Texas Association of Chicanos in Higher Education Noticiario Noticiario_Summer2017 | Page 2

SB4 Statement cont’d
Below are a few of the ways that SB4 would negatively impact our college students,
faculty and staff.
• Some of our TACHE members could face the possibility of being detained on our
college campuses.
• Texas college students may be too fearful of deportation to report crimes or
assaults against them.
• Families in our communities may be too fearful to send their children to colleges
and universities thus threatening statewide college completion goals.
• Freedom of speech on community college campuses will be negatively
impacted. Community colleges are considered “local entities”. The law could
impact the ability of college faculty and staff to speak/teach freely regarding this
legislation in the classroom or on their campuses. Doing so could lead to large
fines of $1000 to $25,500. (See section 752.053 of the SB4 law.)
• TACHE members that are also community college trustees could be removed
from their office for speaking out against SB4.
Since 1974, TACHE has been an advocate on issues impacting Chicanos in higher
education. SB4 is policy that negatively impacts our members and will negatively
impact the welcoming and nurturing Texas campus climates we all work so hard to
build. TACHE advocacy is required during this critical time. In fact, it is one of the
reasons that our organization was formed.
Since May, Bexar County, El Paso and others have signed on to the lawsuit. On June
26, MALDEF presented the case before federal Judge Orlando Garcia in San Antonio
and we are awaiting word of his decision. As I write this, our country is preparing to
celebrate the 4 th of July holiday. I am reminded that one of the things that makes
our country great is the freedom that we have in our great nation. I am also aware
that freedom isn’t free and that lives have been lost defending it. No one has the
right to take away our basic freedoms and no one should ever take them lightly. We
certainly do not as we remain committed to the TACHE mission.
Respectfully,
Belinda Saldaña Harmon
TACHE President (2017-2018)
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