Parents navigate how to discuss immigration crackdown with kids
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Students at East Mecklenburg High and other schools have walked out in protest against Border Patrol's actions this week. Photo: John Moore/Getty Images
Parents are navigating how to talk to their children about U.S. Border Patrol agents in Charlotte.
Why it matters: Border Patrol's immigration enforcement tactics — showing up at parking lots, construction sites, schools and churches — have worried residents, regardless of immigration status, that they could be detained, or that their children could witness something traumatic.
By the numbers: Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools (CMS) has more than 141,000 students, and over 30% of them are Hispanic. On Monday, Nov. 17, 30,399 CMS students were absent, per preliminary data from the district, following the launch of operation "Charlotte's Web" over the weekend.
- CMS typically sees an average absence rate of about 7.9%, per WFAE. But on Monday, that number surged to more than 20%, CMS data shows. On Tuesday, 25,697 were absent.
- The elevated absences show fear may be keeping families home.
Zoom in: Charlotte parents tell Axios they're having frank conversations with children of all ages about how Border Patrol's presence has affected their classmates.
- Elizabeth Zajac says she's telling her 12- and 8-year-old children that Border Patrol's actions are "wrong and deeply unfair." Her children responded, "I know."
- Other parents told Axios that they're telling their children that most immigrants come here seeking a better life — but that they must do so through legal means.
The big picture: In other cities where Border Patrol launched immigration crackdowns, such as Los Angeles, experts have advised honest, empathetic and age-appropriate conversations — as well as providing a safe space for children.
- "They need something very predictable in this very unpredictable world," family therapist Brandi Eichstedt told the LAist.
State of play: Operation "Charlotte's Web" is part of a broader immigration enforcement push by the Department of Homeland Security.
- More than 250 people have been arrested by Border Patrol agents in Charlotte as of Nov. 18, according to the Department of Homeland Security.
Zoom out: Federal officials say the initiative targets people with criminal records.
- "Americans should be able to live without fear of those here illegally who commit crimes," DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said in a statement.
- But nationwide, Border Patrol and ICE agents have been accused of stopping law-abiding citizens of Latino descent and asking them to prove citizenship, or in some cases, wrongfully detaining them.
Between the lines: Some parents and teachers in Charlotte say Border Patrol's presence has caused unnecessary fear, particularly for children who are wary of going to school because of how they look.
- "A safe space for children became unsafe overnight," said David Gillespie, a CMS teacher who emphasized he's not speaking on behalf of the district or his school.
Case in point: Around Charlotte, parents have been providing rides for students whose families don't feel safe taking them to school and waiting for kids at the bus stop in their neighborhoods.
- For Nate Choy, it's not just about talking to his kids, but showing them how to act amid the local immigration crackdown.
- "We are carpooling our neighbors who don't feel safe and being available for other needs," Choy says.
What's next: It is unclear how long Border Patrol's operation in Charlotte will last.
Go deeper: Sheriff and Border Patrol send contradictory messages about Charlotte operation ending
Editor's note: We've updated this story with the latest on Border Patrol's presence in Charlotte.