Students in the United States education system that are minorities are more likely to be suspended, expelled, incarcerated, or punished for minor offenses than white students. Rules such as the Zero Tolerance Policy were implemented for extreme crimes only to be watered down to minor offenses, such as talking back to a teacher. Instead of having teachers maintain the discipline of students, schools in the U.S. have placed a heavy reliance on School Resource Officers, otherwise known as SROs, to discipline students. Officers that have no training to deal with children, that have weapons on their person on school grounds, and who have the ability to make arrests on campus. The funnel from education to incarceration can begin as early as preschool. With Black children making up 19% of preschool students but 47% of preschoolers who earned one or more out-of-school suspensions, data and studies imply that school push-out for Black students starts in preschool. Students who are arrested at school may be reported to ICE for deportation. Arrests may hamper even future attempts by students to become citizens. When students are reported for flimsy indications like gang connection, such as attire, language, and simple minor infractions, it can grow out of hand and cause stress on students and their families. ICE targets immigrants who are suspected of being part of gangs. Students' emotional health will suffer significantly if they fear being separated. White students have little to no experience with any of the issues mentioned.
