Fear Grips High School Students Amid ICE Raids in Los Angeles

News Summary

Recent immigration enforcement actions in Los Angeles, particularly around MacArthur Park, have disrupted the lives of high school students, especially those involved in sports like football. Concerns over ICE raids have led to significantly lower attendance at practices, with many parents keeping their children at home due to fears of deportation. Coaches are adapting their strategies to address the anxiety within the community, while the ramifications extend beyond the sports field, affecting school enrollment and local economic activity as well.

Los Angeles – Recent immigration enforcement actions in Los Angeles, specifically in the MacArthur Park area, have created an atmosphere of fear and anxiety among high school students, notably affecting football practices. Immigration agents have conducted widespread raids using armored vehicles, tactical gear, and horseback enforcement, leading to a significant disruption in daily activities for many families.

Manuel Guevara, the football coach at Contreras Learning Center, reported that more than 20 players skipped summer practice due to concerns surrounding Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activities. Parents have increasingly instructed their children to stay home, fearing potential interactions with immigration enforcement. This atmosphere of anxiety extends across three high schools in downtown Los Angeles—Contreras, Roybal, and Belmont—which are collectively grappling with the consequences of heightened immigration enforcement in the vicinity.

Coaches across these schools are working together to address the concerns of both players and parents. They recognize that many families are worried about safety, particularly as students navigate their daily routines and attend practices. There is a palpable uncertainty among players regarding whether their parents will feel comfortable attending upcoming games, intensifying the pressure on the football season.

Tragically, the situation became more real for the school community when a 17-year-old athlete from Contreras, Nory Santoy Ramos, was detained and subsequently deported to Guatemala following an immigration appointment. This incident has heightened fears among students and parents alike, contributing to a climate of apprehension.

The impact of these circumstances is evident at Belmont High School, where enrollment has plummeted to under 700 students from a peak of over 6,000. This decline has a direct effect on athletic participation, with parental safety concerns leading to decreased attendance at practices across various sports, including football, cheerleading, and volleyball. Currently, Belmont’s football team has 20 players signed up for the fall, yet only about half consistently attend workouts.

In response to the fears surrounding ICE raids, coaches are adjusting their training locations and methods. They recognize the need for sensitivity in their approach, especially as they take the football season “week by week.” Increased communication with parents has revealed a strong reluctance for children to attend practices, driven by fears about potential encounters with ICE agents.

Overall, these immigration raids have resulted in over 2,700 arrests over a span of more than six weeks, with a significant proportion of those detained lacking prior criminal convictions. As a result, the area surrounding MacArthur Park has witnessed reduced foot traffic and signs of economic slowdown, as community members exercise caution. The effects are being felt far beyond the football field, resulting in players missing practices for reasons directly connected to parental fears, such as avoiding shopping trips or postponed medical appointments.

As the Garfield-Roosevelt high school football game approaches—a notable event on the area’s athletic calendar—organizers are considering additional security measures due to the ongoing ICE presence. The Los Angeles Unified School District has sought to reassure families that schools remain safe havens amid these challenges. However, concerns remain pressing within the community, particularly regarding racial profiling and the broader implications of ICE operations on Latino families and neighborhoods.

As student athletes continue to navigate their education and sports amidst these fears, the collaborative efforts of coaches and school officials aim to provide support and assurance, maintaining a focus on the well-being of students in tumultuous times.

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Additional Resources

• Los Angeles Times: High School Football Impacted by ICE Raids
• Politico: Karen Bass on ICE Deployments in Los Angeles
• Los Angeles Times: Evidence of Racial Profiling in ICE Raids
• Washington Post: Los Angeles Immigration Protests Amid ICE Raids
• CNN: California Immigration Raids Impact on Los Angeles
• Wikipedia: Immigration in the United States
• Google Search: Immigration Raids in Los Angeles
• Encyclopedia Britannica: Immigration
• Google News: ICE Raids Los Angeles