[Lauren Taylor]
AS PRESIDENT-ELECT DONALD TRUMP’S INAUGURATION DRAWS NEAR, CALIFORNIA LAWMAKERS ARE INTRODUCING NEW MEASURES THAT WOULD PROHIBIT LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT FROM COOPERATING WITH U.S. IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT AGENTS WITHIN A ONE-MILE RADIUS OF A PUBLIC SCHOOL. THE BILLS WOULD ALSO KEEP ICE AGENTS OFF SCHOOL GROUNDS.
ICE AGENTS WOULD NEED A SIGNED WARRANT FROM A JUDGE IN ORDER TO ACCESS THE SCHOOL’S CAMPUSES.
ASSEMBLYMEMBER AL MURATSUCHI INTRODUCED ASSEMBLY BILL 49 TO PROTECT IMMIGRANT CHILDREN FROM ICE ACTIONS AT SCHOOLS AND CHILD CARE FACILITIES.
IF THE BILL BECOMES LAW, DAY CARE CENTER EMPLOYEES MUST ENSURE ICE OFFICERS PROVIDE VALID ID, A WRITTEN PURPOSE, AND A JUDICIAL WARRANT, AND RECEIVE APPROVAL FROM THE CENTER’S DIRECTOR BEFORE ENTERING A CHILD CARE FACILITY.
STATE SENATOR LENA GONZALEZ INTRODUCED SENATE BILL 48 WHICH, IF IT PASSES, WOULD PROHIBIT CALIFORNIA LAW ENFORCEMENT FROM SHARING INFORMATION ABOUT STUDENTS, FAMILIES, OR SCHOOL STAFF WITH IMMIGRATION AUTHORITIES FOR ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS WITHIN ONE MILE OF A SCHOOL.
THE PAIR OF BILLS ARE BACKED BY STATE SUPERINTENDENT TONY THURMOND AND ARE AIMED AT PROTECTING SCHOOLS FROM ATTENDANCE DROPS OR FUNDING LOSSES DUE TO FEDERAL DEPORTATION THREATS.
“UNFORTUNATELY, THE THREAT OF FEDERAL IMMIGRATION OFFICIALS COMING ONTO SCHOOL GROUNDS TO DETAIN UNDOCUMENTED STUDENTS OR FAMILY MEMBERS CASTS A SHADOW OF FEAR OVER ALL CALIFORNIA STUDENTS,” ASSEMBLYMEMBER MURATSUCHI SAID. “STUDENTS CANNOT LEARN IF THEY ARE LIVING IN FEAR OF BEING DEPORTED OR SEPARATED FROM THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS. THIS BILL IS NECESSARY BECAUSE CHILDREN SHOULD NOT BE AFRAID TO COME TO SCHOOL, AND PARENTS SHOULD NOT BE AFRAID TO SEND THEIR CHILDREN TO SCHOOL.”
THE PROPOSED LEGISLATION COMES AS PRESIDENT-ELECT DONALD TRUMP VOWS THE LARGEST DEPORTATION EFFORT IN US HISTORY AFTER AN UNPRECEDENTED NUMBER OF MIGRANTS CROSSED THE US SOUTHERN BORDER DURING PRESIDENT BIDEN’S TIME IN THE WHITE HOUSE.
US CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION NUMBERS SHOW CBP ENCOUNTERED MORE THAN 11-MILLION MIGRANTS IN THE LAST THREE AND A HALF YEARS AT THE US-MEXICO BORDER.
IN AN INTERVIEW WITH NBC NEWS’ ‘MEET THE PRESS’ LAST WEEK, TRUMP SAID HE’S HOPING REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS CAN WORK TOGETHER ON CAPITOL HILL TO PASS IMMIGRATION REFORM.