ICE and Detroit Teens: Fear, Community, and Uncertain Futures

Teen HYPE: Voices of Detroit’s Youth takes an honest look at what young people in Detroit are facing — from school and safety to opportunity and belonging. Produced by Model D in partnership with Teen HYPE, the series invites readers to listen, learn, and reflect.

Editor’s note: The names of young people in this story have been changed.

If you’ve ever been inside Cass Technical High School in Detroit, you’ve seen the flags hanging down from the atrium above the cafeteria — one representing each country a student’s family hails from. Dozens of nations are represented across Latin America, the Middle East, and beyond.

It’s a powerful visual cue of what Metro Detroit is made of: a region shaped by international and intercultural connections. Similar reminders appear throughout the city — a stroll through Hamtramck, a drive along West Vernor Highway, or multilingual signage in neighborhoods across Detroit.

Naturally, Cass Tech is also where some of the most intense conversations — and anxieties — about immigration are happening. Every day, students walk under those flags and are reminded of the policies that have placed many of their families at risk.

During a series of conversations with Teen HYPE participants this summer, students — from Cass Tech and elsewhere — opened up about their fears surrounding ongoing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) actions.

“My dad’s from Venezuela, and he himself has not been deported,” says Leslie, a Cass Tech student. “But having your dad pull you aside and go, ‘Hey, I may be deported in the next four years — we don’t know,’ … it can be a little draining. You might have your dad taken away from you at any moment. It’s definitely mentally draining.”

Another student, Anna, says classmates have already been directly affected. One friend’s parents, originally from Mexico, were detained while in the process of becoming U.S. citizens. Another friend told her ICE officers came into a church service and detained congregants, including some of her cousins.

“I think it’s kind of inhumane,” Leslie says. “If you’re from a different place and you haven’t done anything wrong, why does it matter?”

Educators across Metro Detroit have spent years navigating difficult, emotional classroom conversations about immigration. Students say recent headlines — including debates on Arab American and Jewish identity following Oct. 7 — were soon overshadowed by raids closer to home.

“When you talked about them, it wasn’t something you really got in-depth with because it wasn’t normal,” says Jackie, another Teen HYPE student. “But now it’s actually happening.” 

Some schools and youth-focused organizations are helping students process their feelings and find support. In the spring, students across several Detroit schools organized a walkout protesting ICE actions. Youth said it felt empowering to take a visible stand.

“They gave us a place to talk about what we’re afraid of and how to not feel alone,” Jackie says.

Still, ICE raids continue — and the uncertainty weighs heavily as the new school year progresses.

“A lot of (classmates) have parents who aren’t originally from the United States,” Anna says. “They’re like, ‘Who knows if my mom is still going to be there when I get home?’ Their parents have helped in so many ways, and it’s unimaginable that they could just be taken away because they’re not from here.”

For these teens, talking openly — together — is one way of reclaiming a little control. And with the support of groups like Teen HYPE, they’re learning how to advocate, stay informed, and watch out for each other.