After the November general election, Arizona schools began fielding questions from students and families about the impacts of Arizona Proposition 314 .
This new law changes Arizona’s approach to border enforcement, immigration status verification and fentanyl trafficking.
When in full effect, it empowers local and state authorities to arrest individuals for immigration violations, which are currently under federal jurisdiction.
Portions of Proposition 314 are on hold due to legal challenges, but if upheld, they would also apply to asylum seekers who have federal permission to be here.
Most concerning is specific language allowing for arrests to happen anywhere within the state, including previously “protected areas” such as churches , hospitals and schools.
Immigration enforcement could target schools
National rhetoric from the incoming Trump administration about using the military for immigration enforcement and mass deportations deepens fears.
Many teachers and school personnel are Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals recipients, now afraid of what happens to them if Trump rescinds DACA again, as he did in 2017.