A middle school science teacher in Florida is currently at risk of deportation after being taken into custody by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials in the midst of President Trump’s efforts to crack down on unauthorized immigrants.

The teacher, employed by the Miami-Dade Public Schools and whose identity has not been disclosed, was apprehended during an immigration hearing despite having resided in the US since childhood, as reported by NBC Miami.

The educator is a Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipient.

This individual is part of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, which provides a temporary shield against deportation for undocumented individuals who entered the country before turning 16. DACA recipients are permitted to work, obtain a social security number, and even a driver’s license.

The public school district confirmed that it complied with all federal guidelines after Thursday’s detainment, adding that all employees are authorized to work upon hire.

Karla Hernández-Mats, president of United Teachers of Dade union, told the Miami New Times that the teacher was ‘trying to do the right thing’ by attending his immigration hearings.

The situation was jolting for both staff and students within the district as it has a large population of immigrant students. 

‘It’s really shocking to kids, and I’m sure they are talking about it with their parents and that’s created an even greater level of anxiety for that population of students,’ Hernández-Mats said.

‘Because they’re thinking, if it can happen to my teacher, it can happen to anybody in my family.’

Principals in the Miami-Dade Public Schools system received a memo earlier this week explaining that the school district ‘was reviewing recent changes to immigration matters.’ 

The memo said that the district remains ‘committed to maintaining a safe, welcoming and consistent teaching and learning environments for all students and staff.’ 

Teachers were also reminded that student records are protected under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, or FERPA.

‘The fear is real,’ Luisa Santos, a Miami-Dade school board member, told the Miami Herald. 

The arrest comes after the Trump administration began to allow immigration agents to conduct raids at places that were previously deemed ‘sensitive’ and off-limits. 

‘Criminals will no longer be able to hide in America’s schools and churches to avoid arrest,’ a spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security said in a statement, according to the Miami Herald. 

The anxiety spread to the Miami-Dade area, which has a large immigrant population, after days of nonstop raids in South Florida, Miami New Times reported.

In Miami-Dade, one out of every four students in the 2023-2024 school year was considered an English language learner.

At least 25 schools within the district hold more than 15 percent of students born outside of the US, each of them enrolling into the school the same year they arrived. 

More than 20,000 students from other countries enrolled for the district’s 2022-2023 school year, according to Miami New Times.

Hernández-Mats told New Times that a handful of students aren’t showing up to school due to their families’ growing fears of being detained by ICE.

She added that the students are not only missing out on education, but essential meals as Miami-Dade schools provide free breakfast and lunch.

‘When people are in fear and they’re undocumented, they quickly go underground,’ she told the outlet.

‘And when they go underground, it limits their access to resources. We know there are families that aren’t even going to the shopping center and buying groceries because they’re scared to go out.’ 

She added that most students enrolled within the district ‘don’t even know that they’re undocumented.’ 

‘Everybody knows an immigrant, whether they’re in your family or they’re your neighbor. This is something that’s really impacting all communities,’ Hernández-Mats said.

‘And so, you know, students are talking about it, and this creates a lot of angst for teachers too, because our schools have always been sanctuaries.’ 

The arrest has added to growing concerns statewide, as Trump promised to carry out ‘the largest deportation program in American history’ after his November victory in the presidential election.  

Last week, Florida Governor Ron Desantis held a roundtable discussion with law enforcement officials and residents impacted by illegal immigration in the state.

During discussions, DeSantis spoke of the urgent need to pass strong legislation to address the immigration crisis and assist Trump’s administration in border enforcement. 

Around 13,000 undocumented students in 12th grade graduate high school in the state annually, according to the President’s Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration.

In 2019, roughly 68,000 undocumented children whose ages ranged from 3-17 were enrolled in public schools, according to the Migration Policy Institute.

ICE deported nearly 6,000 illegal migrants during Trump’s first two weeks in office, a senior White House official told DailyMail.com.

That averages out to around 370-400 deportations per day.

Meanwhile, Hernández-Mats told New Times that the United Teachers of Dade has been sending ‘Know Your Rights’ cards to teachers, who can then distribute them to students and families.

The cards include information and instructions on how to respond if approached by ICE agents.

‘We’re telling families that is how they can prepare, and that we are their allies and we deeply care about their kids, because these are our babies too,’ Hernández-Mats said.

‘Just like in every horrible situation out there that has always come up in the news, teachers step up and they do what’s right for kids.’