Kansas immigration

Kelly spoke at a United Food and Commercial Workers member meeting Monday in Dodge City, highlighting the importance of immigrants in Kansas.

Many in the Hispanic and Latino communities in Dodge City, Garden City and Liberal, where most ICE activity was located, returned to work this week. But their fear persists and they aren’t yet leaving their homes or returning to regular activities, multiple immigrants said.

Republican U.S. Sens. Jerry Moran and Roger Marshall said Wednesday they both were in contact with Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin after southwest Kansas law enforcement agencies said they didn’t know about Immigration and Customs Enforcement activity and residents reported people being stopped at random.

The federal government's purchase of the CoreCivic-operated ICE detention center in Leavenworth is raising questions about whether the city will maintain the same level of oversight it established before the facility reopened.

As the Trump administration continues to bolster deportation efforts, local advocacy groups have reported a rise in immigrant arrests between June 15 and July 3, while Kansas City hosted World Cup matches. The increased ICE presence across the Kansas City metro area has kept residents on edge.

During the recent Kansas legislative session, GOP lawmakers passed a bill overturning a policy that allows thousands of young Kansans to pay for and earn a college education. Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly vetoed the bill, but Kansas may get sued by the Trump administration.

Behrens spoke alongside other faith leaders and immigrant activists Thursday at an interfaith prayer vigil in Prairie Village. Speakers encouraged churches — especially large congregations — to start fighting for immigrants.

A slim majority of Senate Republicans still backed Senate Bill 254 to end the policy. On Monday, Gov. Laura Kelly vetoed the bill.

Lawrence High School and Free State High School students, who protested immigration enforcement with a walkout in January, are planning a second walkout for Tuesday afternoon.

Kansas lawmakers say that requiring driver's licenses to list legal status would reduce noncitizen voting — something that is exceedingly rare. One study says suspected cases happen just 0.0001% of the time.