WHEREAS, on January 20, the Trump administration, building on actions of the previous administration, declared a “national emergency” to carry out its threatened deportations of millions of undocumented immigrants, as well as those in Temporary Protected Status, humanitarian parole, refugees applying for asylum and other statuses, while those in DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) status are at risk; and

WHEREAS, on January 21, the Acting Secretary of Homeland Security (DHS) issued a directive rescinding prior guidelines limiting actions by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (I.C.E.) in or near “sensitive” areas, including schools, hospitals and places of worship; and

WHEREAS, on the same date another DHS directive expanded categories for “expedited removal” to any who have been in the U.S. for less than two years, which includes many new immigrant students; and

WHEREAS, this threat of mass deportations has caused widespread fear and anxiety among immigrant families and communities, and harmed our students’ education; and

WHEREAS, students whose parents are immigrants targeted by these plans face the prospect of separation from their families, or being forced to leave the country even if they are citizens; and

WHEREAS, President Trump issued an executive order to nullify the citizenship of children of undocumented parents, blatantly violating the 14^th Amendment to the Constitution, so that even children born in the United States of immigrant parents fear they could be deported; and

WHEREAS, New York City local “sanctuary” laws 228 (2017) and 486-A/487-A (2014) restricting NYC employees’ communication with federal immigration authorities are already being undercut by the mayor, who last week issued a memorandum that would effectively allow I.C.E. to enter city facilities even without a warrant signed by a federal judge or magistrate; and

WHEREAS, many of the 146,000 homeless students in NYC public schools reside in city shelters; and

WHEREAS, 40 percent of the population of New York City and nearly half (45 percent) of its workforce were born in another country, while a majority of the more than half a million undocumented immigrants in NYC have lived here for over a decade and are a vital part of our community; and

WHEREAS, we cannot look to the government, the courts, the police or politicians of either Democratic or Republican parties to protect immigrants from deportation or bigoted attacks; and

WHEREAS, under the NY state constitution, all children here have a right to a public education; and

WHEREAS, it is our duty as educators to stand by and advocate for our students and their families; and

WHEREAS, it is the duty of the unions to defend our fellow workers including school staff; and

WHEREAS, “an injury to one is an injury to all” is a basic principle of the labor movement; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, that the Delegate Assembly of the United Federation of Teachers encourages local chapters to initiate school-based committees to defend immigrants, which may include and work with other unions, students, parents and community members; and be it further

RESOLVED, that this Assembly rejects the vile attacks on immigrants, and calls on all of labor to initiate such defense committees and mobilize its power in defense of immigrants; and be it further

RESOLVED, that these are our students, our fellow workers, our neighbors, and we will act to support them in this, their hour of need, and always. We will not let them take our students.