5 ways Trump’s education agenda sets Latino students back — and what advocates can do about it
By Julienne Gage, former UnidosUS web content manager currently working on a PhD in sociocultural anthropology at Florida International University. with contributions from UnidosUS staff Lina Lenis, policy analyst, K-12; Magin Sanchez, senior policy analyst, Higher Education; and Hannah Valdiviejas Cohn, policy analyst, Early Childhood Education.
Summary: Latino students and families begin the new year still facing the Trump administration’s attacks on public education, which include the threat of indiscriminate immigration raids, federal funding disruptions and the dismantling of the U.S. Department of Education. What can advocates and educators do to support students, including Latinos, in 2026?
As the new year begins, Latino students and families are still living with the consequences of a federal education agenda that treats them as an afterthought — or worse yet, a target. Indiscriminate immigration raids near schools, federal funding disruptions, the dismantling of the U.S. Department of Education and other blows continue to threaten the educational access of students nationwide, including Latinos.
Though not an exhaustive list, below are five of the most harmful Trump administration actions facing Hispanic students and families, and what can be done now to address them.
1. Rescinding sensitive locations protections
Of all the recent hits to educational access, perhaps none has been as immediate or as visceral as the January 2025 rollback of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s 2011 “Sensitive Locations” policy that restricted immigration enforcement actions in places that provided vital services to the community, including schools. Ice raids around these locations and schools quickly followed the repeal.
Extensive reporting and research has shown that fear is reshaping parents’ daily decision-making, prompting them to keep students home from school, withdraw young children from early childhood programs and avoid school-based services out of concern that routine activities could expose their families to enforcement.
What can you do? Advocates must work closely with school and district leaders to ensure Latino students have equal access to education by protecting their privacy as is required by federal law and establishing clear protocols for immigration enforcement activity on school grounds. It is also critical to provide students and families with reassurance and access to vital resources and services. Learn more about how to do this in two of our blog posts:
2. Dismantling the U.S. Department of Education
Last March, the Trump administration took the first steps to dismantle the federal Department of Education. It cut department staff by more than half, affecting offices that ensure students’ rights are upheld, that financial aid goes out on time and that English learners get the resources they need were all gutted. Smaller offices, such as the Office for English Language Acquisition (OELA), were effectively hollowed out as well. In one fell swoop, OELA was reduced to a single staff member, down from a team of 13.
The Trump administration has since laid off additional staff and — in its latest move — announced it was transferring 80 federal programs that are responsible for nearly $34 billion in education funding. These programs will be transferred to four other federal agencies that don’t have the expertise or capacity to support student learning, which leaves parents and educators to navigate a tangled web instead of having a single point of contact.
UnidosUS President and CEO Janet Murguía has emphasized the critical work of the agency and has condemned attempts to dismantle it, warning that “without the expertise of the civil servants at the Department of Education to administer these federal funds, millions of students from the largest cities to the most remote rural towns will face greater challenges that will put them further behind their peers.”
What can you do? Concerned with the impact that dismantling the U.S. Department of Education would have on the nation’s 5 million English learners, UnidosUS led the National English Learner Roundtable (NELR) in delivering a letter to Congress demanding prompt oversight and the restoration of OELA that was signed by numerous UnidosUS Affiliates. Advocates should continue reaching out to Congress to demand oversight and accountability as is their constitutional duty. Under the law, the executive branch cannot dismantle or undermine the agency without Congressional approval, making it critical for advocates to press their representatives to act.
Learn more about the critical role of this federal agency in our blog post: “A maze, not a system: How students lose when the U.S. Department of Education is dismantled.”
3. Slashing school funding
An unexpected disruption to education occurred on June 30, when the Department of Education abruptly announced it was withholding nearly $7 billion in funding just one day before states were expecting those payments. These were funds that had already been approved by Congress for longstanding education programs, including those supporting English learners and afterschool activities.
While public pressure ultimately prompted the federal government to release the funds 25 days later, many schools planning their 2025-2026 budgets found themselves laying off staff, cancelling programs and delaying purchases.
