At Aldine's La Promesa bilingual school, word spread among families that some students had been stopped by law enforcement while walking to school. It prompted some families to keep their children home out of fear even as district and campus leaders have assured them that "school is the safest place to be."The absences reflect a broader shift across the Houston area: districts have lost as many as one in five immigrant students since last year, according to an analysis by the Houston Chronicle. Overall, 20 of the region's public school districts have lost nearly 8,300 immigrant students and nearly 18,000 emergent bilingual students. Experts link the decline to increased federal immigration enforcement."I get questions from my daughter … ‘Why didn't my friend come back?'" said Cinthia Lopez, who once was a newcomer student herself and is now a parent in Aldine. "It's hard for them. They don't understand it."NEWS: Exclusive: HISD has lost nearly 4,000 immigrant students amid ICE crackdown: 'We fear coming to school'The district with the steepest decline, Humble ISD, lost 25% of its immigrant students, while overall enrollment decreased only by 1%, according to Texas Education Agency data. Some districts saw declines in immigrant students even as their overall enrollment remained flat or increased, such as Channelview and Cleveland ISDs. They lost 24% and 20% of their immigrant student population this year, respectively.In Aldine, north of Houston, the district saw its overall enrollment decline 10% this year, but its immigrant student enrollment fell twice as much, by 22%.The loss of immigrant students has forced school closures, program cuts and financial losses across districts, making an already difficult period of falling enrollment in the U.S. even more challenging for schools.Some students - such as Houston ISD senior Mauro Yosueth Henriquez - have been deported themselves. Others have been forced to enter the workforce early after a family member was detained, experts told the Chronicle. Across the country, many students are staying home because they are afraid they or a loved one may encounter immigration officials, said Vanessa Cárdenas, executive director of the immigration advocacy group America's Voice.ALSO READ: A sudden shift: ICE arrests drop nearly 12% after Minneapolis killings and immigration shake-up"I don't think any parent right now who is in an immigrant family has the trust of the government and feels safe enough to live a normal life," Cárdenas said. "Communities are being impacted. Our future is being impacted … the damage is incalculable."Still, several district leaders told the Chronicle they are trying everything they can to support their immigrant and bilingual families - including bringing back a resource and cultural festival in Aldine ISD after it went virtual last year.Students and families attend Aldine ISD's fifth annual bilingual festival, where bilingual families and immigrant communities can access resources, in Houston, Saturday, April 18, 2026. (Raquel Natalicchio/Houston Chronicle)'Kids missing from schools'Counselor Miguel Carrillo, who works at a Houston charter school, feels a sense of growing hopelessness every day as he listens to students worried about their families' immigration status. He has the same fears: some of his family members are trying to obtain citizenship, which has become more difficult under the Trump administration."What do you tell a kid that's worried about their family being deported? … I can't tell them that everything's going to be okay, because I don't know if everything's going to be okay," Carrillo said. "Kids have been withdrawn emotionally. Kids are not 100% focused. Kids are not necessarily prioritizing their education, simply because what's the point?"Experts say students who stay home from school will have their educational and professional futures disrupted, which could create a "subclass of Texans" trapped in the lower-wage labor force."You have … kids missing from schools. What does that do to the long-term educational achievement of those districts?" Cárdenas with America's Voice said. "You're repressing a whole sector of the community that could actually be a contributing force."By the numbersThe Houston Chronicle analyzed 20 Houston-area districts with the largest shares of immigrant students. The TEA defines immigrant students as those who were not born in the United States and have not attended school in any state for more than three full academic years. School districts cannot track students' citizenship status.Six of those 20 districts lost at least one-fifth of their immigrant population in one school year.In all but three districts, enrollment for immigrant students fell at a faster rate than general enrollment declines. Even when overall enrollment remained relatively stable, like in Tomball ISD, emergent bilingual student enrollment fell by 17%.Many districts are experiencing enrollment losses nationwide, regardless of students' immigration status. Still, even if schools are losing immigrant students, it can be hard and nuanced to track whether those students are undocumented because schools cannot obtain information about citizenship status."That's the big question this year. There's a lot of talk about it, but it's really difficult to prove," said Stacy Tepera, a school demographer and president at Population and Survey Analysts, a group that examines demographics for districts across Texas. "That's not the entire story. It could be a contributor, but it's not the whole story."Students and families attend Aldine ISD's fifth annual bilingual festival, where bilingual families and immigrant communities can access resources, in Houston, Saturday, April 18, 2026. (Raquel Natalicchio/Houston Chronicle)In fast-growing Cleveland ISD - which is east of Conroe and has more than doubled its enrollment