In the weeks leading up to Donald Trump’s inauguration, Governor Meyer was asked on multiple occasions what he might do if the federal government attempted to violate the rights of Delawareans. Governor Meyer was unequivocal: he would protect peoples’ rights.
Those words are critical for Delawareans to hear. As I have traveled the state since Donald Trump’s election, communities that he has threatened to target are frightened beyond belief. Now that President Trump has taken office, many of our worst fears have been confirmed by the speed with which he has issued executive orders, memos, and taken other actions to defile the very foundation of what it means to be an American.
I thank Governor Meyer for his words, and his strength in character to resolve to protect Delawareans. But the time has come that Delawareans need to see concrete action to proactively address the looming threats to our most precious rights and liberties.
His most recent announcement that he would direct state police not to assist in most ICE operations is an example of the type of action we need to see. But we can’t stop here – we must continue to act boldly.
The most important step that Governor Meyer can take immediately is to issue an executive order that the state of Delaware will not cooperate with federal anti-civil rights actions. This would include not allowing any state agency to assist immigration agents in executing dragnet enforcement and investigations , ensure that the private medical information for transgender people and those seeking reproductive healthcare remains private, affirm that all students are treated fairly in school and have access to equal education, and reinforce peoples’ First Amendment rights who disagree with the administration, among many other protections.
Passage of such an executive order would not be a panacea. For instance, state officials would still have to cooperate with lawful government orders, such as a signed immigration warrant from a judge for the detention or investigation of an undocumented person. However, it would help to shield many vulnerable Delawareans, protect against the worst impulses from the Trump administration yet to come, and ensure that our state remains with clean hands no matter what the federal government tries to do.
Even more importantly, it would provide a higher level of support and reassurance for the tens of thousands of Delawareans who are currently living in fear that they will be targeted by the administration. When our state’s highest elected officials take action to protect the vulnerable, it sends a clear message that they are valued members of our community who are worthy of dignity and equal justice.
It would also provide leadership and guidance in a time where many are confused and fearful about what the federal government might do. For instance, many of President Trump’s initial orders have revolved around education, transgender rights, and diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. Taken together, many educational institutions are rightly left to wonder whether these orders will force them to close or alter certain student clubs, remove transgender girls from girls’ sports, and censor certain topics from classroom discussions. These issues are fundamental civil rights issues that need public pushback and guidance from the very highest levels of our state government.
There may be people who hope that Donald Trump will not attack Delaware, surmising that we are too small, and that he will focus his ire on other parts of the nation. And so they fear coming out and passing real, concrete protections that would repudiate the President’s goals and actions will somehow make our state a target.
If we have learned anything in President Trump’s first month in office, it is that he has no intention to stop his assault on our Constitution. To merely hope he will not attack Delaware if we keep our heads down ignores the reality of the moment: Donald Trump is determined to undermine all norms in all corners of our nation.
Delaying proactive action only empowers the person who is attempting to rule with fear, leads to many people acquiescing to the government’s actions, and tacitly endorses his attempts to curtail our rights.
There are already many states and localities that have stepped out on the issue of non-cooperation with immigration officials. Nationally, over 700 different localities in 28 states have already passed laws or policies that they will not cooperate with ICE, and states like California, Oregon, Washington, Connecticut, and New Jersey have broad non-cooperation policies already in place. Governor Meyer’s announcement that state police will not cooperate is a good first step, but other actions should include advising all state agencies not to cooperate, working with the Attorney General to ensure local law enforcement are advised not to cooperate with ICE, and establishing assistance programs for people who may be impacted by future immigration enforcement actions.
It has been inspiring to see Delaware take part in lawsuits along with other states and groups like the ACLU challenging some of Trump’s actions. But lawsuits are inherently a reactive strategy, and Delawareans deserve proactive leadership to ensure we are protected as much as possible before the federal government tries to violate our rights. Governor Meyer has already taken an important step to ensure state law enforcement will not take part in lawless raids, but we must enact formal protections across the board to protect all civil rights under attack by the federal government.
Audre Lorde’s famous quote later used for her posthumous collection of essays and poetry, “Your Silence Will Not Protect You” comes from an essay about the power of turning language into action. Lorde argues that silence is a form of violence, and that while language is powerful, it must be followed by concrete action to advance justice.
I am grateful that we have elected officials like Matt Meyer who have spoken broadly to assure Delawareans that he will have our backs. Now we must see those words turn into specificity and action. Our silence will not protect us—and neither will inaction.
Visit bit.ly/meyer-eo to send a message urging Governor Meyer to protect Delawareans’ civil liberties now.