Then later in the fall, a historic federal government shutdown lasted 43 days and resulted in additional funding delays that forced many Head Start centers to close. Some remained shuttered well into December after the shutdown formally ended. This instability disproportionately affected Hispanic communities, as Latino children make up a substantial share of Head Start enrollment nationwide.
The Trump administration has proposed a 15% cut to education funding in the FY 2026 federal funding package, creating significant uncertainty for education leaders nationwide. Government funding is set to expire again on January 30 unless Congress reaches an agreement. If they don’t, students will face the consequences of another government shutdown.
What can you do? In addition to working with local and state decisionmakers to prevent cuts in education funding, advocates should contact their members of Congress to push back against funding cuts or freezes and ensure schools that serve Latino students and English learners have the resources they need.
Learn more about what’s at stake in our blog: “The threat to education funding is far from over.”
4. Rescinding civil rights guidance for English learners
In addition to withholding funding and gutting the federal office dedicated to ensuring English learners have the resources they need, the Trump administration quietly rescinded long-standing joint guidance that provided a roadmap to help schools meet their legal obligations to English learners.
These students are protected by federal laws, regulations and court decisions — such as the Equal Educational Opportunities Act, Title III of the Every Student Succeeds Act and the Supreme Court’s ruling Lau v. Nichols — that require schools to identify, support and provide appropriate instruction for students learning English. The guidance, which had been in place since 2015, included actionable information for how schools can put these policies into practice.
UnidosUS launched an immediate response and partnered with NELR and a total of 130 national, regional and state-based organizations, in sending a letter to the U.S. Department of Education and the U.S. Department of Justice, demanding the immediate reinstatement of the 2015 English learners civil rights guidance. We also worked with U.S. Congressman Jesus “Chuy” Garcia (IL-04) who gathered 80 of his House of Representatives colleagues to send a similar letter to both federal agencies. On the Senate side, UnidosUS partnered with Senators Alex Padilla (D-CA), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) and Brian Schatz (D-HI) to support their Senate companion letter.
What can you do? Advocates should be aware that the laws and Supreme Court precedents underlying the 2015 guidance remain in full force and effect. Even though the Trump administration will not support the implementation of best practices outlined in the guidance, schools can — and should — continue to follow this road map to ensure they meet their legal obligations to English learners, provide consistent support and avoid confusion or gaps in services.
See specific guidance on “The Rights of Students Who Are English Learners: FAQ for Students, Families and Community Leaders”
5. Undermining educational opportunity in the federal budget bill
President Trump’s federal budget bill passed last summer by the Republican controlled Congress and signed by the White House slashed $284 billion in federal education funding to pay for tax cuts for the ultra-wealthy and increase immigration enforcement.
The federal budget bill allows the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to cancel grants based on its own “agency priorities” with almost no avenue for appeal. It also creates the first national private-school voucher program, diverting public funds for K-12 schools to private schools through unlimited tax breaks.
The biggest educational impact will be felt in higher education. Congress consolidated student loan programs, capped graduate borrowing and cut Medicaid and SNAP, amounting to one of the largest rollbacks of college access and affordability in U.S. history. Thanks to the advocacy of UnidosUS and its partners, Pell Grants were spared from devastating cuts, a critical source of funding for Latino students. However, borrowers could face an additional $2,929 in yearly loan payments, and new graduate lending caps may make it harder for students to afford medical school, law school and other advanced degrees. The implementation of new rules begins next year for new borrowers, with provisions rolling out through 2028.
What can you do? Following the passage of new laws, agencies develop rules to put the provisions into practice. In addition to communicating their education priorities to Congressional leaders, advocates should submit public comments during the rulemaking process for the reconciliation bill to have their voices heard.
All of these changes can feel overwhelming, but there is plenty that advocates can do to make a difference. As a first step, stay connected with UnidosUS and sign up for action alerts to get updates, learn how to engage and take meaningful steps to support Latino students and families.
