Signees of the letter include: ACLU of Delaware, Delaware NAACP State Conference of Branches, Delaware Poor People's Campaign, Haitian Coalition of Delaware, Immigrant Justice Committee of New Castle Presbytery, Latin American Community Center, Latino Initiative on Restorative Justice, Network Delaware, New Castle Presbytery, Orgullo Delaware, Speak Out Against Hate, Votamos We Vote Coalition, Women's March Sussex
An Open Letter to Delaware Leadership:
We write to you today as a collective of Delaware-based organizations who are deeply invested in the well-being of all Delawareans, especially those who have immigrated here and are now facing an onslaught of attacks from the federal government. In the wake of recent federal executive orders aimed at terrorizing immigrants nationwide, it is beyond time that Delaware leaders listen and act when we say this:
We are not okay. Not as a country, a state, or a community.
It is not okay for immigrants in Delaware to be forced to live in fear of abduction and dehumanization as their rights continue to be trampled upon by a xenophobic administration. It is not okay for Delawareans to watch their family members, neighbors, and coworkers be targeted for mass deportation raids. It is not okay for children to fear going to school because of their family’s immigration status, or for those seeking medical help to suffer rather than go to a hospital where they may encounter federal agents.
It is especially not okay to watch these atrocities unfold while our local government fails to take the necessary action to stop it.
Delaware has the power and opportunity to protect our neighbors who want nothing more than to continue living safely among their friends and family. Here’s how our elected officials can offer that protection:
Governor Meyer can and should sign a non-cooperation executive order stating that Delaware will not cooperate with any attempts by the federal government to use state resources, personnel, or information to undermine the civil rights and liberties of vulnerable groups, especially immigrants.
In the legislature, several bills have been introduced that seek to strengthen and expand protections for immigrants. Here are just a few of the legislative pieces that need avid support from our elected officials:
HB 94 and HB 150 would protect sensitive locations in the state–including schools, places of worship, and courthouses–to ensure everyone is able to exist in these spaces without fear. These bills limit state law enforcement from cooperating with federal immigration enforcement, unless there is a valid judicial warrant or court order.
HB 58 prohibits police from targeting individuals based solely on their actual or suspected immigration status, reinforcing the commitment to community trust and preventing discriminatory profiling.
Bills were also introduced to strengthen privacy and data protections for immigrant communities. HB 60 strengthens DMV protections to ensure personal data, including information that may reveal citizenship status, is safe from federal attempts to find and target immigrants. HB 95 offers another level of protection for students and families by limiting the release of student records in connection with immigration enforcement efforts.
We need Delaware leadership to demonstrate the courage to step up and enact these protections for the well-being of everyone in our state. If Delaware wants to live up to the name of “First State,” it should be willing to be the first line of defense for the most vulnerable and systematically abused members of our communities. That means standing up to oppressive forces, holding agencies and institutions accountable to the Constitution, and protecting the civil rights of all who reside here – regardless of immigration status.
Immigrants belong in Delaware. It is up to all of us to make sure they feel safe, welcome, and capable of exercising the civil rights that our society depends on. The time to act is now.
Sincerely,
