Fearing ICE, S.F. immigrant kids are staying home from summer camp

A recent ICE operation at a San Francisco immigration courthouse resulted in a 25% decline in attendance at a Mission District summer camp, as parents feared deportation. The camp caters primarily to undocumented children and those from shelters, emphasizing the anxiety surrounding immigration enforcement. Administrators reported families withdrawing from programs due to safety concerns related to ICE activity. City officials claimed no overall decline in public camp attendance, but local camps reported significant impacts. Educators are also affected, with camp counselors receiving inquiries about guardianship in case of deportation.

Research indicates that summer learning programs are crucial for low-income students, impacting their academic success. The executive director of a nonprofit highlighted that the loss of protective measures under the Trump administration has exacerbated fears among immigrant families. Enrollment rates for newcomer students have sharply declined in the San Francisco Unified School District over the past six months.