While President Donald Trump batters the federal rule of law with the battering ram of executive power, a quiet counter-movement is awakening in the Democratic-led states - determined, diverse, legally well thought out. It is a civil society reflex to a policy increasingly directed against what once made America great: its immigration society. California, Connecticut, Illinois, Maryland - all are sending new signals against Trump’s mass deportation plans. In the “Golden State” alone, more than a dozen pro-immigrant bills passed either the State Assembly or the Senate last week - including a law requiring school authorities to allow federal agents access to school buildings only with a judicial warrant. A symbolic act? Far from it. It is a commitment to keeping education a protected space - even in the storm of authoritarian change.
Connecticut is going even further: In the future, individual residents will be able to sue local authorities for violations of the so-called “Trust Act” – a law that significantly limits cooperation between local police and ICE. The Department of Homeland Security responded immediately by placing the state on a list of “obstructive jurisdictions” – a move so hasty and flawed that the list was taken down just hours later. Too late – the political affront had already landed. Since returning to the White House, Trump has ushered in a new era of severity. ICE is once again targeting schools, churches, and hospitals. At the same time, the Department of Justice has sued Colorado, Illinois, and New York – along with numerous cities – for refusing to participate in the enforcement of federal immigration laws. But here too, pressure is met with resistance. Colorado responded with sweeping new protections, including fines of up to $50,000 for institutions that unlawfully collect or store information about individuals’ immigration status. Governor Jared Polis made it clear: “Our law enforcement agencies cooperate with federal authorities on criminal matters – not on civil immigration issues.”
Illinois is also bolstering access to education regardless of immigration status with new laws. Schools will now have to prepare for how to handle ICE requests - and can be sued if they violate the new rules. In Oregon, landlords are no longer allowed to inquire about the immigration status of their tenants. Vermont repealed a law that had allowed cooperation with federal authorities during a state of emergency. And in Maryland, public libraries and schools may only grant ICE access with a judicial warrant. What unites all these measures is more than political symbolism. It is a moral line in the sand - a message to those families who live in the shadow of fear. “We believe that diversity is our strength,” said Maryland Delegate Nicole Williams. And Juan Avilez of the American Immigration Council added, “This isn’t just about laws - it’s about building trust.”
Doch dieses Vertrauen steht auf tönernen Füßen. In Trumps Amerika, in dem Migration erneut als Bedrohung stilisiert wird, braucht es jede einzelne gesetzgeberische Geste, um einen Gegenentwurf zu zeichnen. Denn am Ende geht es nicht nur um Gerichtsbeschlüsse und Verwaltungsverordnungen. Es geht um das Bild von Amerika, das diese Generation den nächsten überlässt.
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