since 2019 - immigrant student enrollment plummeted by 20% this year. Several schools, such as Pine Burr Elementary and Cleveland High School, have been especially affected, the district said.Cleveland ISD said it has combined many of its newcomer classes and adjusted staffing due to the losses.Even in districts where immigrant student enrollment has stayed relatively stable, newcomer programs have suffered. Alief ISD - one of the most diverse school districts in Texas - said it has seen a steep decline in students participating in its newcomer program this year.Cypress-Fairbanks ISD actually saw a slight increase in immigrant students this year, which the district said may be tied to how the state counts immigrant students over the course of three years, not just an annual snapshot.However, Cy-Fair saw declines among students who are learning English and are newcomers to the U.S. The emergent bilingual population dropped by 5%, and newcomer students plummeted by 70%, going from 797 students in the 2024-25 school year to 243 students in 2025-26.RELATED: Houston ISD lost nearly 4,000 immigrant students this year. Here are 5 takeaways.Superintendent Douglas Killian said the loss of newcomer students contributed to its largest enrollment decrease in decades."With where things are going statewide, nationally right now, that's going to be an issue, too, for kids to come to our school district," Killian said.Students and families attend Aldine ISD's fifth annual bilingual festival, where bilingual families and immigrant communities can access resources and see performances, in Houston, Saturday, April 18, 2026. (Raquel Natalicchio/Houston Chronicle)Cutting programsIn Cy-Fair ISD, the district had steadily increased its campus-based New Arrival Centers to meet the needs of its growing immigrant student population. But after a 70% drop in newcomer students this year, some centers were cut. They fell from a peak of 23 in 2023 to seven in 2025, according to the district's communications officer, Joel Weckerly.Cynthia Aguilera, family engagement specialist at Aldine ISD's La Promesa campus for newcomers, said recruiting students has been a struggle. The school - which serves as a dual-language high school for new immigrant students - lost more than 50 students this school year."The decline, yeah, it's real," Aguilera said.Still, she's reaching out to current eighth grade students to tell them about La Promesa's offerings, which include free medical and dental care for students and families and monthly food assistance for families through the Houston Food Bank.In September, Houston ISD quietly shuttered Las Americas Newcomer Academy, once described as a "hidden gem" for immigrant students, due to declining enrollment.Budget implicationsOver time, enrollment losses could mean districts lose millions in state funding. School districts currently receive more than $6,000 per student from the state.Already Spring Branch ISD has lost more than $6 million due to enrollment declines, including a 14% drop in immigrant students.Cy-Fair ISD's unexpected decrease in enrollment this year, including newcomer students, cost $13 million in funding. Now, the district is staring down a deficit for next year.Districts also receive federal funding to support immigrant and emergent bilingual students, which could lead to more losses in the coming years, Cleveland ISD said.From left, Camila Nunez, a junior, Daniela Romero, a freshman, and Breya Garcia, a senior, pose for a photograph during Aldine ISD's fifth annual bilingual festival in Houston on Saturday, April 18, 2026. (Raquel Natalicchio/Houston Chronicle)Some districts remain hopeful. Channelview ISD said it has not had to cancel programs or events or change services provided to families."In fact, the district has seen increased parent participation in meetings and engagement opportunities, largely due to expanded access through both in-person and virtual meeting options," the district said in a statement. "This flexibility has helped the district continue building strong connections with families and ensuring they remain informed and supported."Holding strongIn Aldine, the district had to make changes last year. It moved its popular Festival de Primavera online as the federal immigration crackdown began.The event connects families of the almost 25,000 emergent bilingual students in the district with healthcare, college pathways and other community resources.But when the festival went virtual, turnout lagged more than expected. Participation in Aldine's parent group for bilingual families - which shares vital resources about school safety and continuing education - also plummeted."It was disheartening, because there's so much need, and for them to be afraid - it was heartbreaking," said Eva Carillo-Iniguez, the event's organizer and director of multilingual special programs.Students perform a dance during Aldine ISD's fifth annual bilingual festival in Houston on Saturday, April 18, 2026. (Raquel Natalicchio/Houston Chronicle)This year, Aldine brought the festival back in person. Turnout soared, with families watching high school mariachis perform gritos and ballet folklórico dancers twirl on stage.Carillo-Iniguez said the goal is to show families that Aldine wants to support them. District leaders regularly send reminders that students are safe at school, regardless of their status.At least in the short term, these efforts appear to be paying off. Parents are coming back to the bilingual resource groups, and the district's overall attendance rate has risen since last year, a hard-won feat."We're still here. We still want to hear from you," Carrillo-Iniguez said. "We're still here to support you, and (we're) not wavering."This article originally published at 'Kids missing from schools': Houston districts lose over 8,000 immigrant students amid crackdown.