Fear of immigration enforcement agents is gripping some immigrant families in Duval County. Volunteers are helping get their children to school without disruption.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Concerns about immigration enforcement are fueling fear among some immigrant families in Duval County, with some parents worried about leaving their homes for something as routine as taking their children to school.
A local mother told First Coast News those fears are already affecting daily life, which is why she’s stepping in and offering help.
“I can’t imagine not helping. I want my kids to be at school, I want families to have groceries on the table, I want families to feel safe,” Gamble Scott, a mother of two, said.
“A friend of a friend was contacted by a parent who expressed concern and fear about leaving her home to take her child to school, and I heard that and it broke my heart,” she said. “I don’t want families living in fear and I certainly don’t want kids missing out on school.”
Scott took to social media offering to help.
“I wanted to offer up that there are many people, including myself, who would happily help with transportation if that helps kids get to school, where families can remain at home where that might be the safest place for them right now.”
She said the response has been overwhelming, with messages pouring in from people needing help and others eager to provide it.
“It is encouraging to see the compassion that a lot of people in our community do have,” she said.”
At the start of his second term, President Donald Trump said he would no longer bar federal immigration agencies from making arrests at or near schools, churches and hospitals, ending a policy that had been in effect since 2011.
Duval County Public Schools told First Coast News that there has been no ICE activity in DCPS schools. Officials shared that same message last year.
In 2025, DCPS provided guidance to staff outlining how principals should respond if ICE agents arrive on campus, including notifying parents if a specific student is requested and consulting legal counsel before releasing any student records.
While questions and concerns remain for many families, Scott wants to make sure fear doesn’t stop them from getting the help they need.
“These are our friends, our neighbors, our classmates,” said Scott, “We shop with them in the grocery store. Our kids play with their kids on the playground. They are humans just like us.”
A spokesperson with Duval County Public Schools told First Coast News that if there are any updates, the district will communicate with staff, stakeholders and the school community.