US Senator Ron Wyden said he is joining Senate colleagues in introducing legislation that would prevent Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) from making arrests at sensitive locations such as hospitals, schools, churches and courthouses in Oregon and nationwide.
The Protecting Sensitive Locations Act would codify the Department of Homeland Security's established policies to stop ICE from making arrests at essential service locations. In addition, the legislation would ensure immigrants can have access to education, criminal justice and social services without fear of deportation.
The list of "sensitive locations" protected under this legislation includes -- but are not limited to -- medical treatment facilities and health care facilities of all types; public and private schools, early childhood learning centers, preschools, school activities and field trips: places of worship; federal and local courthouses; DMVs and Social Security offices; polling places; labor union halls; and several locations that provide essential or emergency services to immigrant communities such as rape crisis centers and homeless shelters.
Wyden said "the Trump administration's efforts to upend these policies not only goes against long-standing precedent, but also threatens public safety." He added that "arresting people in the security of their school, hospital or church is cruel, inhumane and unjust."
Wyden said "if people are too scared to go to the doctor when they are sick, that puts our community at risk of illness. If people are too scared to report crimes to law enforcement, that makes our community less safe."
