Miranda chides Huppenthal, will lead
NHCSL study on humanitarian efforts for unaccompanied minors
STATE
CAPITOL, PHOENIX – Rep. Catherine Miranda,
D-Phoenix (District 27), today criticized Superintendent of Public Instruction
John Huppenthal for using the crisis involving unaccompanied migrant children
for political gain.
Huppenthal
recently called a press conference to announce that he asked for the federal
government to pay for the education of unaccompanied migrant children.
“Superintendent
Huppenthal made a disappointing choice to target vulnerable children,” Miranda
said. “Schools are expected to educate all children, and they should not be
forced to determine the immigration status of any student. Teachers and
administrators already have a big job. They are there to help our children
succeed. Superintendent Huppenthal should know that, so I believe he called this
press conference for the sole purpose of promoting himself during an election
year.”
Miranda,
who on Wednesday was appointed to lead the National Hispanic Caucus of State
Legislators’ investigation into the child migrant situation, said that the
unaccompanied migrant children who Huppenthal referenced in his announcement are
involved in a humanitarian crisis.
“It
is imperative that we recognize that many of these children are suffering and
they deserve security and fair treatment,” Miranda said.
She
is also the NHCSL’s vice president for public policy and will accompany the
NHCSL’s Executive Committee on a tour of a Customs and Border Protection
facility in Arizona next month.
“Resolving
this situation will take collaboration between our border states and the
federal government,” Miranda said. “It’s my intent to ensure that the
conversations about solutions are constructive and substantive. There is no
room for political theater.”
The NHCSL is the premier national association of Hispanic state
legislators working to design and implement policies and procedures that will
improve the quality of life for Hispanics throughout the country. NHCSL
was founded in 1989 as a nonpartisan, nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization with the
mission to be the most effective voice for the more than 350 Hispanic
legislators. For more information, visit www.nhcsl.org.
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