Bryan Lindstrom’s students were missing when the first-period bell rang at Aurora’s Hinkley High School on Jan. 30. One slipped in minutes later, followed by another. But the 12 other students in his African American history course never appeared that morning.

"Try to imagine carrying that confusion while living with the fear that any moment you or someone you love could be taken away," Obayuwana said. "Imagine how hard it would be to focus on learning when the fear of deportation looms over your head.