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Don't Mandate Checking and Reporting of Immigration Status of Children
  1. Signatures
    124 out of 200
    Petitioning
    1. The AZ State House
  2. Created By
    Jenn Fang
    Tucson, AZ
About this Petition Petition Letter
Why This Is Important

SB 1097 / HB 2382 is a state bill sponsored by Russell Pearce, a key sponsor of SB 1070. SB 1097 can best be described as the "SB 1070 of Public Education".

SB 1097 would require school administrators to check the immigration status of children enrolled in public schools, and to report that information to state officials. Failure to do so would result in cutting of the school's budget.

This bill targets illegal immigrants by harassing their children, some of whom are American citizens with a right to a quality public education. SB 1097 would deputize school administrators -- untrained in immigration law -- as immigration officers, and institutionalize the harassment of any child suspected of being an illegal immigrant by school officials. The debate over SB 1070 has already revealed the problems involved in drafting state employees to perform the duties of border patrol officers.

Furthermore, SB 1097 will reduce classroom enrollment as illegal immigrant parents fearing deportation pull their (citizen and non-citizen) children from Arizona's public schools. This will undoubtedly reduce education rates and increase youth-related crime, which in turn jeopardizes the safety of all Arizonans.

In addition, because public school budgets are based on student enrollment, a mass exodus of children of illegal immigrants from public schools will reduce school budgets and affect the quality of education of all students who remain enrolled in that school. With Arizona's already abysmal educational ranking and faltering public education funding, this state can ill-afford any law that further damages the education of its children.

SB 1097 is currently being considered as HB 2382 in the Arizona State House. Sign this petition urging members of the Arizona State House NOT to vote for HB 2382.

Recent Signatures

HB 2382: Don't Mandate the Checking and Reporting of Immigration Status of Children In Public Schoo

To Whom It May Concern,

I am writing this letter to urge you not to vote for HB 2382, a bill that would require school administrators to check and report the immigration status of public school students.

This bill targets illegal immigrants by harassing their children, some of whom are American citizens with a right to a quality public education. SB 1097 would deputize school administrators -- untrained in immigration law -- as immigration officers, and institutionalize the harassment of any child suspected of being an illegal immigrant by school officials. The debate over SB 1070 has already revealed the problems involved in drafting state employees to perform the duties of border patrol officers.

Furthermore, SB 1097 will reduce classroom enrollment as illegal immigrant parents fearing deportation pull their (citizen and non-citizen) children from Arizona's public schools. This will undoubtedly reduce education rates and increase youth-related crime, which in turn jeopardizes the safety of all Arizonans.

In addition, because public school budgets are based on student enrollment, a mass exodus of children of illegal immigrants from public schools will reduce school budgets and affect the quality of education of all of Arizona's children who remain enrolled in that school. With Arizona's already abysmal educational ranking and faltering public education funding, this state can ill-afford any law that further damages the education of its children.

Again, I urge you not to pass HB 2382. This bill will do nothing about undocumented immigration in Arizona; instead, it will only punish American-born children seeking a quality education in this state.

[Your name]