As President Donald Trump tightens the country’s immigration policies, lawmakers in Democratic-led states are proposing new measures that could create legal barriers for federal immigration authorities to deport immigrants who lack legal status. Can help avoid.
The resistance efforts in California, New York and other states are a counterpoint to several Republican-led states pushing measures to aid Trump’s crackdown on illegal immigration, highlighting a national divide.
In just its first week in office, Trump’s administration has halted refugee arrivals; rapid deportation; sent troops to the southern border; Long-standing rules prohibiting immigration enforcement near schools, churches, and hospitals were lifted; Attempts to eliminate birthright citizenship; and ordered federal prosecutors to investigate state or local officials they believe are interfering with their crackdown on illegal immigration.
Hundreds of bills on immigration have already been introduced in states and more action is expected next week. Republican governments. Ron DeSantis of Florida and Bill Lee of Tennessee have called for a special legislative session starting Monday to support Trump’s immigration agenda.
Meanwhile, Democrats in states like Connecticut, Hawaii, Massachusetts, New Mexico, Oregon and Washington are trying to expand health care and higher education for immigrants, bar landlords from inquiring about immigration status or open new immigrant detention centers. Are supporting measures to stop government agreements.
According to a poll by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research, many American adults support stronger security at the southern border and deporting immigrants convicted of violent crimes in the U.S. illegally. But in some tasks there is less consensus. Nearly 4 in 10 American adults support deporting all immigrants living in the US illegally, while the same number oppose it.
Legal aid to fight deportation
Unlike criminal courts, there is no constitutional right to a government-funded attorney in immigration courts. As Trump ramps up deportation efforts, some state measures would help pay lawyers to defend people facing immigration proceedings.
A leader of such efforts is New York Assemblywoman Catalina Cruz, who came to the US from Colombia at the age of 9 and lived without legal status for more than a decade before gaining permanent residence and becoming a US citizen and lawyer.
Cruz has filed more than a half-dozen bills to aid immigrants. If the immigrant is living in New York, a person may claim the right to legal counsel in immigration proceedings in New York or elsewhere under state law. The second would authorize state grants to organizations to hire, train, and equip staff to provide legal assistance to people facing deportation.
“In a world where the threat of mass deportation is imminent,” Cruz said, the law “gives people the opportunity to fight their cases, fight for their families, fight for their rights.”
Cruz estimates that 60% of residents in his New York City legislative district are non-citizens, and says, “People are terrified.”
New York is one of several states that already offers legal aid for immigrants. But advocates want nearly double the amount proposed by Democratic Governor Kathy Hochul.
“This is a moment where investing in due process and fairness for at-risk immigrants in New York is of fundamental importance,” said Shayna Kessler, director of the Universal Representation Initiative at the nonprofit Vera Institute of Justice.
Help for immigrants seeking legal status
Some legislative proposals would also fund lawyers who can help immigrants obtain legal residency.
A bill by Oregon State Senator Lisa Reynolds would require the state Department of Human Services to award grants to nonprofits to help people who are not citizens change their immigration status or become lawful permanent residents. Will help. It would provide $6 million to launch the program during the budget biennium starting in July.
“Oregon has a very proud tradition of doing everything we can to help people who have recently immigrated to our state from other countries, and especially those who are political refugees,” Reynolds said. ” “We’re all feeling a little more urgency about it.”
Since 1987, Oregon law has prohibited law enforcement officers from “locating or apprehending persons for the purpose of enforcing federal immigration laws.” In 2018, voters defeated a ballot measure that would have repealed the so-called sanctuary law.
A shield for schools with immigrant students
Earlier this week, the Trump administration reversed guidance that for more than a decade had banned federal agencies from conducting immigration enforcement in sensitive locations such as schools, churches and health care facilities. Some parents now fear immigration raids at schools.
In California, nearly 1 in 5 children live in families where at least one person does not have legal status, according to The Children’s Partnership, a Los Angeles-based nonprofit.
California Assemblyman Al Muratsuchi, chairman of the chamber’s Education Committee, is sponsoring legislation that would make it more difficult for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers to enter schools and child care centers.
The bill would require federal officers to obtain a judicial warrant, a written statement of purpose, valid identification, and approval from the facility administrator. If those criteria are met, federal immigration officials can still only access areas where children are not present.
Muratsuchi said he started working on the legislation as soon as Trump was elected.
“Protecting all of our students, including our immigrant students, is the top priority,” Muratsuchi said.