Grijalva Cosponsors Bill Preventing ICE from Making Arrests in Schools, Churches, Hospitals

Representative Raul Grijalva (D-AZ) is cosponsoring legislation to prevent Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) from carrying out enforcement actions in "sensitive locations" such as churches, schools, and hospitals, saying, "Immigrant families should not have to fear seeking the essential services they are legally entitled to pursue, like medical care, shelter, or education, because of the threat of ICE raids."

The Protecting Sensitive Locations Act would prohibit ICE from arresting illegal aliens within 1,000 feet of "sensitive locations" such as medical or mental healthcare facilities, child care and early education sites, schools and universities, places where children gather, disaster and emergency response sites, domestic violence shelters, places of worship, courthouses, and public assistance offices.

However, an exception exists for exigent circumstances such as imminent risk of death, violence, and threats to public safety.

ICE and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents should also be trained in the prohibition.

In his press release, Rep. Grijalva said, "Schools, hospitals, churches, and domestic violence shelters should be off-limits to Trump's onslaught of immigration enforcement actions. It is reprehensible the level of fear this administration is willing to inflict on the most vulnerable members of our communities."

"Immigrant families should not have to fear seeking the essential services they are legally entitled to pursue, like medical care, shelter, or education, because of the threat of ICE raids. Now more than ever, we need to pass the Protecting Sensitive Locations Act, a bill that would safeguard sensitive locations and uphold the values of compassion, safety, and respect for human dignity," Rep. Grijalva continued.

In December, the Arizona Congressman demanded answers from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for supposedly using artificial intelligence (AI) in making immigration decisions, saying, "There's a really delicate balance between pushing for innovation and efficiency and automating life-or-death decisions, especially when it comes to immigration enforcement and adjudication. Further integrating AI into our immigration system without the proper guardrails poses a great risk to people's civil liberties."