Experts gather to highlight the alarming consequences of SB 4 for Texas children
What: La Unión del Pueblo Entero (LUPE) joins Children At Risk to speak on the circumstances SB 4 brings to children across Texas. Police chiefs and city elected officials can be a force that defends the wellbeing of children while also ensuring access to justice and equal protection for all of us. SB4 increases the chances of family separations happening due to deportations, and the emotional trauma that comes with it. In 2018 we studied the negative effects of legislation like SB4, and were able to show that anti immigrant laws lead to more children experiencing symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
BROWNSVILLE, TX (November 30, 2023) – In the Rio Grande Valley, RGV, a remarkable 51.55% of children come from mixed-status families with at least one foreign-born parent, underscoring the region's strong multicultural character and the prominent role immigration has on our community. Introduced in the 4th special session, SB 4 is a stark departure from our core values of child protection and welfare, poses severe risks to the fundamental rights of children, impacting communities across the RGV. CHILDREN AT RISK, a leading nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of children and families, is raising awareness about the potential consequences of the recently passed SB 4 in Texas. The organization is coming together with community leaders that serve the immigrant community to stand together in support and ensure the community they will not waver in their commitment to serve.
SB 4 grants unprecedented power to peace officers and magistrate judges and has raised alarms from advocates and community leaders across our state. CHILDREN AT RISK strongly believes that the provisions of this bill have the potential to traumatize children in ways that no anti-immigrant legislation has ever done before.
When: Thursday, November 30th, 2023 starting at 12:30 PM CDT
Where: https://www.facebook.com/childrenatrisk/live
Who: The Director of Civic Engagement, Michael Mireles,La Unión Del Pueblo Entero, LUPE Votes, Linda Corchado, Director, Children’s Immigration Network, C@R, Dalinda Gonzalez-Alcantar, CEO, Boys and Girls Club of McAllen
To schedule an in person or virtual interview in English or Spanish with a spokesperson from LUPE, please contact Ramiro Gonzalez at ramirog@lupenet.org or (956)360-4277.
LUPE Votes is a sibling organization of La Unión del Pueblo Entero (LUPE). Through LUPE Votes, we use electoral and political organizing to win justice for working-class South Texans. Learn more at lupevotes.org
CHILDREN AT RISK is a research and advocacy nonprofit leading the way in improving the quality of life for Texas’ children. CHILDREN AT RISK considers the whole child by tracking issues in children’s health, safety, education, and economic security to improve equity and justice for all Texas families. Committed to action beyond the data, CHILDREN AT RISK drives evidence-based change by speaking out on behalf of children. For more information, visit childrenatrisk.org, Facebook, and Instagram.