NOTE: If you are short on time, watch the video and complete this See, Think, Wonder activity: What did you notice? What did the story make you think about? What would you want to learn more about?
SUMMARY
President Trump promised the largest mass deportation effort in the country’s history. As his Homeland Security Department works to deport more people, immigrants with legal status or no criminal history are being detained and deported. We hear from three people to better understand the impact and Laura Barrón-López reports on the administration's efforts.
View the transcript of the story. News alternative: Check out recent segments from the News Hour, and choose the story you’re most interested in watching. You can make a Google doc copy of discussion questions that work for any of the stories here.
WARM-UP QUESTIONS
- Who are the three people being targeted or detained by immigration officials?
- Where was Jasmine Mooney held when she was detained?
- Why did ICE detain Sylvia Camila Muñoz?
- How does Momodou Taal say he feels after being targeted by the Trump administration?
- What advice does Las Americas attorney Jennifer Babaie provide for migrants?
FOCUS QUESTIONS
Secretary of State Marco Rubio says he has revoked over 300 student visas and that the US gave international students visas to study, not to be social activists. The US Constitution protects the rights of legal immigrants, but Rubio is acting upon a provision that allows him to have the final say on their immigration status.
Momodou Taal says the message the Trump administration is sending is very clear: "If you are in this country and you are in a precarious visa situation, you can be deported. Not for any crime, not for any action that's illegal, but purely based on what you say and whether that is critical of US foreign policy or the state of Israel."
- Do you think Rubio and the Trump administration's actions are in line with the rights provided to legal immigrants by the US Constitution? Explain why or why not.
- The government says that they revoked Taal's student visa because of his involvement in "disruptive protests" by expressing his opinion on the war in Gaza. Discuss with a classmate whether you think Taal was legally within his rights to express his opinion through protest.
Media literacy: Where might you find more information about what constitutional rights protect people in the US regardless of immigration status?
WHAT STUDENTS CAN DO
Watch the video below to learn about the Trump administration's fight in court to use wartime authority to deport Venezuelan migrants.
- What is the Alien Enemies Act and when should it be invoked?
- Do you think that Trump's use of the act is unlawful?
To learn more about Trump's attempts to transform the government and test constitutional boundaries, complete this Daily News Lesson.
Written by Gianfranco Beran, PBS News Hour Classroom's production assistant, and News Hour's Victoria Pasquantonio.
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