Florida’s education department says it will comply with a new federal directive to allow immigration enforcement in schools.
The Trump administration on Tuesday revoked rules that created “sanctuary zones” from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Biden-era guidance that blocked ice from schools, places of worship, and health care facilities.
“Florida schools cooperate with all law enforcement agencies in their efforts to enforce the nation’s laws regarding illegal immigration and keep our schools safe,” said Sidney Booker, a spokesperson for the Florida Department of Education.
She did not directly answer a question asking whether that meant allowing immigration agents on public school grounds, including ice raids.
In a statement, the acting secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security said the move was “essential to ending the invasion” and securing the U.S. southern border.
“This action will empower the brave men and women of CBP (U.S. Customs and Border Protection) and ICE to capture criminal aliens, including murderers and rapists, who come to our country illegally.” the security agency said. Secretary Benjamin Huffman.
“Criminals will no longer be able to hide in America’s schools and churches to avoid arrest. The Trump administration will not tie the hands of our brave law enforcement and will instead encourage them to use common sense. I trust you.”
In Florida, more than one-fifth of Floridians are foreign-born, and immigrants make up one-quarter of the state’s workforce.
There are an estimated 1 million mixed immigration status families in Florida, said Thomas Kennedy, a spokesman for the Florida Immigration Coalition. About 130,000 immigrants who entered the country illegally are married to Floridians who are U.S. citizens, and nearly half of the state’s farm workers are also in the U.S. illegally.
There are currently approximately 2.86 million students enrolled in Florida public schools, according to state data.
The move has some families wondering if it is safe to send their children to school. In other parts of the country, districts are preparing for a drop in attendance.
However, there was no noticeable drop in Miami-Dade County, which attended Thursday. Attendance was 93%, comparable to how it was the rest of the week, Vice Principal Jaclyn C. Diaz said in an email.
The Homeland Security directive comes a day after President Trump signed a sweeping executive order to overhaul the nation’s immigration policy on his first day in office.
Since Trump took office, he has signed executive orders to end birthright citizenship, guaranteed by the 127-year Supreme Court ruling on the 14th Amendment, and declared a national emergency at the border.
On Wednesday, the White House announced that the Pentagon is sending as many as 1,500 additional active-duty troops to the border.
In Florida, Gov. Ron DeSantis called on state lawmakers to convene a special session starting Monday to expand the federal immigration mandate, including coming up with state funding and legislation to carry out Trump’s order. pledged to support.
DeSantis has also threatened local officials with suspensions if they are “in disregard of their duties” and fail to comply with and enforce federal immigration laws. ” said the governor.
Ana Goñi-Lessan – Florida, state watchdog reporter for the USA Today Network, can be reached at agonilessan@gannett.com.
