Donald Trump issued more than 100 Executive Orders (EOs) on January 20, the first day of his presidency.

Chief among them was a series of EOs dealing with immigration/migration which – in the opinion of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) – represent an unparalleled departure from the values, principles and policies that have long affirmed the United States as a nation that welcomes immigrants.

In particular, NASW is deeply concerned about aspects of the EOs that include mass deportation and/or family separation; ending birthright citizenship; deploying military personnel to the border; and creating vastly expanded immigrant/migrant detention centers – especially family and child detention facilities.

By targeting mostly vulnerable individuals and families, the new administration promotes a climate of fear in immigrant communities – many of whom have lived and worked in the U.S. for decades.

Trump’s EOs focusing on undocumented migrants on the nation’s southwest border are mostly aimed at stopping the flow of unauthorized border crossing from Mexico, as well as asylum seekers presenting themselves on the U.S. side of the border reand questing legal entry based on conditions – such as violence – in their home countries.

Nations have the right to protect their borders, but NASW is against policies that disregard human and civil rights

We should be reminded that such border crossings are not new, and seeking asylum from violence and persecution is covered by American immigration laws. However, while we recognize that all sovereign nations have a right to secure its borders, NASW opposes the tactics and disregard for protecting human and civil rights that the Trump EOs present.

For instance, NASW takes issue with the following policies and procedures found in the immigration EOs:

– The EO dealing with the Militarization of border enforcement  states that the military must treat border security not as a law enforcement matter, but as  full-scale military campaign. The EO’s position represents a departure from an over 150-year-old policy that essentially forbade the use of the military for domestic operations. For that reason, the Trump administration intends to apply the 1798 Alien Enemies Act as the legal authority for employing the military for sealing the border. The act permits the president to target immigrants without a hearing and based only on their country of birth or citizenship. For this and other reasons, use of the military for border security presents significant challenges, such as:

• • Remain in Mexico policy – The Remain in Mexico Policy EO will require many asylum seekers at the southern border to wait in Mexico for their hearings in U.S. immigration court. This policy began and was implemented during the first Trump administration in 2019. The result was tens of thousands of migrants being held for extended amounts of time in Mexico. The main opposition to the Remain in Mexico policy are human rights violations that resulted from migrants being forced into squalid camps – often exposing them to violence from drug cartels, and sexual violence.
  • Family Separation owes its existence as a policy to the first Trump administration via the current “Border Czar, Tom Homan, and the White House Senior Policy Advisor, Steven Miller. This policy –  which was abandoned by the Biden administration – has been resurrected as a part of the Trump’s current mass deportation EO. Family separation is particularly insidious in its purposeful disregard for the life altering emotional and economic impact it has on migrant families and children.

NASW’s concerns about the overall mass deportation EO are directed not only to the administration’s approach to securing the southwest border.  We are equally concerned about the fact that once operationalized the mass deportation program could and will affect millions of people residing nearly every state in the union.

Immigration executive orders put vulnerable children at great risk

It is this wide breadth of individuals and families that will be caught up in this program that elevates NASW’s apprehension about its potentially destructive outcomes. NASW is particularly disturbed about the degree to which children with be directly or indirectly affected.

For example, there will be will severe threats and consequences to the safety and long-term well-being of millions of children who are members of mixed-status immigrant families, including children who are U.S. citizens. The data are clear, for example:

• About 360,000 U.S.-born children of parents with Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and 300,000 U.S.-born children with at least one parent with DACA are at risk of losing a parent, given the incoming administration’s intentions to strip these statuses and make TPS and DACA recipients vulnerable to deportation.
• Even children whose parents are not at risk of being deported experience fear and anxiety because they do not always understand what form of status their parents may have.
• Two million children had at least one unauthorized immigrant parent in 2018. Eighty-five percent of these children, or 4.4 million, are U.S. citizens.

 Assocation is against stripping birthright citizenship

This leads to NASW’s strong objection to Trump’s EO that declares an end to birthright citizenship. First of all, there is no dispute among experts and scholars that birthright citizenship is a Constitutionally guaranteed right covered by the 14th Amendment.  Secondly, it is not coincidental that the birthright citizenship provision is included in one of the most important Constitutional amendments — that gave full citizenship to formerly enslaved African Americans The recognized birthright citizenship as an unassailable principle that affirmed the country’s commitment to equality.

That the Trump administration is attacking this principle as way to achieve its anti-immigrant goals is an afront to the Constitutional concept of equality, and the American value of inclusion. The idea of ending birthright citizenship is also in stark contrast to social work ethics and values.

In addition, NASW and the immigration community are deeply disappointed that Trump’s EO no longer requires the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to adhere to the protected area policy  . To end this policy is unconscionable.  The decision will invariably result in emotionally and social anguish for families, children in mixed status families and to the communities in which they reside.

 Rescinding Protected Area Policies

With respect to the expected widespread undocumented immigrant raids, we only need to look back on the mass deportation raids that took place during the Eisenhower Administration in 1955  to realize how inhumane and unjust such actions are. This was the largest mass deportation in U.S., affecting about 1.3 million people. It is likely that the Trump mass deportation raids will be exponentially more disruptive for individuals and families .

