Advocates react to new federal rules allowing immigration enforcement into schools, churches and hospitals

The Trump administration issued new guidance this week that says immigration enforcement officials can enter spaces that were previously off limits, like schools and churches. Immigrant advocacy groups are responding by advising people to have a plan — in case enforcement actions take place at these locations. 

The Department of Homeland Security is now directing Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection to no longer stay out of what they call “sensitive areas” like schools, churches or health care facilities.  

“Criminals will no longer be able to hide in America’s schools and churches to avoid arrest,” a DHS spokesperson said in a statement. “The Trump Administration will not tie the hands of our brave law enforcement, and instead trusts them to use common sense."

Tere Flores Onofre is the director of program strategy for Sacramento Area Congregations Together — a multi-faith group that trains immigrants on their rights.

“There are things that are still true, like you still need a warrant to come into any place and arrest someone. That warrant needs to be signed by a judge,” she said. “We are still a country of rules and laws.”

Sacramento ACT also encourages people to have a plan in case immigration enforcement officials detain or arrest them. 

Flores Onofre said she and her colleagues are hearing a lot of fear from the immigrant communities they work with. 

“Even though it might feel like we need to go into panic mode, I think it's important to try to remain as objective as we can,” she said. 

Flores Onofre said she hopes state lawmakers find ways to curb these risks in California. There are two bills already filed to limit immigration enforcement’s ability to enter schools. 

Frankie Ramos is the director of campaigns and organizing for Communities United for Restorative Youth Justice — an organization that works with young people who’ve been incarcerated and their families. She said that despite the new guidance, people without documentation should still go to church, school and doctor’s appointments. 

“It would be really unlikely that somebody would be rounded up,” she said. 

But Ramos also said it’s hard to communicate to affected families that many of these places are still safe. 

She added that she expects racial profiling by law enforcement to increase. 

“These policies automatically mean that there’s just more policing and more surveillance and anybody can get stopped,” she said. 

But she’s hoping she and her colleagues can convince people in immigrant communities that they don’t have to hide at home.