WASHINGTON – On Tuesday, the Trump administration allowed federal agents to make immigration arrests on school campuses. A spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security indicated that this move aims to keep “criminals” from using “America’s schools as shelters.”

This policy shift, which immigration advocates had anticipated, followed just one day after the president issued a series of major executive orders that could significantly change the educational environment in the U.S. if not challenged.

Once in office, the president quickly began to reverse many of the regulatory policies established by his predecessor. He directed the U.S. Department of Education to withdraw numerous guidelines that schools depended on to comply with federal laws. Many of these regulations previously provided protections for students susceptible to discrimination or harassment based on their sexual orientation or gender identity.

In his inaugural address, he made the directive clear.

“From this day forward, the official stance of the United States government will recognize only two genders: male and female,” Trump stated.

Additionally, he introduced numerous changes aimed at restricting immigration. He signed a controversial order to eliminate birthright citizenship, a right guaranteed by the Constitution. He also implemented a hiring freeze across the federal government, which affects the Education Department that has faced challenges with stagnant funding and insufficient staffing in crucial areas.

Presidents possess limited powers to initiate immediate changes, so many of Trump’s more contentious orders are likely to encounter significant legal hurdles. On Tuesday, a group of 18 states filed a lawsuit against the federal government challenging the birthright citizenship prohibition. This lawsuit comes on the heels of a separate legal challenge initiated by the American Civil Liberties Union.

Additional lawsuits are expected. Given that most colleges and K-12 educational institutions must adhere to certain federal regulations, a sense of confusion has emerged among school administrators regarding which rules to enforce.

“It’s important to note that these executive orders cannot create or modify our laws,” said Fatima Goss Graves, the president and CEO of the National Women’s Law Center, a progressive organization. “Only Congress and the Supreme Court have that authority.”

Beyond compliance issues, Trump’s opponents argue that his policies have encouraged hostility towards marginalized groups in schools, particularly targeting undocumented and transgender students.

“Donald Trump’s actions today don’t benefit students’ education or development,” stated Becky Pringle, the leader of the National Education Association, the largest educators’ union in the nation. “They deserve respect for who they are, irrespective of race, origin, background, sexual orientation, or gender identity.”

Legal status of sex discrimination laws uncertain

Conservative organizations, like Parents Defending Education, praised the president’s decision to require the Department of Education to eliminate previous guidance that supported queer and transgender youth.

“Resistance to progressive gender ideology crosses both racial and political boundaries,” said Nicole Neily, the group’s president, in a statement. “We are thrilled that he fulfilled his promise to the American public by putting an end to this turmoil and look forward to the Department of Education implementing clear policies and procedures for schools and families.”

During his presidency, Joe Biden worked extensively to leverage federal resources to back LGBTQ+ students and educators. Under his administration, the Department of Education sought to revise a significant anti-discrimination statute called Title IX to broaden the definition of sexual harassment and misconduct to encompass gender identity and sexual orientation.

In the final days of Biden’s presidency, a federal judge temporarily blocked those rules, which had only been implemented briefly across various states, school districts, and colleges amidst ongoing legal challenges. Trump’s recent orders have led to a new wave of regulatory upheaval, leaving school administrators feeling “overwhelmed,” according to Brett Sokolow, a higher education attorney and president of the Association of Title IX Administrators.

“Why are we being presented with these completely opposing directives?” he questioned. “It feels as if we are existing in two different societies.”

Federal hiring freeze may delay clarity for schools

For school officials seeking clear guidance, support from Trump’s Education Department, which has yet to fill several key positions, would be beneficial, noted Melissa Carleton, a higher education attorney.

However, the president’s hiring freeze across the federal government might complicate efforts to provide that needed guidance, she added.

“With vacancies not being filled, it’s unclear what progress will be made,” she stated. “Likely, nothing will move forward for some time.”

A spokesperson from the Education Department declined to comment on the hiring freeze, the president’s mandate for federal employees to return to work, or the agency’s plans for updated Title IX guidance.

Immigration enforcement fears extend beyond school walls

On his first full day in office, Trump’s Department of Homeland Security officially revoked a protocol that had previously prevented federal agents from enforcing immigration laws at “sensitive locations” like schools and churches.

“The Trump Administration empowers our dedicated law enforcement to act without restrictions and trusts their common sense,” stated a DHS representative.

School leaders have been preparing to navigate the president’s stricter immigration regulations for several weeks now.

The large-scale deportations projected by Trump could considerably disrupt the U.S. educational system. Approximately 6 million households in the U.S. possess at least one undocumented member, according to the Center for Migration Studies, and around half a million undocumented students are attending college nationwide.

On Tuesday, the National Education Association issued new recommendations for school administrators facing the consequences of Trump’s immigration decrees.

“As educators, we hold an essential responsibility to protect every student, regardless of their immigration status,” the union’s president remarked. “We have both a professional and moral obligation to ensure our students’ safety.”

Zachary Schermele is an education reporter for YSL News. Follow him on X at @ZachSchermele and Bluesky at @zachschermele.bsky.social.