Supporting Students & Families Amid Immigration Policy Changes
As schools open their doors for a new year, many students are returning with invisible burdens. In the wake of current immigration policies and enforcement practices, countless children and families are navigating fear, uncertainty, and disruption.
In this letter, our President, Dr. Danielle Duarte, shares reflections on how these policies are impacting students and families — and offers practical steps educators can take to ensure every student feels safe, seen, and supported.
Immigration & Education Resources for School Counselors, Classroom Teachers, and Leaders
We’ve gathered a collection of trusted immigration resources for school counselors, classroom teachers, and other educators and leaders to support immigrant and mixed-status students and families during this time.
The majority of these resources were shared by Roberto Aguilar, Dr. Maritza Cha, and Priscilla Grijalva — all current and former school counselors — during the Viva Los School Counselors webinar in August 2025.
We’ll continue updating this list as new tools become available. If you know of a resource we should include, please email us at hello@hatchingresults.com
Promoting a Safe and Secure Learning Environment for All: Guidance and Model Policies to Assist California’s K-12 Schools in Responding to Immigration Issues — Guidance from the California Attorney General to help K-12 schools respond to immigration issues and protect students on campus.
Red Cards/Tarjetas Rojas — Wallet-sized cards outlining key constitutional rights for immigrants in encounters with federal immigration agents, regardless of immigration status.
Guidance on Immigration Issues (NEA) — Publication from the National Education Association with information on creating Safe Zones in schools and strategies for safe immigration advocacy.
Immigrants Rising — A nonprofit that empowers undocumented young people in the U.S. to pursue higher education and career success through resources, direct support, and policy change.
National Immigration Legal Services Directory — Searchable database of nonprofit organizations that provide free or low-cost immigration legal services across the U.S.
Tengo Miedo (I’m Scared) — A bilingual children’s book and workbook about immigration, written by school counselor Marlene Huerta, to help students process their experiences.
FAFSA Guidance for Mixed-Status Families (NCAN) — Guidance from the National College Attainment Network explaining privacy protections for FAFSA contributors without Social Security numbers, helping school counselors advise families safely.
San Diego County Office of Education (SDCOE) Immigration Resources — A curated collection of tools, guides, and templates to help schools respond to immigration enforcement impacts and support affected students and families.
A Letter from Our President, Dr. Danielle Duarte
Dear Hatching Results Community,
As students return to school this year, many are carrying invisible burdens… worries that go far beyond homework and extracurriculars.
In the wake of current immigration policies and enforcement practices, countless children and families are navigating fear, uncertainty, and disruption.
For some students, the concern is not just about grades or graduation. It’s about whether their family will still be together at the end of the day.
Postsecondary dreams can feel out of reach when students are too anxious to complete financial aid forms, or when leaving home for college feels unsafe.
Attendance may dip, not from disengagement, but from fear of being stopped on the way to or from school.
And sadly, these fears are grounded in reality.
Just last week, a 15-year-old was handcuffed and detained by immigration agents outside a high school in Los Angeles while one of his family members was enrolling for the new school year.
As a Latina, I feel this deeply.
When a friend told me she started carrying her passport, I began doing the same. Yet I also recognize the immense privilege I hold as a U.S. citizen fluent in English.
Still, I hold onto hope that educators will meet this turbulent time with compassion, courage, and a shared determination to protect and uplift our students and families.
Specifically, comprehensive school counseling programs have a critical role to play in supporting these students and families.
School counselors, district leaders, and administrators can make a lasting impact by:
Creating policies and plans for how to keep schools safe places for students and families
Building trusting relationships, reassuring families, and sharing school safety plans (but if you are unable to create a safe environment for any reason, be honest with families)
Connecting families with reputable legal, mental health, and community resources
Educating staff about the unique needs and rights of immigrant and mixed-status families
Advocating at the school, district, and state levels for policies that prioritize student safety and well-being
Monitoring attendance and academic data to proactively identify and support students affected by immigration-related stress (some districts are even creating online learning programs; check if this is true for your district)
Last week, I attended a powerful webinar by Roberto Aguilar, Dr. Maritza Cha, and Priscilla Grijalva — all current and former school counselors — who offered phenomenal advice and resources. You can find the list of resources we’ve compiled above. I encourage you to explore and share them with your school counseling teams, schools, and communities.
Our work as educators is not only to teach, but to ensure every student feels seen, safe, and supported — especially when the world outside the school walls feels uncertain.
Together, we can be a steady presence for students navigating turbulent times.
In solidarity,
Danielle
Standing Together for Students and Families
At Hatching Results, we believe every student deserves to feel safe and supported — no matter their background or circumstances.
Whether you are a school counselor, classroom educator, district leader, or administrator, these tools are designed to help you advocate for and protect immigrant and mixed-status families in your community.
We invite you to share this post with your networks so more educators can access these tools and resources. Together, we can help ensure that every student feels seen, safe, and supported in school.
