Political polarization drives teens apart

STARTING OFF HIGH SCHOOL as an idyllic couple, Katherine Rice and her boyfriend were always together at Santa Teresa High School in San Jose. They walked around the sprawling campus holding hands and attended dances and other school events with each other. During football games, Rice would paint her boyfriend’s jersey number on her face.They were the picture-perfect couple.

And then immigration politics came into the picture. She belongs to a liberal Democrat family. His is conservative Republican.