enforcement and helps cover basics that keep children in school, such as transportation and food.

Mayor Freddie O’Connell has acknowledged the climate of fear and pledged to restore confidence in school safety for all families. City officials are working with MNPS to amplify messages that schools remain open and welcoming, regardless of a student’s immigration background.

Director of Attendance Services Carol Brown and other district leaders are reviewing attendance patterns closely as the new school year advances and are adjusting outreach strategies school by school.

Community organizations and practical help

Community groups have stepped in with practical help. Conexión Américas is:

• Running after‑school programs
• Connecting families to legal clinics
• Encouraging households to create emergency plans in case a parent is detained

That planning includes naming trusted adults for school pick‑up and seeking legal advice on guardianship so children aren’t left without care. Co‑executive directors Marta Silva and Tara Lentz say families need clear, steady messages from schools during enforcement spikes, paired with concrete steps to keep students learning.

Research partnership to study absenteeism

MNPS and Vanderbilt University launched an 18‑month, $450,000 study in January 2025 to examine chronic absenteeism and test new supports. The project, led by Vanderbilt researchers Joanne Golann, David Diehl, and Kayla Fike in partnership with Nashville PEER, will include interviews with students, families, and staff to identify which interventions help children return and stay in class.

Goals of the study:

1. Identify drivers of chronic absenteeism
2. Test targeted interventions to re‑engage students
3. Produce practical tools MNPS can deploy across campuses if absenteeism worsens

The collaboration aims to deliver actionable results MNPS can use quickly.

Broader trends, risks, and funding implications

The broader trend suggests Nashville is not alone. Across the country, districts report that stepped‑up immigration enforcement—especially highly publicized raids—creates a “climate of fear” that:

• Keeps students home
• Disrupts learning
• Threatens long‑term outcomes

Analysts warn that widespread absenteeism could also affect school funding formulas that depend on attendance. Many districts were still facing elevated absence rates post‑pandemic before 2025 began; the new wave of raids has layered additional stress on immigrant communities, deepening the challenge for teachers and principals working to re‑engage students.

Recommended supports and classroom practices

Local advocates say the road back to steady attendance will require more than reassurance. Families want predictable schedules, transportation that feels safe, and routines that reduce uncertainty.

Counselors emphasize short‑term wins that rebuild confidence, such as:

• Home visits
• Flexible scheduling for older students who work
• Small group sessions where children can talk through fears

Teachers say they need quick access to interpreters and simple flyers in multiple languages explaining school policies on law enforcement access.

MNPS points families to several resources:

• District site with attendance and counseling information: mnps.org
• Tennessee Department of Education data downloads: www.tn.gov/education/districts/federal-programs-and-oversight/data/data-downloads.html
  (Note: the state does not release attendance by immigration status due to privacy rules.)
• Conexión Américas for after‑school support and legal referrals: conexionamericas.org
• Vanderbilt news on the Nashville PEER project: news.vanderbilt.edu

Practical steps for families (checklist)

• Name a back‑up adult at the school who can pick up children
• Save key phone numbers for school staff, legal clinics, and community groups
• Prepare documents that confirm a child’s enrollment and custody arrangements
• Coordinate with the school front office to list who is cleared to pick up students
• Seek legal advice on temporary guardianship if needed

Legal clinics can help with temporary guardianship paperwork so children aren’t left without care if a parent is detained.

Outlook and path forward

The months ahead may test these efforts. As the 2025–2026 school year gets underway, educators fear that trauma from recent raids could deepen absenteeism, especially if families expect more enforcement.

Some community leaders say parents have considered voluntary departure to avoid separation by force—a decision that can uproot children mid‑semester. District officials say their priority is keeping students connected to school routines, which offer a sense of stability in uncertain times.

According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, school‑based responses that bundle mental health support, clear rules on law enforcement access, and direct financial help—like the MNPS Belonging Fund—are among the most effective at restoring attendance after enforcement spikes. The site notes better results when districts partner closely with trusted community groups and keep messages consistent across campuses and languages.

For now, MNPS leaders say the core message is simple: schools are open, staff are ready to help, and students should come to class. The district reminds families that agents must present legal authorization to access students or records on school property, and no such attempts have been reported at MNPS.

The daily signs of recovery matter as much as the statistics: a nervous second‑grader who returns after a week away, an older sibling who can attend after a neighbor steps in for afternoon pick‑up, a parent who feels safe enough to walk a child to the door. Those small wins, educators say, add up to real progress against the pull of fear that drives absenteeism.