In order to prevent the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Service (ICE) from making arrests in reasonable places, including as churches, schools, and hospitals, representatives of the Senado passed legislation last week.
Given that Republicans control both the US Senate and the US Congress of Representatives, the proposal appears to face significant odds. Since 2011, a federal policy has prohibited ICE arrests in reasonable locations without authorization. In 2021, the Biden administration issued its own directive to expand to more reasonable locations.
However, President Donald Trump has issued a number of executive orders, many of which are related to his pledge to launch a major immigration offensive, including one that revokes the policies that prevented ICE officials from making reasonable arrests.
In a statement announcing his support for the new legislation, U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, the senator from Oregon, stated that the administration’s efforts to undo these policies not only go against a long-standing precedent but also compromise public safety.
The Law on the Protection of Sensible Places, which was supported by 22 independent or democratic states but is not Republican, codifies federal protections against migrant arrests in sensible places. Additionally, ensuring that immigrants have access to essential services that are typically provided in sensible locations without fear of deportation.
It is harsh, unjust, and unfair to arrest people in the safety of their school, hospital, or church. “If people are afraid to leave when they are sick, that puts our community at risk for illness,” Wyden said. Our community is less secure if people are too afraid to report crimes to the police or to go to a crisis center regarding violations. These networks aim to incite fear and do nothing to improve our immigration system, which is already under attack.
Other areas that are protected by the law include medical facilities, schools, courts, shelters for homeless people, DMV and social security offices, and polling places.
Despite Trump’s administration’s political changes, the Portland-based Augustana Lutheran Church declared in January that it would continue to provide sanctuary to immigrants who fear deportation.
To translate the original English content into Spanish, artificial intelligence is used. A Hispanic-speaking periodist revised the text.
— Yesenia Amaro is an investigative journalist who focuses on communities of color. Do you have information about immigration history, deportations, or public assistance programs for immigrants in Oregon? Please contact Yamaro at 503-221-4395 or [email protected].
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