Latest news with #GainesvilleIntermediateSchool
The Independent
21-02-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Mother of 11-year-old who took her own life over ICE threats breaks her silence
The mother of an 11-year-old girl, who took her own life after her family says she received a barrage of deportation threats from fellow classmates, has spoken out about her catastrophic loss. Jocelynn Rojo Carranza passed away on February 8 after spending five days being treated in a Dallas hospital with unknown injuries, according to a Gainsville Police Department press release Thursday. The tragedy came after she was allegedly taunted with deportation threats for weeks by sixth-grade classmates at Gainesville Intermediate School, around 70 miles north of Dallas, The Independent reported Wednesday. Gainesville Police Chief Kevin Philips has confirmed the department was investigating her death while the Gainsville Independent Schools District was handling a bullying investigation. In a new interview, her mother, Marbella Carranza, spoke to CNN affiliate KUVN about the devastating loss of her child and claimed the school kept her in the dark about her daughter being bullied: '[I want] justice because it's not fair – the school was negligent for not keeping me informed of what was going on with my daughter.' Carranza, who declined to comment on her family's immigration status, said she had received 'nothing concrete' from investigators on the moments prior to her daughter taking her own life. Classmates allegedly harassed Jocelynn by telling her she would be left alone without her family once they were deported. The news of her death came amid President Donald Trump's push for the 'largest deportation operation in American history,' prompting agents with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and other federal authorities to launch targeted raids on the approximately 12 million undocumented immigrants in America. Her mother is now directing her anger at her daughter's school. 'My daughter never showed changes. I mean, there was never anything that gave me a sign that she was suffering from bullying.' Jocelynn reportedly told her teachers that she was being bullied on numerous occasions, and even received regular counseling multiple times a week, but no action was taken to stop it and her mother was never informed, shared Carranza. When The Independent asked the Gainesville Independent School District to comment on this story, they did not acknowledge Carranza's death but rather issued a statement pointing out their strict anti-bullying code. Hundreds of mourners packed into St. Mary Catholic Church on Wednesday for her funeral, to celebrate and mourn her incredibly short life. Donations have also been pouring in for the family after they first posted a GoFundMe page while their daughter was being desperately treated in the hospital. Many users have started coining the hashtag #JusticeforJocelynn in the hope that her story gains traction and one person advised the parents to pursue legal action against the school district. So far, close to $50,000 has been raised in her memory. Her father, Ernesto Rojo, wrote a heartfelt statement in Spanish on the page: 'Jocelynn always dreamed of being a dancer, [and] loved wind instruments. I will always have my princess in my mind, soul, and heart. Say no to Bullying, no to Racism, no to discrimination – for a better world.' He went on to add that he forgave 'the person who caused me to lose my little girl' stating that he is not the one to judge in this life and did not 'want to be guilty of another family losing the love of their loved one.' 'Only God can judge', he shared. Chief Philips wrote a statement on behalf of the police Thursday: 'The Gainesville Police Department extends its deepest and heartfelt condolences to the family for their loss. There are no words that could be spoken to ease their pain. 'This tragedy impacts not only the family but our entire community including our First Responders that made the scene. Our prayers go out to all of those involved.'
Yahoo
20-02-2025
- Yahoo
Breaking down claim Texas girl took her life because bullies threatened to report her family to ICE
If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health, suicide or substance use crisis or emotional distress, reach out 24/7 to the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline (formerly known as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline) by dialing or texting 988 or using chat services at to connect to a trained crisis counselor. In February 2025, social media users claimed an 11-year-old girl in Texas took her own life after bullies at her school threatened to report her family to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to get them deported. One Instagram user posted a photo allegedly showing the girl (archived), with text beneath the picture reading: A 6th grader in Texas took her life because she was getting bullied by kids telling her that they're going to call ice on her parents and that she would end up alone ... Justice for Jocelynn Rojo Carranza. Others wrote that Jocelynn's classmates at Gainesville Intermediate School "mocked her family's immigration status" and that her parents were "never informed" about the harassment. They also speculated on the reason she took her life, saying she had been "tormented" by "relentless bullying" (archived, archived). Several news media outlets also reported on the circumstances surrounding her death, such as Newsweek and CNN. According to the reports, Jocelynn's mother, Marbella Carranza, received a call on Feb. 3, during which she was informed her daughter had attempted to take her own life at their home. Jocelynn was taken to an intensive care unit in Dallas, where she died five days later. The Dallas County medical examiner's public information records confirm the 11-year-old died at