July 12, 2019 10:10 a.m.
Oregon’s U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley have introduced a bill to block immigration enforcement actions at what they consider to be “sensitive” locations, such as schools, hospitals and religious institutions without prior approval and exigent circumstances.
A release from the senators said “The Protecting Sensitive Locations Act” codifies the Department of Homeland Security’s existing policies and expands them to ensure that immigrants are able to access education, criminal justice and social services without fear of deportation.
Wyden said “no one should have to fear deportation while taking children to school or practicing their faith at their place of worship”.
Merkley said “the Trump administration ordering Immigration and Customs Enforcement personnel to conduct massive raids pushes immigrant families further into the shadows”. He said the move threatens to separate more families and jeopardizes “the inalienable rights of life liberty, and the pursuit of happiness bestowed upon each and every one of us”.
The legislation, led by Connecticut Senator Richard Blumenthal, is also co-sponsored by 13 other senators in addition to Wyden and Merkley.