30% of Durham students stayed home during Border Patrol enforcement surge

School attendance continued to drop this week with nearly 30% of Durham students staying home during the Border Patrol enforcement operation in the Triangle.

Figures released late Friday by Durham Public Schools show that the number of students who were absent rose by 68% during the week. On Wednesday, 9,209 of Durham’s 30,988 students were absent, meaning 29.72% of the district’s enrollment stayed home.

“We understand that some families may keep their children home out of concern,” the district said in a letter sent to families earlier this week. “While regular attendance is essential to student success, we also recognize the complex decisions families are making right now.

“If a student misses school due to family concerns related to the current situation, please contact the front office. Our district leaders have provided guidance for how to support families who may miss school due to extenuating circumstances.”

Border Patrol roundup boosts absences in Triangle, Charlotte

Attendance has been down this week both in Charlotte and the Triangle during the Border Patrol’s operations. At least 370 people in the Charlotte area and at least a dozen people in the Triangle have been detained, according to the Department of Homeland Security and immigration rights groups.

On Monday, Durham reported that 5,482 students were absent before the immigration enforcement surge began. That’s 17.69% of the district’s enrollment.

Absences soared on Tuesday during the first day of Border Patrol operations in the Triangle. Durham said 8,561 students, or 27.63% of students were absent. That’s up from the previously reported figure of 20.9% of students out that day.

Durham saw a 68% increase in the number of absences between Monday and Wednesday. Only 70.28% of Durham students attended classes Wednesday.

Last school year, 35.2% of Durham’s students were Hispanic/Latino.

The Wake County school system has not yet released attendance totals for Wednesday. But the district said that 19,471 students were absent on Tuesday, accounting for 10.79% of its student population.

In contrast, Wake said that only 11,630 students were absent on Oct. 27 when 6.85% were out. That’s a more normal absence total

Groups, students rally to support families

Durham Public Schools Strong, Durham For All and other community groups encouraged people to join a school-based team this week to welcome families as they dropped their children off at school.

Team members gathered near the front of schools holding signs, leading chants and songs, verifying potential ICE sightings at schools and collecting support requests from other parents.

On Thursday, more than 200 Durham School of the Arts students held a protest in front of the school against the Border Patrol and ICE, The News & Observer previously reported.

On Friday, students from several high schools planned to hold a protest in downtown Durham.

Downtown Durham Inc. rescheduled Friday’s annual tree-lighting ceremony to support those who may feel unsafe coming out during the current political climate, The N&O previously reported.

This story was originally published November 21, 2025 at 5:56 PM.