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As President Donald Trump tightens the nation’s immigration policies, lawmakers in Democratic-led states are proposing new measures that could erect legal obstacles for federal immigration officials and help immigrants lacking legal status avoid deportation.
DailyMail.com reports that the resistance efforts in California, New York and other states are a counterpoint to the many Republican-led states advancing measures to aid Trump’s crackdown on illegal immigration.
In his first week in office, Trump’s administration has halted refugee arrivals; fast-tracked deportations; sent military troops to the southern border; lifted long-time rules restricting immigration near schools, churches and hospitals; attempted to end birthright citizenship, and ordered federal prosecutors to investigate state or local officials who believe they believe are interfering with his crackdown on illegal immigration.
Hundreds of bills on immigration have already been introduced in the states and more action is expected next week. Republican Govs. Ron DeSantis of Florida and Bill Lee of Tennessee have called special legislative sessions to begin Monday to support Trump’s immigration agenda.
Democrats in states like Connecticut, Hawaii, Massachusetts, New Mexico, Oregon and Washington are backing measures to expand healthcare education for migrants, restrict landlords from inquiring about immigration status or block government agreements to open new immigration detention centres.
According to a survey by The Associated Press NORC Centre for Public Affairs Research, many adults in the US support stronger security of the southern border and deporting immigrants in the US illegally who have been convicted of violent crimes. However, some actions have less consensus. about 4 in 10 American adults support deporting all immigrants living in the US illegally while a similar share is opposed.
There is no constitutional right to a government-funded attorney in immigration. As Trump ramps up deportation efforts, some state measures would help pay for attorneys to defend people facing immigration proceedings.
New York Assemblywoman Catalina Cruz has filed over a half-dozen bills to aid immigrants. One would assert a right under state law to legal counsel in immigration proceedings in New York, or elsewhere if the immigrant were living in New York. Another would authorize state grants for organizations to hire, train and equip staff to provide legal aid to people facing deportation.
In a similar vein, a bill sponsored by Oregon state Sen. Lisa Reynolds would require the state Department of Human Services to offer grants to help people who aren’t citizens change their immigration status or become lawful permanent residents. It would provide $6 million to launch the program during the budget biennium beginning in July.
