The Trump administration recently made a significant change by lifting a ban that prevented Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents from operating in schools, religious places, and healthcare facilities. This move rolled back regulations put in place during the Biden administration aimed at protecting these areas from immigration enforcement.
In Florida, the state’s education department announced it would comply with this federal directive. Sydney Booker, a spokesperson for the Florida Department of Education, stated that schools would work with law enforcement to uphold immigration law. However, there was no direct answer about allowing ICE on school grounds during enforcement actions.
Acting Secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Benjamine Huffman, explained that this change aims to empower law enforcement agencies to enforce immigration laws. He emphasized the necessity of stopping criminals from finding refuge in schools and religious institutions.
This directive affects Florida, a state with a diverse population. Approximately one in five residents are foreign-born, and about a quarter of the workforce consists of immigrants. In fact, about 1 million individuals in Florida come from mixed-status families. Among these, around 130,000 undocumented immigrants are married to U.S.-born Floridians, and nearly half of the state’s agricultural workers are also in the country illegally.
With roughly 2.86 million students enrolled in Florida’s public schools, this policy shift raises concerns for many families about safety during school hours. Some districts in the U.S. are already expecting lower attendance as families weigh the risks of sending their children to school. However, Miami-Dade County reported a stable attendance rate of 93%, suggesting that many families are still sending their children to school despite the new rules.
Governor Ron DeSantis has committed to supporting the federal immigration enforcement efforts and plans to call state lawmakers for a special session to back these changes with state legislation. He has also warned local officials that they could face suspension if they do not comply with the federal immigration laws.
As this situation develops, many in Florida are left wondering how it will impact schools and communities across the state.
Source link
Immigration,Laws,Immigration,Immigration,Policy,Immigrants,Florida,Trump,Administration,Ron,DeSantis,Florida,Department,of,Education,Donald,Trump,Joe,Biden,U.S.,Immigration,and,Customs,Enforcement,U.S.,Customs,and,Border,Protection,Supreme,Court,of,the,United,States,White,House,(presidential,residence),FL,Content,Sharing,-,Statewide,N4N-Politics,Trump,Transition,2024,Social,Issues,\u0026,Advocacy,Visa,\u0026,Immigration,Politics,Government,Law,Enforcement,Executive,Branch,Sensitive,Subjects,Immigration Laws,Immigration,Immigration Policy,Immigrants,Florida,Trump Administration,Ron DeSantis,Florida Department of Education,Donald Trump,Joe Biden,U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement,U.S. Customs and Border Protection,Supreme Court of the United States,White House (presidential residence),FL Content Sharing – Statewide,N4N-Politics,Trump Transition 2024,Social Issues \u0026 Advocacy,Visa \u0026 Immigration,Politics,Government,Law Enforcement,Executive Branch,Sensitive Subjects
