An 11-year-old schoolgirl from Texas has tragically taken her own life after enduring months of relentless bullying from classmates, who targeted her over her family’s immigration status and threatened to report them to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Jocelynn Rojo Carranza, a sixth-grader at Gainesville Intermediate School, was reportedly harassed by her peers, who taunted her about her family’s potential deportation.
Some students even threatened to report her family to ICE, telling Jocelynn she would be left alone in the U.S. once her parents were deported.
While there is no indication that Jocelynn’s family was in the country illegally, the bullying was unbearable for the young girl.
On February 3, Marbella Carranza, Jocelynn’s mother, received the heartbreaking news that her daughter had attempted to take her own life at home.
She was rushed to an intensive care unit in Dallas, where she fought for her life but tragically passed away on February 8. The devastating news was confirmed by a GoFundMe page set up by the family.
“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.”
The bullying was reportedly known by the school, with Jocelynn meeting with a counselor multiple times to discuss the harassment.
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However, the family was not informed about the severity of the situation until after her death. Marbella Carranza is now working with investigators and school officials to understand why her daughter’s struggles were kept from her.
This tragic incident comes at a time when the Trump administration has escalated efforts to deport individuals living in the U.S. without legal status.
On February 18, the White House shared footage of migrants in shackles being escorted onto a plane for deportation, highlighting the growing atmosphere of fear and uncertainty surrounding immigration issues.
Jocelynn’s story has sparked outrage and calls for greater attention to the devastating effects of bullying, especially when intertwined with issues of immigration and the climate of fear it can create for families.
