By Redaccion
Redaccion@latinocc.com
Legislation would reverse Trump Administration rollback of longstanding guardrails on immigration enforcement.
Congressman Salud Carbajal (CA-24) helped introduce legislation alongside Representative Adriano Espaillat (NY-13) and Senator Richard Blumenthal (CT) that would restore and codify longstanding guardrails on federal immigration enforcement activities to protect immigrant communities at sensitive locations amid the increased targeting of immigrant communities.
Since 2011, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)’s Sensitive Locations policy, also known as the Protected Areas policy, prohibited immigration enforcement actions in places that provided vital services such as schools, houses of worship, and food banks. On President Donald Trump’s first day in office, he rescinded DHS’ Protected Areas policy, putting communities at risk of individuals being detained or arrested while seeking education, groceries, or medical treatment.
“No one should have to face the fear of being detained while taking their children to school or seeking medical care,” said Rep. Carbajal. «In light of the increasing attacks on our immigrant and mixed-status communities, this legislation will be critical to ensuring immigrant families can continue to access health care, education, and other services without the fear of being detained or separated from their loved ones.”
The Protecting Sensitive Locations Act introduced by Rep. Carbajal and 12 other lawmakers would re-establish the policy that Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) cannot take enforcement actions within 1,000 feet of certain sensitive locations.
The list of “sensitive locations” includes, but is not limited to: medical treatment facilities and health care facilities of all types; public and private schools, early childhood learning centers, preschools, scholastic activities, and field trips; places of worship; federal and local courthouses; DMVs and social security offices; polling places; labor union halls; and several other locations which provide essential or emergency services to immigrant communities, such as rape crisis centers and homeless shelters.
The bill requires that ICE and CBP personnel receive training on carrying out enforcement activities as specified by the text.
The legislation has exceptions — allowing ICE and CBP to carry out enforcement activities in the case of extenuating circumstances. It also does not apply to the transportation of an individual apprehended at the border to a medical facility to receive care.
