Statement from All4Ed CEO Amy Loyd on the Tragic Death of Jocelynn Rojo Carranza
February 21, 2025
Washington, DC
“A just world is one in which Jocelynn Rojo Carranza would still be alive today. A world in which she would have been safe in her school. Safe from bullying, safe from the anti-immigrant rhetoric that pervades, and safe from the real threat of U.S Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) presence in her school building. Instead, an 11-year-old young girl has lost her life to suicide.
“The blame for her death does not lie in her own hands but instead lies at our feet. It lies at the feet of our nation’s leaders who have yet to pass comprehensive immigration reform. It lies at the feet of those who continue to underfund and deprioritize supporting schools so Jocelyn and her classmates would have access to mental health support and curricula to teach them to celebrate their differences and learn from one another. It lies at the feet of those who spread hatred that has infiltrated the lives of innocent children.
“Every day, parents entrust their local public schools with their children’s safety, expecting them to provide a secure and supportive environment, just as they would for their own. However, in this case, the school failed Jocelynn, her family, and every child in its care. The heartbreaking loss of Jocelynn is a devastating reminder of the fear and trauma too many immigrant students and their families endure. We cannot forget the actions the Trump administration took during its first term—ripping nearly 1,100 families apart, detaining nearly 5,500 children and infants in inhumane conditions, and fueling a climate of fear that still lingers today. The impact of these actions did not end when the policies changed. Families are still suffering, and children like Jocelynn are still carrying the weight of that fear in their schools and communities.
“The pervasiveness of anti-immigration rhetoric fosters a culture of fear and alienation, where young children, especially those who are immigrants, children of immigrants, and friends of immigrants’ grapple with anxiety, depression, and emotional distress. When adults fail to combat hostile anti-immigration rhetoric, they not only neglect the wellbeing of children but remain complicit in perpetuating systemic harm where children internalize messages of alienation, othering, and unworthiness.
“We cannot allow this to happen again. It is time to demand accountability and real action.
“At a minimum, we call on Congressional leaders to convene hearings to investigate how harmful immigration policies impact students’ mental health and educational success. Policymakers cannot ignore the ways in which fear, trauma, and exclusion are affecting all of our children’s ability to learn, thrive, and feel safe in their own schools.
“Today, and every day, All4Ed remains committed to advocating for policies that protect and uplift all students, regardless of their background. We urge leaders at every level to take action to ensure that no other child experiences the pain and fear that Jocelynn endured.
“This cruelty must not be forgotten—or repeated. Our children’s lives depend on it.”
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