Superintendent Nikolai Vitti of Detroit Public Schools Community District (DPSCD) reported that student attendance is being heavily affected by fear stemming from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations. In his recent State of the Schools address, he identified chronic absenteeism as the district’s most urgent issue, emphasizing that students who miss 18 or fewer days are significantly more likely to perform at or above grade level on the M-STEP and be college-ready on the SAT, according to Audacy.
ICE activities in Detroit have affected student attendance, with some families hesitant to follow routines such as walking children to school. In 2025, the district reported that 61% of students missed more than 10% of the school year. Superintendent Nikolai Vitti noted a possible connection between enforcement actions and lower attendance. Community members have also reported concerns about students feeling fear for their families and themselves, as per WXYZ.
In response, DPSCD has established resource centers to provide additional support for families. Parent Melinda Mo’Nae Rawls noted that these resources help engage students and encourage school attendance. Despite these measures, concerns remain in the community, with residents reporting that some children are still afraid to attend school, as noted by Melissa Cervantes in an interview with WWJ’s Charlie Langton.
Reporting from Southwest Detroit for WWJ, Charlie Langton noted that fears related to ICE operations extend beyond schools, with some local businesses closing as a result. Superintendent Nikolai Vitti stated that immigration agents have not attempted to enter DPSCD buildings, as a warrant would be required by law.
