As a result of America’s current U.S. immigration policy and concerns of deportation, school districts across the country are seeing higher absenteeism rates, according to a report from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

The 2019 Global Education Monitoring Report says that illegal immigrants who fear the possible deportation of their children purposely keep them out of school. They report fearing that their children would be detained if school officials allow Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to search their campus or give the federal organization information about students’ and families’ immigration statuses.

Federal immigration policies being enforced by the government “are detrimental to the education of those with undocumented status,” the report found, and UNESCO encourages the U.S. to find a way to support immigrant’s children’s quest for a quality education, and designate school campuses as safe spaces where undocumented people won’t fear deportation.

The editors of The Edvocate believe that our public school system should find a way to support all children, regardless of their immigration statuses. We were all immigrants at some point; some came freely, and some came against their will. Because of this, we are a nation of immigrants, all bound together by our democratic ideals. What’s more democratic than helping children of all nationalities grow up to be happy and healthy adults?