Recent ICE Raids: Talking With Children About Immigration and Belonging
- The Maven Team
- Jan 21
- 4 min read
Across the United States, many families are feeling unsettled by news of immigration enforcement and ICE raids. New stories and video footage emerge regularly. When viewing this coverage, one of the first questions that often comes to mind is, What about the children? and How could this happen to or in front of children?
While many students are fortunate enough not to carry the full weight of what is transpiring, others are living with real uncertainty. Some wonder whether they will have parents to go home to or if they will ever see friends again. Even when children are not directly impacted, they often sense fear, tension, and uncertainty in the adults around them. They overhear conversations, notice changes in routine, and pick up on emotions before they have the words to name them.
Children do not need adult-level details to feel the weight of what is happening, but they do benefit from reassurance, honest and age-appropriate language, and a sense of connection.
What Children May Be Feeling
Children process stress differently than adults. Some may ask direct questions. Others may become quieter, more emotional, or seek extra closeness. Common responses include fear about separation from caregivers, confusion about what is happening, worry for friends or family members, and a sense that the world feels less predictable.
How Parents and Caregivers Can Respond
Listen first and ask what they have heard. Name feelings without amplifying fear. Reassure safety in the present moment. Avoid adult conversations within earshot. Return to familiar routines whenever possible.
The Role of Schools and Early Learning Spaces
Educators often see the emotional ripple effects from a different lens. Children may reenact events through play, ask unexpected questions, or seek additional comfort.
Supportive learning environments respond by maintaining consistent routines, using social-emotional language, offering stories that help children process uncertainty, modeling empathy, fairness, and care, and collaborating with families.
Why This List of Books
We compiled this list of books to support parents of little learners who may have been exposed to the realities of immigration enforcement and social unrest, whether directly or indirectly. We also wanted to support families who are intentionally raising children to speak up for what is right, to form and express their opinions, and to understand that caring about others is something we practice, not something we wait to do later.
For immigrant children and families, these stories are meant to affirm belonging. Even if a child has not been personally impacted by what is happening in our country, they deserve to see themselves reflected with dignity, safety, and care.
Our hope is that these books offer language, reassurance, and encouragement during moments that can feel heavy or confusing. We hope they help children feel seen and understood, especially when they are still learning how to name their experiences. We also hope they support parents in having thoughtful, age-appropriate conversations and affirm the voices of children as they begin to notice the world and their place within it.
Books That Empower Children and Center Voice, Courage, and Collective Care
These books help children see that caring about others, fairness, and community is something they practice now, not later.
by Nandini Ahuja, illustrated by Anoosha Syed
by Yuyi Morales
y Megan Lacera, illustrated by Jorge Lacera
by Angela Joy, illustrated by Geneva Bowers
by Smantha Hawkins, illustrated by Cory Reid
by Dakota Hoska
by Cynthia Levinson and illustrated by Mirelle Ortega
by Cynthia Levinson, illustrated by Vanessa Brantley-Newton
by Estela Juarez and Lissette Norman, illustrated by Teresa Martínez
by Annette Bay Pimentel, illustrated by Nabi H. Ali
by Nikkolas Smith
by Kim Nguyen, illustrated by Libby VanderPloeg
by Heather Dean Brewer, illustrated by Leuyen Pham
by Lindsay Metcalf, illustrated by Keila Dawson
This list is not exhaustive and is meant to offer a starting point for meaningful conversations.
Books That Reaffirm Immigrant Children, Identity, and Belonging
These stories reinforce a powerful message:
We all belong. Your family matters. Your story deserves care and respect.
by Bao Phi, illustrated by Thi Bui
by Yangsook Choi
by Yuyi Morales
by Edwidge Danticat, illustrated by Leslie Staub
by Helen Recorvits, illustrated by Gabi Swiatkowska
by Juana Martinez-Neal
by Sana Rafi, illustrated by Reina Metallinou
by Dezh Azaad and Nan Cao
by Junot Díaz, illustrated by Leo Espinosa
by AsianBoss Girl, illustrated by Eunice Chen
by Helena Ku Rhee
by Young Vo
This list is not exhaustive and is meant to offer a starting point for meaningful conversations.
A Final Note– and Book
At the heart of this conversation is empathy. The ability to notice others, to imagine what someone else might be carrying, and to respond with care.
One book that captures this beautifully is Here We Are by Oliver Jeffers. It reminds us that the world is vast, complex, and shared, and that none of us are meant to navigate it alone. For children, this perspective matters. It helps them understand that people come from different places, hold different stories, and still belong here together.
This is why empathy is one of our core character traits. It is not about having the right words or perfect understanding. It is about paying attention. About recognizing that others are experiencing something, even when it looks different from our own experience. When empathy is practiced early, it shapes how children move through the world. It influences how they treat others, how they respond to difference, and how they make choices when no one is watching.
Our hope is that these stories, conversations, and moments of reflection help children grow into people who notice others, act with care, and understand that how we show up for one another truly matters.
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