(ABC 6 News) — Rochester Public Schools is reporting a rising rate of absences among students amid ongoing immigration enforcement operations in Minnesota. Pekel, RPS has seen more than 530 additional students have been absent every day on average between January 9 and January 22 compared to last month. Among those absences, RPS saw a 417% increase among students whose first language is not English, a 116% increase among students from low-income families, a 68% increase among Asian students, and a 376% increase among Latino students. Pekel said RPS has chosen not to move to hybrid or online learning, and instead, the district is trying to keep schools open and welcoming to give families options. “I know these students want to be in school, and Minnesota needs them back in school — soon.