Arizona high school athletes contend with immigration uncertainty in their communities

PHOENIX – While President Donald Trump’s decision to deploy National Guard troops to Los Angeles has garnered national attention, a quieter storyline is unfolding at high schools in Arizona. Young athletes from diverse backgrounds are speaking out as they witness the growing fears in their communities surrounding deportation.

For a number of students, it is personal. Some are undocumented, while others have family members who are at risk of deportation. The uncertainty has added new degrees of stress to daily life, particularly for athletes who rely on scholarships to go to college.

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A week ago, in Milford, Massachusetts, an undocumented 18-year-old who has lived in the United States since he was 5, was detained by agents with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement while he was on his way to volleyball practice.

Across the country, before the scene unfolded in Massachusetts, Jonathan Bojorquez, a Latino senior soccer player at Agua Fria High School, expressed concern about his community.

“For a lot of us, sports aren’t just a game. They’re our future,” he said. “But when you don’t know if you or your family will still be here tomorrow, it’s hard to focus. It’s hard to play when you’re always worried.

“When I’m on the field, I forget about everything else. For those 90 minutes, I’m not thinking about immigration, or the news, or the stress at home. It’s just me, the ball, and my team.”

While the Arizona Interscholastic Association does not require proof of citizenship to play sports, the broader legal uncertainties have caused some students to give up sports altogether.

Away from the playing fields, schools themselves have turned into arenas for policy battles. There are school administrators who have spoken out in support of students’ rights to protest, while others have cautioned against disruptions.

The political atmosphere in Arizona over immigration has traditionally been volatile, but recent crackdowns brought back tensions. On Sunday evening, dozens of people gathered at the state capitol to protest against immigration policies and deportations.

Students who have spent most of their lives in Arizona, never having known another home, find themselves at the center of a national debate.

District stands with its students

Amid mounting concern over immigration enforcement, the Phoenix Union High School District has pledged to safeguard undocumented students and their families through public policy, administrative action and legal support.

According to PXU’s official guidelines, students are not asked about their immigration status, nor is their personal information shared with outside agencies unless required by law. Citing the landmark 1982 U.S. Supreme Court case Plyler v. Doe, which guarantees undocumented children the right to a public education, the district reaffirms that its doors remain open to all, regardless of citizenship.

In a statement addressed to the Phoenix Union community, Superintendent Thea Andrade highlighted the district’s commitment to student safety:

“We know there is fear and uncertainty in our community,” Andrade said. “Please know we remain fully committed to providing schools of opportunity that welcome, love and inspire all students to go places and do things that matter.

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We value and stand with every student that we serve. Thank you for your trust, and please do not hesitate to contact your home campus with any questions.”

On January 24, PXU’s governing board took its commitment a step further by officially designating all district campuses as “safe zones.” This resolution means that unless immigration or law enforcement officials present proper legal documentation, or receive direct parental approval, they cannot question or detain students on campus.

PXU stresses that undocumented students will not see any reduction in school-based services. They continue to receive free meals, transportation, academic counseling and access to extracurricular programs. This assurance holds enormous weight for athletes, many of whom depend on stability and routine to perform at their best.

Still, the district acknowledges that fears persist. For students who feel targeted or harassed based on their or their family’s immigration status, PXU urges them to contact their school’s Assistant Principal for Student Support or call the district’s safety hotline. Policies aimed at curbing bullying and discrimination remain firmly in place.

By taking a proactive stance, PXU has become a rare institutional voice advocating for student protection during a time of legal and emotional uncertainty. For many students and families, these safeguards mean the difference between disengagement and determination.

Protests outside of school

This growing concern has sparked discussions and actions led by students. In order to investigate potential answers, young people throughout the state are setting up meetings, starting social media campaigns and interacting with school administrators. The broader disagreement over immigration policy is highlighted by the fact that certain institutions have welcomed these conversations while others are still apprehensive.

But for many high school athletes, the weight of immigration uncertainty doesn’t stop at the school gates or the sidelines. The anxiety spills into every part of life, and for some, that includes protest. Across the Valley, young people have been finding ways to use their voices, even while juggling practices, games and homework.

Several students, including athletes, from schools in the Phoenix Union High School District were seen participating in local protests earlier this year, including demonstrations near 75th Avenue and McDowell and 35th Avenue and Thomas Road.

Xavier Leon, a varsity basketball player at Maryvale High School, one of Phoenix’s most diverse campuses with a strong Latino presence, didn’t hesitate to join the protests. For him, showing up was about more than politics; it was personal.

“It was incredibly and extremely moving to be a part of something special,” Leon said. “I mean you see what’s been going on with our community. My family has been living here for more than 20 years and it’s only right that we can speak our voice and make sure we are heard.

“At the end of the day, I’m not just playing for myself, I’m playing for my people, my roots. Being out there, surrounded by classmates, neighbors, and even teammates, reminded me that we’re all connected by something bigger than the game.”

For these students, the field and the streets are not separate worlds, but extensions of the same struggle for belonging and recognition. Participating in these protests allowed athletes to stand in solidarity not just as players, but as advocates for their families, teammates and communities.

Online school a solution

Beyond the athletic fields and classroom hallways, the effects of immigration policy have also reached through school enrollment offices. Alicia Rodriguez, who works as an enrollment specialist at Leona Connected, an online charter school, has witnessed firsthand how fear is carried into the daily lives of families. She’s only been in the role for a year, but this past spring left a lasting impression.

Rodriguez said there was a noticeable shift in tone – phone calls became more urgent, parents more anxious. Some were pulling their kids from traditional schools, not because of grades or scheduling, but because of fear. Fear of separation. Fear of the unknown.

“It got to the point where some students were terrified to go to school,” Rodriguez said. “They were scared they might get separated from their families. A lot of parents didn’t feel safe dropping their kids off anymore.”

She explained that many families saw online learning as a safer alternative, one that allowed students to continue their education without the constant worry of immigration enforcement appearing at their school’s doorstep. For Rodriguez, the protests served as a reminder that the students aren’t just scared; they’re aware, engaged and ready to stand up for their futures.

“These kids aren’t just watching things happen,” she said. “They’re living it and they’re responding.”

From the field to the front office, and even through the screen of an online classroom, immigration restrictions have had a profound impact on school communities. Students, instructors and staff have responded not with silence, but with action using their voices to combat fear and uncertainty.

Whether it’s walking out in protest, fostering safe settings on campus or devising new ways to keep students involved and supported, each role has contributed to a collective stand. It serves as a reminder that education is more than simply academics; it is also about belonging, safety and the ability to be heard.

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