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By Billal Rahman
Immigration Reporter
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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.
A spokesperson for Gainesville Independent School District told Newsweek: "The top priority of the Gainesville ISD is to ensure a safe and comfortable learning environment for all students. Because of this, we take any reports of bullying at our schools very seriously and have a zero-tolerance policy."
Newsweek has contacted the family via GoFundMe for further comments.
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Why It Matters
ICE is responsible for enforcing immigration laws, including detaining and deporting undocumented immigrants. ICE has been thrust to the forefront of the current conversation on immigration enforcement.
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.
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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 says they were 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.
"Whenever we receive a report of bullying, we respond swiftly to ensure all students are safe physically and emotionally. While we cannot release any information about specific students or incidents, our schools have several policies in place to combat bullying and resolve conflicts. These policies provide opportunities to report such behavior," the school said in a statement.
"If a report arises, the District immediately takes all steps necessary to respond appropriately. We have been, and will continue to be proactive in our efforts to make sure our schools are safe, secure, and free from harassment."
What Happens Next
Investigations into the incident by the school remain ongoing.
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.
Update 02/19/25 12:29 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with comment from Gainesville ISD.
Update 02/19/25 06:29 p.m. ET: This article has been updated.
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