Immigrants Find Support in Democrat-Led States

As President Trump tightens immigration rules, several Democrat-led states are fighting back. Lawmakers in states like California and New York are proposing new laws to protect immigrants from deportation. They're doing this by making it harder for federal immigration officials to do their jobs. For example, a bill in California would make it tougher for immigration officers to enter schools and daycare centers. In New York, a lawmaker wants to give immigrants the right to a lawyer in immigration court. Meanwhile, Republican-led states are doing the opposite, supporting Trump's tough immigration policies. In the first week of his presidency, Trump made several moves to crack down on immigration. He stopped refugees from coming in, sped up deportations, and sent troops to the southern border. He also tried to end birthright citizenship. Many Americans agree with stronger border security, but there's less agreement on deporting all undocumented immigrants.

Immigration courts don't guarantee a lawyer like criminal courts do. Some state measures aim to change this by paying for lawyers for immigrants facing deportation. One New York lawmaker, Catalina Cruz, knows the struggle firsthand. She came to the US as a child without legal status and became a citizen and lawyer. She's pushing for laws to help immigrants fight deportation. Other states like Oregon and Hawaii are also backing measures to help immigrants. They want to expand healthcare and education for immigrants and block new detention centers. Oregon has a long tradition of helping immigrants, and its state law keeps local police from enforcing federal immigration laws. The Trump administration recently reversed a rule that kept immigration enforcement away from schools and hospitals. This has parents worried about raids. In California, about one in five children live in families without legal status. Lawmakers are working to protect these kids from immigration officials.

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