Medical City Children's Hospital on Feb. 8. It listed the manner of death as suicide (her case can be found by typing her first name and Rojo, one of her family names, into the search fields of the link provided). Multiple news media outlets published photos of Jocelynn, confirming she was the girl in the social media posts. The sixth-grader's mother told Spanish-language TV station Univision during an interview that her daughter had been bullied at Gainesville Intermediate School. That interview also featured pictures of the 11-year-old. Carranza said Jocelynn's fellow students threatened to call ICE because her family was Hispanic and told her she would be "alone" once her parents were deported. She added that the school did not inform her about the difficulties her daughter faced and that Jocelynn had been attending school counseling sessions one to two times a week. The death comes after U.S. President Donald Trump promised that his administration would conduct mass arrests and deportations of immigrants living in the country illegally starting on the first day of his presidency. Gainesville Independent School District said via email that it is unable to release information related to specific students or incidents but that it has several policies in place to tackle bullying: 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. 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. 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. Kevin Phillips, chief of police at the Gainesville Police Department, said via email that the incident was still being actively investigated. He also explained that the bullying allegations were being investigated by the school district's police department. Therefore, it has not been possible to determine what role the alleged bullying played in Jocelynn's death. We will update this article if more information is released. Snopes also contacted Jocelynn's father, Ernesto Alonso Rojo, via a GoFundMe page. We will also update this report if he replies. "Dallas County Medical Examiner Public Info." Accessed 19 Feb. 2025. Deng, Grace. 'Trump Promised Mass Arrests of Undocumented Migrants "on Day 1." Here's What Has Happened'. Snopes, 24 Jan. 2025, "Donate to Pray for Jocelynn Rojo, Organized by Ernesto Alonso Rojo." Feb. 2025, Accessed 19 Feb. 2025. ""GREAT AGAIN"?? I DON'T THINK SO…." Instagram, 18 Feb. 2020, Accessed 19 Feb. 2025. Killough, Lauren Mascarenhas, Ed Lavandera, Ashley. 'An 11-Year-Old Girl in Texas Died by Suicide after She Was Bullied about Her Family's Immigration Status, Her Mother Says'. CNN, 19 Feb. 2025, Martinez, Maryann. 'Deportation Fear Lead Girl, 11, to Take Her Own Life in Texas'. Mail Online, 19 Feb. 2025, Odisho, Taylor. "11-Year-Old Texas Girl Bullied over Family's Immigration Status Takes Her Own Life." Latin Times, 18 Feb. 2025, Accessed 19 Feb. 2025. Rahman, Billal. "Texas Schoolgirl Takes Her Own Life after Bullies Threaten to Call ICE." Newsweek, 19 Feb. 2025, Accessed 19 Feb. 2025. "Texas 6th Grader Reportedly Takes Her Own Life after Bullies..." Instagram, 18 Feb. 2020, Accessed 19 Feb. 2025. "The Other 98% on Instagram." Instagram, 18 Feb. 2025, Accessed 19 Feb. 2025. Univision. "Madre Pide Investigar La Muerte de Su Hija Tras Presunto Acoso En Escuela de Gainesville." Univision, 14 Feb. 2025, Accessed 19 Feb. 2025. Univision DFW. "Madre Pide Investigar La Muerte de Su Hija Tras Presunto Acoso En Escuela de Gainesville." YouTube, 17 Feb. 2025, Accessed 19 Feb. 2025.
Yahoo
20-02-2025
- Yahoo
11-Year-Old Girl Dies by Suicide After Bullies Threaten to Call ICE on Family
An 11-year-old girl in Texas died by suicide after allegedly being bullied by her classmates over her family's immigration status—who reportedly went so far as to threaten to call the authorities on her parents. Jocelynn Rojo Carranza, who played the French Horn, loved to swim, and enjoyed Friday movie nights with her family, died in hospital at the Medical City of Dallas on Feb. 8 according to an online obituary. Her mother, Marbella Carranza, found her unresponsive in their home in Gainesville, Texas five days prior. 'All week I've been waiting for a miracle; waiting for my daughter to get better,' Marbella told CNN affiliate KUVN. 'But unfortunately there was nothing that could be done.' Jocelynn's funeral was held Wednesday morning. A student of Gainesville Intermediate School, Jocelynn was allegedly bullied by her classmates who said 'they were going to call immigration so they could take her parents away and she would be left alone,' according to her mother. She did not comment on the family's immigration status during her interview with KUVN. 'It appears the school was aware of it all, but they never, they never told me what was happening with my daughter,' Marbella continued, noting that she learned Jocelynn was attending counseling sessions at the school after investigators informed her. 'It appears she would go once or twice a week to counseling to report what was happening.' '[I want] justice because it's not fair,' she added. 'The school was negligent for not keeping me informed of what was going on with my daughter.' Gainesville Intermediate School did not immediately respond to the Daily Beast's request for comment. The Gainesville Independent School District Police is currently investigating the bullying allegations, according to CNN. The area's Independent School District also told the outlet in a statement: '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.' Since assuming office, President Donald Trump has proudly launched one of the heftiest migrant crackdowns in recent years. Citing detention data from the ICE, NBC News reports that the already large number of people detained by the agency jumped from 39,238 in early February to 41,149 by mid-February. The president has also touted deporting the 'worst criminal aliens' to a detention center in Guantanamo Bay.
