Ep. 27: Civil Liberties and Attacks on Undocumented Students in Schools — Vanessa Hernandez, ACLU

Vanessa Hernandez is a former teacher turned ACLU Youth Policy director. Vanessa began her 7 year ACLU career as a litigator.

6:00: Nate and Vanessa dive into immigration policy and public schools, Vanessa speaks to things which are problematic, what has panicked her in the past, and ”othering” humans.

9:00: Startling conversation on DHS guidance in schools and ICE involvement. Currently, schools are a ‘sensitive location’ (as are places like churches) but since there is no actual law, this is subject to change at any time.

24:00: Discussion surrounding school disciplinary actions and security officers in schools. Are there too many? What are their actual duties? Are we (as a society) to harsh?

30:00: Speaking of SROs, Philadelphia has created more structured system with intentional use for SROs in schools.

32:00: A discussion on how schools become a pipeline to prisons via suspension and expulsion.

“There’s no educational value to suspension or expulsion. There’s nothing they learn expect ‘these people don’t want me around.’”

36:00: How we are and how we should be handling suspension. Are students learning from and suspension and while they are on suspension?

46:00: Law Enforcement Kills 1100 Americans per year with (basically) no repercussions. What is ACLU pushing for to help. Initiative 940. Washington state has to prove that the officer acted with malice. Washington has the highest standard in the nation to prove malice.

Listener Questions: 51:00

How does the ACLU decide where to put it’s resources?
Where is the ACLU on Second Amendment Issues?
What is one civil liberty issue that no one is talking bout that we SHOULD be talking about?
How can we help students protect their privacy online?

The 5: