Budget talks between North Carolina House and Senate GOP leaders have stalled, but other legislation concerning students in our schools has moved forward. This week, we take a look at two bills that could threaten the sense of safety that all children deserve in their learning environments and communities.
What is Being Proposed?
This week, the North Carolina General Assembly passed two bills that would impact safety for many of our children. SB 153 (the Border Protection Act) requires public servants, state agencies, and college campuses to cooperate with ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement), restricts public benefits to ensure they’re not used by undocumented individuals, and prohibits sanctuary policies in public entities, including UNC-System Schools. HB 318 (the Criminal Illegal Alien Enforcement Act) requires sheriffs to cooperate with ICE by verifying the immigration status of individuals charged with certain offenses and notifying ICE of their release.
Why does this Matter for Schools?
Since 1982, all students– regardless of their immigration status– have been guaranteed the right to enroll in public schools in the United States. Additional federal requirements for states ensure that multilingual learners have equal access to a high-quality education.
Public schools welcome and serve all children, and SB 153 and HB 318 would not change who has legal access to enroll or attend. However, these bills contribute to an atmosphere of fear and uncertainty for families, leading many to keep students at home rather than send them to school. Research shows that deportation efforts add to absenteeism crises that schools are experiencing; recent findings suggest that ICE activity and raids can harm student achievement and disrupt how schools function, even when they do not occur on or near school grounds. Students, regardless of immigration status, suffer as a result.
What Happens Next?
Governor Stein has until June 20 to sign, veto, or allow these bills to become law without his signature. You can read more about this developing story here.
Leave a Reply