Legislative Discussions: Immigration, Health Mandates, and DACA Tuition
On Monday, the Nebraska Legislature was abuzz with heated debates over critical issues such as immigration enforcement, mask mandates, and in-state tuition for DACA recipients. These discussions brought forth a variety of perspectives from state senators, highlighting the complexity and urgency of these topics.
Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh expressed her distress over the recent incident involving the death of a protestor at the hands of immigration agents in Minneapolis. She urged the public to reassess their support for President Donald Trump’s policies, asking, “What are we doing to stand up in this moment, and how are we showing up for each other, for our community, for our loved ones?”
In contrast, Sen. Jane Raybould advocated for a different approach to immigration enforcement. While she opposed defunding Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), she called for increased funding to enhance training in de-escalation tactics. “I do not support defunding ICE… That’s our right,” she stated.
Sen. Cavanaugh encouraged her colleagues to voice their opinions, emphasizing the importance of using their platforms to address such critical issues. “It is not okay for people who are showing up and documenting atrocities to be gunned down… and it is not okay to be complicit and quiet about it,” she declared.
The legislative day also saw the advancement of a bill (LB203) aimed at increasing accountability for health measures. Sponsored by Sen. Kathleen Kauth, the bill mandates that elected officials approve certain health measures, like mask mandates, before they are implemented by health departments.
Although Sen. Raybould opposed the bill, praising the actions of the Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department during the pandemic, the proposal includes exceptions for health departments to act quickly in outbreak situations. An amendment by Sen. John Fredrickson allows for virtual meetings to approve such measures, with Sen. Brian Hardin describing the proposal as a compromise.
In the realm of education, the Education Committee reviewed proposals (LB870 and LB1061) to repeal a 2006 law granting in-state tuition to DACA recipients. Sen. Dave Murman, sponsoring one of the proposals, argued that the repeal aligns with current national conversations prioritizing American citizens. He stated, “In national political conversations, perhaps right now, no topic is bigger than addressing immigration…”
Opponents of the repeal, like Lucia Pedroza Estrada of Inclusive Communities, warned of the negative economic impact, citing a potential increase in the “brain drain” phenomenon. “You cannot claim to want to retain Nebraska talent while pushing educated, work-ready young people out,” she argued.
The committee has yet to make a decision on the proposed changes to the in-state tuition law.