Yahoo
19-02-2025
- Yahoo
Texas Girl, 11, Takes Own Life After Bullying Over Immigration Status, Mom Says
A Texas mother is speaking out after she says her 11-year-old daughter killed herself after being bullied at school over her Hispanic heritage and taunted by other kids that her family would be deported. Marbella Carranza, in a tearful interview with Univision, said her daughter Jocelynn had been going to see a counselor at Gainesville Intermediate School outside Dallas several times a week about the bullying but that she, as her mother, was never told about this until after her death. Carranza, who described herself as a single mother, said she came home on Feb. 3 to find emergency workers trying to revive her daughter. She died five days later in a hospital's intensive care unit, her mother said. She now wants justice, she said. 'This happened due to negligence by the school by not keeping me informed about what was happening with my daughter,' her mother said in a Spanish-language interview. A letter sent out by the school Feb. 12, and obtained by Univision, announced the death of a student to parents and offered support through teachers and counselors. A representative with the Gainesville Independent School District, reached by HuffPost on Wednesday, declined to comment on Jocelynn's death or answer questions about what happened. In a statement, they said the school district takes reports of bullying 'very seriously' and they 'have a zero-tolerance policy.' '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,' the statement read. 'If a report arises, the District immediately takes all steps necessary to respond appropriately,' it added. A representative with the Gainesville Police Department did not immediately respond to HuffPost's request for comment on whether they are investigating the incident. A GoFundMe account shared by Univision has raised more than $18,000 since its creation. The family said they intend to use the funds to pay for the child's funeral. This incident comes amid President Donald Trump's immigration crackdown, with him vowing to remove millions of people who are in the U.S. without legal status. His efforts have resulted in widespread fear among migrants, including those here legally. People have also been arrested across the country for allegedly impersonating ICE agents and intimidating immigrants. If you or someone you know needs help, call or text 988 or chat for mental health support. Additionally, you can find local mental health and crisis resources at Outside of the U.S., please visit the International Association for Suicide Prevention. 'Disgusting': Trump White House Slammed Over 'Extremely Psychopathic' Migrant Video School District Sues Over Trump Policy Allowing ICE Agents In Schools Mayor Adams to Top Commissioners: Don't Criticize Trump Temple Student Arrested After Allegedly Impersonating ICE Agent With 2 Others Kristi Noem Asks IRS Agents To Help With Trump's Immigration Crackdown People Are Impersonating ICE Agents To Harass Immigrants And Commit Crimes, Police Say
Yahoo
19-02-2025
- Yahoo
An 11-year-old girl in Texas died by suicide after she was bullied about her family's immigration status, her mother says
A young girl's death by suicide is being investigated by school police after her mother says she was bullied by other students who hurled insults at her, claiming her family was in the US illegally. Eleven-year-old Jocelynn Rojo Carranza died on February 8, according to an online obituary. Her funeral is today. Jocelynn was bullied and taunted at school over her family's immigration status, her mother Marbella Carranza told CNN affiliate KUVN. 'They were going to call immigration so they could take her parents away and she would be left alone,' Carranza said. She did not address the immigration status of the family in her interview with KUVN. Jocelynn attended Gainesville Intermediate School, according to KUVN. Carranza claims her daughter's school was aware of the alleged bullying but did not tell her, and she only learned her daughter had been receiving counseling at school when investigators told her, Carranza told KUVN. CNN has reached out to the school for comment. 'It appears the school was aware of it all, but they never, they never told me what was happening with my daughter,' Carranza said. 'It appears she would go once or twice a week to counseling to report what was happening,' she told KUVN. '(I want) Justice because it's not fair - the school was negligent for not keeping me informed of what was going on with my daughter,' she added. An investigation is underway, Gainesville police said in a statement referring calls to the Gainesville Independent School District Police, which is investigating the bullying allegations. The Gainesville Independent School District did not acknowledge whether it was aware of reports of bullying against Jocelynn. '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,' the district told CNN in a statement. Another school in the district called the incident a 'serious accident' in an email to parents that did not address the bullying allegations. Carranza described the day she found her daughter, on February 3, to KUVN. 'When I got home, they were still working on her, trying to revive her, she had been without life for a long time,' she said. Carranza said Jocelynn told her every day that she loved her. 'I remember her fondly because she was a very happy girl, she was a joyful girl,' she said. Jocelynn is remembered as 'a wonderful daughter, sister, niece and friend to everyone,' in the online obituary. She played the French horn, made TikTok videos, swam, did cartwheels and spent Friday nights watching movies with her family, according to the obituary. 'She loved when her grandma took her to get her nails done,' the obituary reads. This is a developing story.
