Over the past two weeks, we have been following Chalkbeat’s excellent coverage of the first New York City public school student detained by ICE. The student, Dylan, attends ELLIS Prep, one of CARA’s longtime College Inquiry, College Bridge, and Right to College partner schools. Granted admission to the US as an asylum seeker during the Biden administration, he was arrested on May 21 after a routine court date and has been fighting for his release – and due process – since.

In our experience working with schools like ELLIS that serve immigrant communities, they are incredibly close-knit. As the principal of ELLIS, Norma Vega, noted, “They thought this was some kid they were going to pick up and no one was going to miss him; that was a mistake.” This sense of community gives them strength to overcome obstacles; it also makes terrifying events like this reverberate even more powerfully. It is essential that we protect students like Dylan, for their own sake and for the entire school community’s ability to focus on why they are there: to learn and pursue a better future. Already, many immigrant students across the country are rethinking their college plans in light of changing immigration policies.

We are pleased that the Chancellor, as well as several elected officials, have spoken out about Dylan’s arrest and so glad that a campaign continues to raise funds to pay for his legal representation and to support his mother and younger siblings. It is also good to see the New York for All Act, which would direct NY agencies to refrain from engaging in federal immigration enforcement, is gaining support. At the same time, it was reported last Friday that a second NYC public school student was detained by ICE, so we know the threat facing immigrant students continues to grow.

At the end of May, hundreds of NYC students walked out of class to protest this and other encroachments on the rights of New Yorkers. We hope more of our leaders follow their example, and take a stand to protect our schools and students.