Congressman Soto Urges Authorities Not to Become Deportation Agents

ORLANDO, FL - U.S. Representative Darren Soto (FL-09) is calling upon local law enforcement agencies and school board members to stand up for immigrant rights. He asks them to reject the cruel new policies of President Donald Trump's administration to arrest and deport those who are in the country undocumented, including hard-working families and students with no criminal record.

Soto held an emergency meeting on Tuesday with Orlando Mexican Consul Juan Sabines and immigrant community leaders after the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced Trump's plans. These plans include enlisting local authorities to work with federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), stripping immigrants of privacy protections, and speeding deportation proceedings.

"My first concern is that this drastic change in immigration enforcement policy will cost thousands of local jobs. Central Florida is a diverse and vibrant community that is home to a thriving immigrant population. Our immigrant families are hard-working and an integral part of our economy, particularly our tourism and agriculture industries," Congressman Soto said in one of the letters sent this morning. "Aggressive local deportation measures will create a fearful environment which could scare away workers and tourists alike."

Letters have been sent to Orange County Sheriff Jerry L. Demings, Osceola County Sheriff Russ Gibson and Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd and more than 20 school board members. "I am writing to urge you to clarify school policy to ensure local school personnel refrain from immigration status inquiries of our students," Soto said. "On February 21, 2017, I held an Emergency Immigration Roundtable and was informed therein that students in Auburndale, Florida had been questioned by local school administrators about their immigration status. Given the recent executive action and heated rhetoric on immigration, these unauthorized inquiries are deeply troubling to me and our constituents."

Congressman Darren Soto represents Florida's 9th Congressional District, which includes Osceola County, as well as parts of Orange and Polk counties.

This letter was sent to:

1. Jerry Demings - Orange County Sheriff
2. Russ Gibson - Osceola County Sheriff
3. Grady Judd - Polk County Sheriff

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February 22, 2017

Re: Request To Decline Expanded Local Enforcement of Federal Immigration Laws Dear Sheriff Demings, I am writing to urge you to use your discretion to refuse to expand the role of your Office in enforcing federal immigration laws.

On February 21, 2017, Department of Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly executed a Memorandum expanding potential local law enforcement participation in the Trump Administration's planned "deportation force." But local enforcement of federal immigration law is not in the best interest of the constituents we both serve in Orange County, Florida.

My first concern is that this drastic change in immigration enforcement policy will cost thousands of local jobs. Orange County is a diverse and vibrant community that is home to a thriving immigrant population. Our immigrant families are hard-working and an integral part of our economy, particularly our tourism and agriculture industries. Aggressive local deportation measures will create a fearful environment which could scare away workers and tourists alike.

My second concern is that aggressive, local enforcement and increased deportations will divide our community and subject our citizens to unnecessary harassment. Our Hispanic and Caribbean brothers and sisters are particularly susceptible to immigration stops based solely on their appearance or their accents. These stops will stoke embarrassment and frustration.

My third concern is that local deportation efforts will erode community trust in law enforcement, making your job harder. It is critical that our local law enforcement officers maintain trust relationships to protect the public and ensure reporting of violent crimes. If local immigrant communities become fearful, then dangerous criminals may go unreported.

Ultimately, it is in the best interest of local residents that the Orange County Sheriff's Office continue its traditional focus of keeping violent criminals off the streets, protecting victims and building trust relationships in our community. If you have any questions or comments, please do not hesitate to contact me or my team. Thank you in advance for your attention to this matter. Sincerely,

Darren Soto, Member of Congress

This letter was sent to:

1. Joie Cadle - Orange County School Board Member
2. Daryl Flynn - Orange County School Board Member
3. Linda Kobert - Orange County School Board Member
4. Pam Gould - Orange County School Board Member
5. Kathleen Gordon - Orange County School Board Member
6. Nancy Robbinson - Orange County School Board Member
7. Christine Moore - Orange County School Board Member
8. Bill Subletter - Orange County School Board Member
9. Fred Hawkins - Osceola County School Board Member
10. Jay Wheeler - Osceola County School Board Member
11. Kelvin Soto - Osceola County School Board Member
12. Tim Weisheyer - Osceola County School Board Member
13. Clarence Thacker - Osceola County School Board Member
14. Ricky Booth - Osceola County School Board Member
15. Dr. Debrah Pace - Osceola County School Board Member
16. William Townsend - Polk County School Board Member
17. Lori Cunningham - Polk County School Board Member
18. Hazel Sellers - Polk County School Board Member
19. Sara Reynolds - Polk County School Board Member
20. Kay Fields - Polk County School Board Member
21. Lynn Wilson - Polk County School Board Member
22. Tim Harris - Polk County School Board Member

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February 22, 2017

Re: Request That Local School Personnel Not Make Immigration Status Inquiries Dear School Board Member Joie Cadle, I am writing to urge you to clarify school policy to ensure local school personnel refrain from immigration status inquiries of our students.

On February 21, 2017, I held an Emergency Immigration Roundtable and was informed therein that students in Auburndale, Florida had been questioned by local school administrators about their immigration status. Given the recent executive action and heated rhetoric on immigration, these unauthorized inquiries are deeply troubling to me and our constituents.

My first concern is that these interrogations are not supported by proper authority under law. Immigration enforcement is a federal responsibility, while our schools' primary purpose is to educate our students. Engaging in unauthorized immigration inquiries can be distracting from your overall mission to provide a world class education to our children and could also open our school districts to potential legal liability for discriminatory practices.

My second concern is that these types of inquiries will subject our students to unnecessary harassment and embarrassment. In the Auburndale incident, the affected student that I met with is a U.S. citizen of Hispanic descent. She was interrogated about her status and the status of her parents in front of her classmates. This was an isolating and humiliating experience that we must avoid going forward.

My third concern is that local deportation efforts will divide our community and erode trust in public education. Immigration is a controversial issue that will only breed division among our local families and could foster intimidation of minority communities. It is critical that our schools maintain trust relationships with parents and students to ensure our young people attend school and educate themselves.

Ultimately, it is in the best interest of our community to ensure our schools are safe places of learning rather than a battleground for immigration policy enforcement. If you have any questions or comments, please do not hesitate to contact our office. Thank you in advance for your attention to this matter. Sincerely,

Darren Soto, Member of Congress