Tell It To Me Like I'm a Fifth Grader
Tallahassee Legislators did what?!?
By now, so many of us are sticking out our tongues and saying: Nyah, nyah, nyah nyah to Florida Governor DeSantis like we are in grade school, witnessing the spectacular fall of a bully.
On Monday, the Florida Legislature gave the middle finger to the Governor and here’s how:
DeSantis called a special session on illegal immigration restrictions and one budget vote. This was the second time the Governor called for a special session on immigration. The legislators, however, vetoed the first one stating it was too early.
This special session was agreed upon and the public believed the Republican-led legislation simply folded, as they had done before many times during the past six years under DeSantis.
The joke was on us and DeSantis - except Florida citizens are laughing and DeSantis is crying.
The session began and then swiftly ended (lol). At that point, the legislators reconvened their own session to pass new illegal immigration laws.
The best news of all is that one of the bills takes immigration enforcement out of DeSantis’ power, and hands it over to Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson. Simpson is the far better choice, as he understands the importance of the work our migrants do, so the rest of America has produce on the grocery shelves. It doesn’t hurt that there has been bad blood between himself and DeSantis.
Is there any surprise who introduced this bill? Take a look:
CS/SB 2-B: Immigration
GENERAL BILL by Appropriations ; Gruters ; (CO-INTRODUCERS) Fine
Immigration; Citing this act as the “Tackling and Reforming Unlawful Migration Policy (TRUMP) Act”; providing that the Commissioner of Agriculture is the only person responsible for serving as liaison between certain entities regarding federal immigration laws; creating the Local Law Enforcement Immigration Grant Program within the Office of State Immigration Enforcement within the Division of Law Enforcement under the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services for specified purposes; creating the Office of State Immigration Enforcement within the Division of Law Enforcement under the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services for specified purposes, etc. APPROPRIATION: $515,030,239
Effective Date: Except as otherwise provided in this act, this act shall take effect upon becoming a law
On the rare occasion that I actually pick up a phone call, I was surprised to hear a voice welcoming me to a DeSantis speech going on live. This happened early Monday evening.
While I should have listened to the Q & A portion as well, I had heard enough for DeSantis to ask for support over Simpson’s plan of attack. DeSantis’ vision on immigration was more “Trumpier” than his. The call did sound like a fifth grader: “My plan is more aligned with Trump than his! Waaaahhh!
”
Does this mean Florida can finally exhale a breath of relief? Sadly, no.
Senator Randy Fine’s provision to SB-2 blocks undocumented students from attending Florida public institutions of higher learning, serves as a dreaded example.
We do however see a chink in the armor. It’s clear who’s running the show and they do not want to see Florida gravely harmed by restrictive immigration laws. How does this affect the immigrants in Florida public schools?
As mentioned in Time To Call For An Emergency meeting, a 1982 U.S. Supreme Court case, Plyler v. Doe states that school districts could not deny services to students based on their immigration status.
While school districts across the United States have been partnering with advocacy groups, setting up safe places and putting communications in place to make sure teachers, staff and parents know their rights, there is still nothing on the Sarasota County school website.
Some are stating that Trump’s threats on ICE agents entering into schools is more of a fear tactic. Have teachers and staff in Sarasota County schools been given any guidance should ICE enter school grounds and ask for records on students?
The soonest a meeting takes place is on February 4 for a school board workshop. The public can attend but not speak. Pedro Martinez, CEO of the Chicago Public Schools stated, “It’s easy to be afraid. They are going to be more afraid if they don’t have information.”
In the meantime, the public is seeking information on their own regarding immigrants’ rights from sites such as American Federation of Teachers.
Locally, one can join Support Our Schools to get the latest information mailed to their inbox. They are working on a press release that will be available at any time now.
Doing a lot of heavy lifting is the Social Equity through Education Alliance (SEE). They will be holding a February 8 meeting on immigration and are working daily on keeping protections in place for immigrant students. (I believe SEE has set up a meeting with Rep. Fiona McFarland.)
What can the public do in the meantime?
Write to your local school board members and the superintendent and demand the return to two public meetings a month. Not only is immigration in crisis mode, but the Federal Department of Education (FDOE) is going to be setting forth some challenging laws that the public schools must be aware of and prepared for.
Statewide sources to email or call are listed here.
We’re also adding:
Wilton.Simpson@FDACS.gov (850) 617-7700
This is the fastest way to reach SEE - julie@seeourpower.org
Locally, the Sarasota school’s superintendent can be reached here: terry.connor@sarasotacountyschools.net
I would copy/paste to these individual school board members:
tom.edwards robyn.marinelli tim.enos liz.barker all ending in @sarasotacountyschools.net
Recommendation in correspondence: Advocates do not go on the attack. Response would be defense mode instead of true action. Let them know what you want from them and make it brief.
In example (locally):
I want a town hall ASAP.
I want two meetings held every month.
I want to be assured that teachers and staff are informed of their rights in protecting immigrant students.
While teachers’ videos on immigration are going viral, one stuck with me. The elementary school teacher said: “Every day I don’t know if I’m going to take a bullet for my students. If ICE tries to take one of my students, that’s nothing - I’ll gladly go to jail before one of them is removed from my classroom.”
In the next DearBubbie. Sign-up is now closed for School Board Member Liz Barker’s office hours taking place tonight. We’ll inform you how to get involved with the next one and share what she learned.
Coming soon: We’ll also share information we received on an event put on by a non-profit, but proceeds support a different non-profit’s mission.