The recent surge in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids in Los Angeles has created an atmosphere of fear among child-care providers, prompting many to take unprecedented measures to safeguard their charges.
Adriana Lorenzo, who operates a child-care program from her home in Boyle Heights, has implemented strict protocols to ensure the safety of the children in her care. She no longer allows outdoor play after 10 a.m., the time she has overheard ICE agents begin their door-knocking operations.
In response to this environment, Lorenzo has fortified her premises by adding locks to her outside gate, canceling field trips, and reassuring anxious parents that she has strategies in place to manage the scenarios posed by potential detentions.
Lorenzo has gathered emergency contact details for trusted individuals who can step in to pick up the 10 children, ages six months to 12 years, if their parents can’t make it due to detention.
“I told her, don’t worry. If anything was to happen, I’ll keep the kids here safe until I’m able to contact you or you’re able to contact me, and we’ll go from there,” she recounted, highlighting her commitment to the children’s safety.
The worry from parents reflects in the eyes of the children. School-aged kids sometimes anxiously wait by the door for their mothers, and one child recently asked, “What if they picked her up? What are we gonna do?”
The unsettling atmosphere has permeated the child-care sector in Los Angeles, where concerns for personal safety intertwine with professional responsibilities. Child-care providers are faced with the daunting question of how to protect the children they care for in the midst of aggressive ICE actions.
Since June 6, when ICE intensified its raids in the region, residents have reported a marked increase in anxiety. Federal agents have been seen conducting operations in various public spaces, creating a pervasive sense of danger.
Data from the UC Berkeley Center for the Study of Child Care Employment shows that about half of in-home child-care providers and a quarter of teachers at larger centers in Los Angeles are immigrants.
For many, like Lorenzo, the fear is tangible, leading her to keep her passport on hand at all times. “What if I go to the store, and they don’t ask questions and they just take me?” she wonders. “It’s affecting me mentally and even physically.”
The impact is visible in reduced attendance as several parents choose to keep their children at home, fearing they might face repercussions.
Zoila Carolina Toma, another child-care provider in Lakewood, has similarly seen a sharp decline in enrollment. Her program, which usually accommodates 14 children, has dwindled to just six since the onset of the raids, and she reports that inquiries from prospective parents have virtually ceased.
“That’s never been my case. I’ve always been at full capacity,” she said, emphasizing the unprecedented nature of the current situation.
Toma explained that, even with the remaining six children being citizens, she has asked their parents for birth certificates for the first time, securing them safely at home just in case they encounter ICE on outings.
Public Counsel, a nonprofit providing free legal assistance, notes that they are increasingly called upon to conduct “Know Your Rights” trainings for child-care providers affected by these policies. Ritu Mahajan, an attorney with the organization, emphasizes that all individuals have constitutional protections against unlawful searches, regardless of immigration status.
Mahajan advises providers not to open their doors to immigration agents without a proper warrant, stating that there are instances where agents have bypassed legal protocols.
The chaotic situation leaves many child-care providers vulnerable. Sarah Soriano, executive director of Young Horizons Child Development Centers, has taken proactive steps, putting up signs that declare her centers as “Private” while also facilitating discussions among caregivers on how to respond to potential ICE operations.
Yet, the fear continues to loom large.
“Some scenarios are impossible to plan for,” she admitted. Staff members are left pondering how to respond if federal agents attempt to take a child, with one caregiver inquiring if it was permissible to physically hold onto a child in such a situation.
The uncertainty has fostered a culture of silence among providers. Several organizations that represent child-care workers have chosen to remain low-key, avoiding the media spotlight entirely.
Susan, a Guatemalan immigrant who has worked as a nanny in the U.S. for 18 years, describes the emotional toll of living in fear as she adapts her daily routine.
“I also have three kids. If I go over there, I don’t know if I’ll be able to return to them,” she said, illustrating the profound anxieties many caregivers are experiencing.
In an effort to keep children entertained, Susan finds herself redirecting the natural exuberance of a 2.5-year-old away from public parks, now perceived as perilous due to potential ICE encounters.
“Kids want to go out, they want to run, they want to go to the park, they want to walk,” she said, lamenting the impact this fear has on her ability to care for the child effectively.
While some employers, like Susan’s, have offered paid leave to alleviate concerns, many in similar positions are not as fortunate.
Reports indicate that numerous nannies are opting to stay at their employers’ homes for extended periods, fearing that leaving could lead to life-altering separations from their families.
Hand in Hand: The Domestic Employers Network, a national organization representing household employers, is advocating for policies supporting paid leave for workers during this turbulent time.
For larger organizations, like the Foundation for Early Childhood Education, the ICE presence near their centers poses another layer of anxiety. With agents reportedly spotted close to several sites, attendance has dipped as parents express apprehension about sending their kids to school.
“Parents want to keep their kids close. They’re afraid to send them anywhere because they’ve heard about ICE coming on school campuses,” Jocelyn Tucker, assistant director of the Foundation, explained the ripple effect of the raids.
Amidst the turmoil, incidents of detentions are becoming a new reality. Tucker shared a heart-wrenching email detailing the detention of a father, which triggered a wave of emotions within the organization.
“My heart just sank in my stomach. I got nauseous,” she recalled. “I felt like this was my child, and I just started crying. It’s just so tragic.”
The child, just four years old and diagnosed with autism, now faces the absence of a parent while the organization struggles to provide support to the family during this harrowing time.
As providers nationwide witness similar devastation, the fear affecting those in the child-care sector highlights an urgent need for community solidarity and legal advocacy.
Across all levels of this crisis, the fundamental question remains: how do we ensure the safety of our most vulnerable populations under such stressful circumstances?
image source from：latimes
