Arrests made in recent days around educational centers are raising alarms in the migrant community and driving the absenteeism of thousands of students
School absenteeism this new academic year is in the thousands. Miami-Dade and Broward, two of Florida’s most populous counties, saw significant enrollment declines. In Broward, the number of students fell from 326,279 last year to 313,220 this year, or 13,059 fewer students. In Broward, 236,548 students were enrolled this year, 11,379 fewer than in 2024. A study conducted by Stanford University and published in June already reflected that student absences due to ICE raids were wreaking havoc on schools. In California’s Central Valley, an agricultural region home to many immigrant workers, classroom absences increased by 22% last semester.
