A palpable fear around attendance for Oaklands immigrant students

Daniel Espana, a clinical social worker at Rudsdale Continuation School in Oakland, serves newcomers aged 16 to 22. He observes that many students have shifted their priorities from education to work due to heightened fears of deportation under the Trump administration. Last year, 3,374 immigrant students were enrolled in the Oakland Unified School District (OUSD), representing roughly 10% of the student body. The district's English Language Learners and Multilingual Achievement office provides essential resources and training on how to handle ICE interactions. Espana emphasizes that these students possess rich, complex stories and significant talents.

The OUSD has reaffirmed its sanctuary policy, first passed in 2016, which protects students from immigration enforcement. This policy ensures that school staff are trained not to disclose information to ICE. Increased support in recent months aims to bolster resources for these vulnerable populations amid ongoing challenges.