"Aquí en Tyler, tenemos una población que se encuentra atrapada en este punto intermedio, y debemos recordar que estos no son criminales, no son números en una página, no es una cuenta en un papel," dijo Matthew Bailey. (Raquel Villatoro/Tyler Morning Telegraph)

A group of Tyler residents voiced concerns Monday night at the Tyler ISD school board meeting amid anxiety related to heightened immigration enforcement.

Since the Trump administration began in January, some parents have reportedly been scared to send their children to school following President Donald Trump’s recent executive actions, which vastly expanded who is eligible for deportation and lifted a ban on immigration enforcement in schools, according to the Associated Press.

Discussions about potential Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids have circulated throughout the country. ICE agents are not known to have entered schools anywhere, according to the AP. Still, the possibility has alarmed families enough, including those in Tyler ISD.

“Schools should be a place of hope,” said Remy Fernandez, an eighth grader in the district, before the school board. “They should be filled with the sounds of laughter, of curiosity, of students daring to dream about their future, but for some that dream has turned into a nightmare. For some, the sound they fear the most is not the school bell but the heavy footsteps of immigration officers walking through the halls.”

Parents are also concerned about the safety and well-being of their children.

“I am here not seeking a change in policy or laws,” Dr. Nelida Medina-Perez said before the board. “I am simply requesting a written statement of policies that you already have in place. Are our children safe with you within the schools you represent? Will you allow ICE to enter your schools? What is the protocol for children who are not picked up by their parents?”

Medina-Perez, who is a licensed therapist and owner of Purple Crayon Counseling, shared that many of her clients, who are children, are struggling with fear and anxiety.

“My elementary school children are fearful of going to school because they don’t know if it will be home because ICE might come and get them,” she said. “They believe that because they have golden brown skin, they must be undocumented. I have seen an increase in cutting and hair plucking, both forms of self-harm in my middle school girls.”

This fear is having a serious impact on the mental and emotional health of students, Medina-Perez said. She noted some high school boys are contemplating dropping out to care for their families.

“My community is in crisis,” she said. “Are your school counselors aware of that? Are they offering them support?”

Schools around the country are confronting the anxiety surrounding the subject of immigration. Some nearby districts are already implementing measures to address these concerns in their communities. Districts like Longview, Marshall, and Kilgore have been praised for issuing statements and ensuring their staff understands how to respond to immigration-related situations.

“They are educating their families on their rights,” said parent Lizeth Zavala. “So you need to establish care policies and ensure that all of your staff understand how to handle situations involving ICE and immigration inquiries.”

Zavala stressed schools must be safe havens for students, especially in times of crisis.

“When students step through the doors of a school, they should not have to worry about whether their parents will be home when they return,” she said. “They should not fear that their immigration status or that of their family will prevent them from pursuing their education and dreams.”

Zavala also explained the ripple effect that changing immigration policies have on school attendance.

“When immigration enforcement policies change, fear spreads quickly,” she said. “Attendance drops as students become too anxious to focus, and families hesitate to send their children to school, fearing encounters with immigration officers.”

For many, the concern isn’t just about attendance; it’s about ensuring students can thrive academically.

“We learned in childhood that it is important to get an education because it will shape the future of this country,” Zavala said. “How can we fulfill this mission if students are too afraid to show up? How can we expect children to dream big if they are constantly living in fear?”

Other speakers at the meeting echoed the need for clear communication between the district and the community, stressing that families need to feel secure in the knowledge their children are safe and supported at school.

“Families need to know that they can send their children to school without fear,” said parent Emily Pinal. “It is one thing for individuals to place their trust in elected sheriffs who have openly collaborated with ICE for over a decade, but it is another to question the trust we place in elected school officials, those who are responsible for our children’s best interests.”

Matthew Bailey, a representative of the East Texas Monarchs, stressed the importance of remembering the humanity of those impacted by immigration concerns.

“Here at Tyler, we have a population that finds themselves stuck in this in between, and we must remember that these are not criminals, not numbers on a page, not some tally on paper,” he said. “These are sons, daughters, fathers, mothers, husbands, wives, grandparents, and most important to us here, young students.”

The AP reported that in 2021, an estimated 600,000 K-12 students in the U.S. lacked legal status. Nearly 4 million students — many of them born in the U.S. — have a parent living in the country illegally, according to the AP.

Dimas Rodriguez spoke about how his daughter asked if something was going to happen to him.

“I’m fortunate that there was a pathway to citizenship for me and that I am a citizen and I’m an American,” he said. “But I remember the fear that I felt as a child when those papers weren’t yet legal. I remember the fear I had of ‘what’s gonna happen to my parents.’”

As a counselor-in-training, Rodriguez is asking the board for the best way to guide his students.

“Just let us know what is the district planning in terms of what happens if a parent wants to know about their information,” he said. “What’s gonna be revealed to ICE or to immigration enforcement. What coordination will there be between the district and ICE? Will (Tyler ISD) share student records with ICE? Will (Tyler ISD) allow ICE to enter the school district? We need some guidance, we need some information so that I know what we’re working with so that families know what we’re working with.”

Following these remarks, Superintendent Dr. Marty Crawford responded to the concerns, reassuring the public the district had been following existing policies designed to keep students safe.

“We realize that there’s a lot of concern out there as well and I think the best thing we can do is open up our school doors and follow policies that are already in place, which don’t need to be restated repeatedly to keep kids safe. We’ll continue to do that,” said Crawford.

Crawford said the district is committed to maintaining positive relationships with law enforcement agencies, as well as ensuring the safety of students.

“We have great relationships with local law enforcement; we have great relationships with state law enforcement and federal agencies as well, and we’ll continue that coordination to keep our schools safe in the best interests of all of our students.”

When asked whether the district has seen a drop in attendance, Crawford said enrollment is at an all-time high, with over 18,700 students and a 92% to 93% attendance rate. He attributed this success to the district’s quality staff.

“We’ve got great staff and teachers who know their students, and they live by one of our mantras: a small town filled with big city opportunities,” he said. “If you continue to do the job you were asked to do and do it authentically, that’s where trust has been built. That’s where we’re at.”

Medina-Perez said the district hasn’t had clear enough communication, noting to the Tyler Morning Telegraph, “We need to get some clear statements. There’s no consistency within the district. How are they helping our community in this time of crisis? We are panicked, we are scared, and the school district is pretending like nothing’s happening.”

Fernandez, too, felt compelled to speak to the board, citing concerns from his peers about the safety of coming to school.

“More students are actually thinking about this and not a lot of students are talking about it, so I decided maybe I should come [to the school board meeting],” he said. “Some have heard that they’ll be waiting at our public library down the street for us, that they could possibly come into our school and take us. We really don’t know what could happen to these parents or these students, and if there’s no rules for them to follow, then a lot of stuff could happen, like havoc.”

Tyler ISD’s next regularly scheduled school board meeting is set for 7 p.m. March 31 inside the Davidson Conference Room at the Jim Plyler Complex, 807 W. Glenwood Blvd. in Tyler. For more information and for future meeting dates, visit tylerisd.org.