Nydia M. Velazquez: “I rise in strong opposition to the Rohrabacher amendment. Let's be clear about what we are doing here. This is not a…”

“I rise in strong opposition to the Rohrabacher amendment. Let's be clear about what we are doing here. This is not a simple effort to account for native born and immigrant children in our schools, as supporters suggest. This is not a benign attempt to count children's heads. No, this is a shameful and mean-spirited attempt to single out and penalize the innocent children of immigrants. With this amendment, we will transform our Nation's educators into immigration police. We would tell our Nation's teachers, principals, and counselors to put aside their books, their training, and put on a badge. Put aside your commitment to education, and start enforcing our immigration laws. Mr. Chairman, let's also be clear about who will become suspect. As my friend from Colorado has suggested, it wouldn't be children like those of the sponsor of this amendment who would come under scrutiny. The fair haired and fair skinned could go on with their studies without fear of retribution. For kids who look like me, kids who speak with an accent, as I do, our schools would become something else altogether. This amendment will make suspect Latino, African-American, and Asian American children, and no others. For them, our schools would become a fearful place indeed.”