Caribbean advocates condemn Puerto Rico senate bill on ICE access to schools
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SAN JUAN, Nov. 7, CMC – Caribbean immigration advocates, elected officials and community leaders have condemned legislation approved by the Puerto Rico Senate, warning that it could weaken protections for immigrant students.
They argued, too, that it would allow US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents greater access to public schools.
The concerns follow approval by the Senate of Bill 1062, which was originally intended to guarantee immigrant children access to public education, regardless of immigration status, while protecting their personal information.
However, the New York Immigration Coalition says amendments to the legislation could allow ICE agents to use administrative immigration warrants instead of warrants signed by a judge to gain access to schools.
The amendments would also remove requirements for legal consultation before student information is released to federal authorities.
President of the New York Immigration Coalition Murad Awawdeh warned that the changes would leave immigrant children with fewer protections than those provided under Puerto Rico’s existing Department of Education guidelines.
The legislation now moves to the Puerto Rico House of Representatives.
The opposition comes amid reports of intensified immigration enforcement across the island, including recent raids in Santurce, Río Piedras and Canóvanas.
Advocates say the operations have created widespread fear, particularly among Dominican families, with some parents afraid to send their children to school or seek medical care.
The coalition appealed to lawmakers to restore the requirement for judicial warrants before immigration agents can intervene in schools and to strengthen safeguards governing the disclosure of student information.
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