On a quiet morning in Gravesend, senior Nekena Randrianarison and his brother spotted four heavily armed, masked agents patrolling their neighborhood. “ It made me feel unsafe because I know that other people are being marginalized,” he recalls.
As Immigration and Customs Enforcement activity becomes more apparent in neighborhoods throughout New York City, student anxiety has heightened in recent months due to increased reporting of ICE raids.
Students at John Dewey High School used to focus on grades, extracurricular activities, and ordinary teenage life. Now, some students worry that their loved ones could be detained during routine commutes.
New York City, home to over 3.1 million foreign-born residents, according to the Center for Migrant Studies, faces growing concerns as ICE activity intensifies.
Senior Emilio Diaz explains how fear shapes daily life. “I definitely felt more fearful about going outside. If my parents went out, I would sometimes worry that they might have an encounter with ICE,” he said.
Nowadays, a lot of immigrant families have to deal with the uncertainty of which commute could result in the separation of their loved ones.
The City reports over 3,212 arrests made by ICE in 2025 alone. The recent detainment of Columbia University student Elima Aghayeva from her college campus has also increased fear for students all over the city, not only for their families, but for themselves as well.
“I didn’t really know much about ICE before because I never had to worry about them,” said a Dewey alum whose father was detained around late December of 2025.
To protect the student and their family’s safety, the alum has requested to remain anonymous. “It really broke our hearts when we got that phone call from the detention center. Things have changed a lot since then. My mom has to work six days a week now to keep up with the bills. I miss my dad a lot.”
One of the multiple stations where ICE was spotted throughout NYC.
Randrianarison advocates for public awareness campaigns about legal rights to help families navigate ICE encounters. “I was on the B1 a couple of days ago, and I saw an ad about what to do if ICE approaches you or your family, and gives this list of a lot of rights. I think that type of marketing is effective.”
Marissa Costello, school social worker, mentions fear of family separation destabilizing teenagers, even when not openly expressed. “There’s definitely an underlying fear,” stating that uncertainty can create anxiety and make it harder for students to focus in class.
She encourages students to reach out to trusted adults or guidance counselors for support. “We can provide resources, counseling, referrals for legal advice, and connect you with helpful resources, ensuring you have representation and accurate information,” Costello added.
While ICE continues its raids in New York City, students, educators, and community leaders are finding ways to prevail and stay alert despite constant fear around them- proving the strong drive for safety and justice in communities across New York City.