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Recently, unidentified agents in unmarked cars detained a father outside of his child’s elementary school in Portland. The Portland Police Department had rightly refused to cooperate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials per the city’s policies as a sanctuary city — a place where local police do not assist federal immigration enforcement in their arrests. My gratitude to those officers who stood firmly on the side of the law, and to Rep. Chellie Pingree for quickly demanding answers for such concerning interference in previously protected spaces.
Spaces so important for society’s daily functions — schools, hospitals, places of worship — were once clearly off limits for enforcement. Now, such instances constitute a serious threat to our communities as they encourage vulnerable populations to go into lockdown and avoid participating in fundamental aspects of civil society.
On Jan. 20, the Trump administration rescinded a decades-long sensitive locations policy to protect societal interests, ensure people’s access to essential care and services, and safeguard religious liberties. Since removing this limitation, community members can be detained at places of worship, at child learning centers, and even in courthouses where people are often actively trying to comply with immigration law.
As enforcement escalates and becomes evermore invasive, I believe Congress must protect foundational spaces of public life by passing the Protecting Sensitive Locations Act. This legislation would codify the sensitive locations memo and ensure that people are able to carry out essential activities in their communities. ICE does not belong in any place of sanctuary.
Savannah Averitt
Portland
