Texas schoolgirl takes her own life after bullies threaten to call ICE

An 11-year-old schoolgirl from Texas has taken her own life after bullies threatened to call U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to deport her.

Newsweek has contacted the family via GoFundMe and the school via email for further comments.

Why It Matters

ICE is responsible for enforcing immigration laws, including detaining and deporting undocumented immigrants. The nation’s top immigration enforcement agency has been thrust to the forefront of the current conversation on border crossings.

What To Know

Jocelynn Rojo Carranza ended her life after enduring months of bullying from her sixth-grade classmates, who targeted her over her family’s immigration status—with some even threatening to report them to ICE.

Jocelynn’s classmates allegedly told her that once her family was deported, she would be left all alone in the U.S., per media reports. There is no suggestion that the Carranza family were living in the U.S. illegally.

On February 3, Marbella Carranza, a single mother from Gainesville, received a call informing her that her 11-year-old daughter had attempted to take her own life at their home. She was taken to an intensive care unit in Dallas, where she fought for her life but tragically passed away on February 8, according to a GoFundMe page.

“I waited a whole week for a miracle that my daughter would be well, but unfortunately nothing could be done,” Marbella Carranza told Univision. “My daughter will always live for me, and I will always love her.”

Gainesville Intermediate School was aware that Jocelynn Rojo Carranza was facing relentless bullying, with classmates taunting her about being abandoned if her parents were deported. The harassment became so severe that she met with a school counselor several times a week. However, her family was repeatedly not informed about the situation.

Marbella Carranza, who only learned of her daughter’s bullying after her passing, is now working with investigators and school officials to uncover what led to the situation and why her family was never informed.

The sixth-grader’s death comes as the Trump administration intensifies efforts to deport individuals living in the U.S. illegally. On Tuesday, the White House shared a video showing migrants in shackles being escorted onto a plane bound for an undisclosed location.

What Happens Next

It remains unknown at this stage when the funeral will be held.

If you or someone you know is considering suicide, please contact the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by dialing 988, texting “STRENGTH” to the Crisis Text Line at 741741 or going to 988lifeline.org.