The consequences of inaction reach far beyond individual students:

• Psychological trauma: Students experience increased stress, anxiety, and depression, with some developing lasting mental health impacts
• Academic decline: Fear and stress lead to decreased concentration, lower participation, and reduced academic performance
• School avoidance: Targeted students begin avoiding school or specific classes to escape harassment
• Community fractures: Anti-immigrant bullying reinforces societal divisions and hinders community integration
• Normalized prejudice: When left unchallenged, discriminatory behaviors become accepted as normal

Perhaps most troubling, studies show that non-immigrant students are significantly less likely to intervene when witnessing anti-immigrant bullying compared to other forms of harassment. This “bystander apathy” creates a culture where vulnerable students feel isolated and unsupported by their peers.