Immigration order allowing arrests in schools and churches gets praise and criticism
PHOENIX - Federal immigration authorities will now be permitted to make arrests in churches and schools.
The new administrative directive rolls back actions by the Biden administration.
The policy is garnering both praise and criticism.
Both sides are anticipating the policy roll out
What they're saying:
Pro-immigration advocates have long criticized this stance, fearing that even legal immigrants will fear going to places like church or school.
Meanwhile, the Trump administration says the directive is directed towards dangerous criminals and they trust law enforcement to use common sense.
The Biden administration’s directive for the agency prohibited federal immigration authorities from arresting suspected undocumented immigrants in sensitive areas like churches, schools, weddings or funerals.
Big picture view:
Pro-immigration advocates decried the decision, claiming that it would bring mass deportation plans into churches and schools.
Local perspective:
Arizona Democratic State Senator Analise Ortiz believes the announcement is harmful and misguided.
"This will lead to families being separated," Ortiz said. "What we need to focus on together in this country is creating a permanent pathway to citizenship."
""I really want to stress here that the Trump administration is trying to say this is about ‘criminals’ but that’s just not how it’s going to play out in practicality. We’ve seen this in the past when they conduct these raids, they sweep up anyone who is available," she added.
But the Trump administration said the policy is designed to target those with dangerous criminal histories and believes law enforcement will act wisely and professionally with these new guidelines.
The Department of Homeland Security described the move in a statement:
This action empowers the brave men and women in CBP and ice to enforce our immigration laws and catch criminal aliens—including murderers and rapists—who have illegally come into our country. Criminals will no longer be able to hide in America’s schools and churches to avoid arrest. The Trump administration will not tie the hands of our brave law enforcement, and instead trusts them to use common sense.
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Arizona border communities react to President Trump's immigration executive orders
President Donald Trump is already following through on campaign promises he made to crack down on the flow of migrants crossing the border, and Arizona border communities are bracing for the changes that could be coming.
Republicans show mixed opinions on the order
Yet several Republicans praised the move, pointing to the unprecedented number of border crossings in the past few years.
Many political analysts believe it was an issue that helped swing the state of Arizona to Trump.
How schools and churches will comply is still unclear. Republican State Superintendent Tom Horne is also unsure that allowing ICE on school campuses is the correct move.
"They are starting out going after criminals. Criminals are not kids in schools and even if they extend it to people who are not criminals, they would be going after the adults. It wouldn’t do them any good to go after the kids. So I don’t think they will come to the schools," Horne said.
In a letter to parents and families, Phoenix Union High School District wrote:
At Phoenix Union, we welcome all students who come through our doors and will continue to offer every student a high-quality education, without asking for immigration status.
The Mesa School District also issued a statement saying their school, "are caring and safe places that welcome all learners."
The backstory:
The issue of immigration was a top issue for voters and one President Trump campaigned strongly on.
Arizona GOP members also introduced a bill to ensure state public safety agencies are cooperating with federal immigration authorities.