Fear at Home, Disruption at School: ICE Raids Shake Rural Families, Prompt Action

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As federal immigration enforcement actions escalate across the country, rural communities in the Catskills and Northeast Pennsylvania are feeling the ripple effects—prompting fear among immigrant families, disruption to daily life, and calls for organized resistance.

Juana Cortes-De Torres, Immigration Legal Rights Project Director at Rural & Migrant Ministry, said there’s a growing anxiety felt by mixed-status families and an urgent need for legal education and community preparedness.

“We’re seeing national outrage, and that outrage stems from the randomness of the administration’s current immigration enforcement policies,” Cortes-De Torres said. “Our work goes into training mode when that happens.”

That training takes the form of “Know Your Rights” presentations in Spanish and other immigrant languages, covering everything from what to do when ICE agents come to your door, to understanding constitutional protections under the Fourth and Fifth Amendments.

Fear at Home, Disruption at School
For many families, the fear is deeply personal. With many households including both undocumented adults and U.S.-born children, the stakes are high.

“They’re nervous, they’re worried,” Cortes-De Torres said. “Kids go to school wondering if their parents will still be there when they come home.”

That fear, she explained, has real consequences—not just emotionally, but educationally and economically. “It’s a tremendous impact on children’s mental health. And it creates a chilling effect. People are afraid to go shopping. They’re afraid to go to the laundromat. They’re afraid to live.”

Local school districts are also taking notice. Cortes de Torres said some have issued policies guiding educators on how to respond if immigration enforcement agents enter school grounds—reaffirming schools as safe spaces for students.

Local Incidents, National Patterns
Recent ICE raids in the region have heightened the sense of urgency. Just two weeks ago, three individuals were detained at a pizzeria in Honesdale, Pennsylvania, while 20 to 30 community members gathered outside to document and peacefully protest.

Such incidents, Cortes-De Torres said, point to inconsistencies in federal enforcement. “We were told they’re targeting people with criminal records. But that’s not what we’re seeing. People being picked up have remedies in immigration court, but ICE takes them anyway.”

She emphasized the importance of recording these incidents, calling it both an act of witness and a potential legal tool. “If you see a raid, record it. It’s evidence. It’s history.”

Community Response and Legal Tools
Rural & Migrant Ministry is now preparing to launch a new toolkit, dubbed the “Menu of Hope,” designed to give allies and immigrant families step-by-step guidance on how to prepare for possible enforcement action—from gathering documentation to establishing child custody plans using official state forms like New York’s OCFS-4909. Communities are also encouraged to develop Rapid Response Teams—local groups trained to respond to raids, support families, and coordinate with legal aid organizations.

Cortes-De Torres also highlighted state-level efforts, including the “New York for All Act,” which would prohibit local law enforcement from sharing information with federal immigration authorities unless legally required.

“We’re on the Side of Justice”
After more than three decades of legal advocacy, Cortes-De Torres remains undeterred by what she sees as arbitrary and harmful policies.

“I’ve helped poor people my whole career—immigrant or not—and what keeps me going is that I believe in the law,” she said. “History shows us what a coalition of people who believe in justice can do. I’m never going to lose that hope.”

For families and allies alike, her advice is clear: be informed, be organized, and don’t lose faith.

“Preparation is key. We must protect each other. Their rights are our rights.”

More information at ruralmigrantministry.org.

Image: Protestors hold signs saying “abolish ICE” and “due process for all,” during a rally in front of Los Angeles City Hall on June 9, 2025. (Credit: Photo by Zeke Reed/KCRW)