Thread: CA-Bill protects children in immigration raids

Bill protects children in immigration raids
Measure would allow them to stay in school if parents held.
Friday, Mar. 13, 2009
By Eddie Jimenez

A bill recently introduced in the state Assembly would create guidelines for schools to follow to protect children from intimidation -- and keep them in school -- during immigration raids, such as those that swept through Mendota two years ago.

Assembly Member Tony Mendoza, D-Norwalk, said AB 132 would require school officials to alert parents after receiving requests from law-enforcement officers seeking to question students. It also would require schools to notify families that their children's education would continue even if parents were taken into custody by immigration agents.

"The ultimate goal is to provide peace of mind and security for the children that we educate in our state," Mendoza said at a news conference Friday in downtown Fresno. He was flanked by local school and elected officials who voiced their support of the legislation.

Families were emotionally paralyzed during the Mendota raids, said Mayor Robert Silva. Some parents were afraid to send their children to school, he said.

"My community was devastated," he said.

Mendota Unified School District had a slight drop in enrollment for a day or two during the raids, Superintendent Gilbert Rossette said.

Mendota school officials support Mendoza's legislation, Rossette said in a phone interview. The bill "is reinforcing what we've been advocating," he said.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents swept through Mendota, a small farming community of about 8,000 residents in west Fresno County, in early 2007. City officials estimated about 200 people were arrested. Some children were left without parents.

Mendoza said his legislation would not keep ICE agents from doing their jobs. Rather, his bill would ease the fears of children and their families, he said.

ICE officials do not comment on pending legislation, spokeswoman Lori Haley said.

Mendoza, a former schoolteacher, said the need for the bill came up in conversations with former teaching colleagues and friends. Current law does not specifically address protecting the rights of children of undocumented immigrant parents, he said.

The reporter can be reached at ejimenez@fresnobee.com



http://www.fresnobee.com/local/story/1261080.html

The answer is to check the parents legal status someone Deport the parents, they are law breakers; Americans citizens breaking the law and in jail have no help with special bills for their children.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents swept through Mendota, a small farming community of about 8,000 residents in west Fresno County, in early 2007. City officials estimated about 200 people were arrested. Some children were left without parents.

NOT OUR PROBLEM! These parents KNOW the risks.

Mendoza, a former schoolteacher, said the need for the bill came up in conversations with former teaching colleagues and friends. Current law does not specifically address protecting the rights of children of undocumented immigrant parents, he said.

If the parents are illegal, deport the kids with them. Why should we be responsible when the parents ARE NOT?

Deporting citizen children with illegal alien parents is standard international practice.

Children of IA's should be deported with their parents even if they are Anchors.The Anchors can come back when they are 21 if they so choose to do.

Some US children are suffering,living in tent cities because IA's have jobs which need to go to citizens instead.Children of US citizen criminals suffer too so why should IA children be given special privilege ?

Families were emotionally paralyzed during the Mendota raids, said Mayor Robert Silva. Some parents were afraid to send their children to school, he said.

"My community was devastated," he said.

I don't give a shit how emotionally paralyzed these scofflaws were!! I suspect they would have had no fear had they been in this country legally!

Our country is being devastated by illegal immigration and especially, those ethno-centric traitors in our own government who aid and abet these criminals!

Families were emotionally paralyzed during the Mendota raids, said Mayor Robert Silva. Some parents were afraid to send their children to school, he said.

There is no need for people to be "emotionally paralyzed". JUST TAKE YOUR KIDS AND YOUR ILLEGALLY ALIEN SELF AND GO BACK TO WHEREVER YOU SNUCK IN FROM. America should not be responsible to pay for and educate your kids anyway.

"He was flanked by local school and elected officials who voiced their support of the legislation."

It's hard getting and keeping much traction in this matter when any rational opposition makes you "a racist redneck", "a xenophobe", and, now, failing these, "a child hater".

Why aren't people accountable for their actions? If people break a law they may suffer the consequence, that's a fact of life. What makes this law so exceptional? People who break laws are often separated from their children, that's one of the results of breaking the law in the first place. It's legislators like this who help illustrate why our immigration laws are not enforced....on and on it goes. No separation is needed, they all may return to their country together.