Federal immigration agents visited PS 58 in Maspeth, Queens, on May 11 in search of a 4th-grade student. The protocols put in place by the city Department of Education in March were followed, and the agents were sent away. (They turned out to be fraud investigators for the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, not immigration enforcement agents.) But the incident stirred anxiety among many of our students and their families.

The Trump administration’s demonization of undocumented immigrants and the ramping up of enforcement have lent a new urgency to our efforts on behalf of students and families who are at risk of deportation. Trump’s immigration policies strike at the very heart of who we are and the values we cherish. New York City has welcomed countless generations of immigrants seeking refuge from poverty and persecution. Within our classrooms, students from around the world have forged a new identity as New Yorkers and as Americans. They have contributed to our robust economy and the diversity we proudly celebrate. More than 160 different languages are spoken by the more than 154,000 New York City public school students whose native language is not English.

Trump left intact President Obama’s executive order protecting some 750,000 so-called Dreamers, young immigrants who were brought to the United States as children. But that hasn’t prevented some Dreamers from being targeted for deportation. Trump also has threatened to withhold federal funding from sanctuary cities, including New York City, which thwart federal efforts to deport undocumented immigrants.

By coincidence, I had organized an immigration forum at UFT headquarters held just days after the PS 58 incident. Two hundred educators, activists, parents and students gathered in Shanker Hall on May 15 to learn more about the challenges faced by the undocumented community and how to help. Former New York Daily News columnist and investigative reporter Juan Gonzalez moderated the panel of union leaders, city and elected officials, and local advocates. 

Materials in several languages were distributed containing information helpful to families seeking to protect themselves and their loved ones. But fear is mounting. “We have to do more to ensure schools remain trusted places for immigrant families living in a state of fear right now,” said Steve Choi, the executive director of the New York City Immigration Coalition. 

More than a few people called for designating New York State a sanctuary state.

Tania Romero, a social worker at Flushing International HS in Queens, attested to the growing anxiety. “Parents are not coming out for workshops,” she said. “The level of fear among students and families is big.” 

When new immigrant students enroll in school, she said, they come carrying the burden of their experiences — “crossing the border, having to adjust to a new life here and dealing with discrimination.” She called for more training for school staff on how to support and meet the needs of these students in our classrooms. 

Audience members asked how to protect immigrant families from the “predatory” advice of people seeking to exploit their fears. Nisha Agarwal, the commissioner of the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs, and others offered resources to share with activists working in their neighborhoods to provide accurate information and connect people with available resources. 

These are no ordinary times. They require extraordinary commitment and action. The UFT held an immigration clinic in its Bronx borough office for those with questions about how to become U.S. citizens. And we will continue to do our part. In fact, we are planning to hold a “Know Your Rights” training session for UFT members and a separate one for immigrant parents at UFT headquarters on Sept. 14, so please save the date.

“Your fight is our fight,” AFT President Randi Weingarten told those assembled at the forum. 

That is a commitment we at the UFT take seriously.