In addressing such concerns for inhumane treatment and other abuses during Immigration and Custom Enforcement (ICE) raids, the Biden administration created a protected areas policy. This policy prohibited (ICE) from conducting raids at such locations as churches, schools and hospitals.

However, to the deep disappointment of NASW and the immigration community, one of Trump’s immigrations EOs states that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is no longer required to adhere to the protected area policy. To end this policy is unconscionable.  The decision will invariably result in emotionally and social anguish for families, children in mixed status families, and to the communities in which they reside.

Resources

Brennan Center for Justice

The Alien Enemies Act

 Children Thrive Action Network (CTAN)

Toolkit: Protecting Immigrant Families Facing Deportation

 Immigration Hub (Amigos

 MEMO: Trump’s Day One Immigration Overhaul

 Leadership Conference for Civil and Human Rights

Trump Administration Civil and Human Rights Rollbacks

 National Immigration Law Center (NILC)

Trump’s Day 1 Executive Orders: Unconstitutional, Illegal, and Cruel

Now, that progress is at risk. Pennsylvania Congressman Scott Perry and 15 other House Republicans have introduced a bill to repeal IRA. HR 191 would be demonstrative to many families and individuals across the country. For social workers and the communities we serve, this is deeply concerning. The repeal of the IRA would have devastating consequences, we must act to protect its provisions.

For nearly 19 million Americans, the IRA has been a game-changer, capping out-of-pocket prescription drug costs for Medicare recipients at $2,000 annually, according to news reports. Starting in 2026, Medicare will begin negotiating lower prices for commonly used medications, potentially saving recipients $1.5 billion annually. These changes are not just numbers—they represent older adults filling their prescriptions without fear of financial ruin.

If the IRA is repealed, these hard-won benefits vanish. Millions of older adults and families on fixed incomes will again face impossible choices: pay for life-saving medication or keep the lights or heat on. Social workers witness these heartbreaking decisions daily, and the thought of returning to those dire circumstances is unacceptable.

The IRA isn’t just a health care law – it is also the largest clean energy investment in U.S. history. It has funded renewable energy projects in underserved communities, created green jobs, and taken meaningful steps toward combating climate change. For communities of color and low-income neighborhoods – often the hardest hit by environmental degradation – these investments are a critical step toward equity.

Repealing the IRA would halt this progress, leaving communities vulnerable to worsening climate impacts and lost economic opportunities.

One of the IRA’s less-discussed but equally important components is its funding to modernize the Internal Revenue Service. By cracking down on wealthy tax evaders, the law helps ensure that the nation’s wealthiest individuals and corporations pay their fair share. These funds, in turn, support vital social programs that benefit everyone.

Without this funding, economic inequity will grow, leaving those at the bottom of the economic ladder struggling even more.

Social workers are uniquely positioned to understand the ripple effects of policy decisions like this one. The repeal of the IRA would not only unravel progress made in health care affordability and environmental justice, but also increase the burden on social service systems that are already stretched thin.

NASW stands firmly against the repeal of the IRA. As advocates for social justice, it is our ethical obligation to protect policies that enhance well-being and promote equity.

What Can You Do?

1. Stay Informed: Understand how the IRA benefits your community. Share this knowledge with others.
2. Speak Out: Contact your representatives. Let them know that repealing the IRA would harm millions of Americans.

The fight to protect the Inflation Reduction Act is not just about policy; it’s about people. It is crucial to ensure that everyone – regardless of age, income, or zip code – has access to affordable health care, clean energy, and a fair chance at a better future. As social workers, we are called to be on the front lines of this struggle, advocating for justice on behalf of the communities we serve.

Together, we can make our voices heard. Let’s safeguard the progress we have made and continue working toward a more equitable and just society.

The National Association of Social Workers (NASW) urges Members of Congress to vote no on the Laken Riley Act. This bill would make accusations – and not just convictions – of minor and non-violent crimes to be deportable offenses.

Therefore, people who are arrested on the pretext of criminal behavior would be subject to prolonged, indefinite detention without bond. The act is named for 22-year-old nursing student Laken Riley. According to news reports Riley was murdered last February by Josie Ibarra, an illegal immigrant from Venezuela. Ibarra had previously been caught by border patrol agents and released. He was sentenced to life in prison without parole in Riley’s death in November.

The Laken Riley Act (HR 29) will give individual states the standing to override the executive branch’s federal immigration policy. The bottom line is that if the bill is passed by the Senate it would be a blank check for jurisdictions that have a record  of discriminatory and anti-immigrant policies to execute their real goal of mass deportations of migrants.

NASW is deeply disappointed the House passed this bill with the support of 48 Democrats. NASW urges the Senate to reject the Laken Riley Act when it is scheduled for a vote in that body.

Some of the specific aspects of the bill that substantiates our call for the Senate to deny its passage include:

• The bill ignores basic due process protections by requiring mandatory immigration arrest and detention, without access to bail,  of any undocumented person either convicted of or merely arrested for low-level non-violent offenses. It is clear that detention without access to a bond or bail hearing, and with no mechanism for release prior to deportation, is a harmful practice that should be ended, not expanded.
• NASW is concerned that there is no statute of limitations associated with offenses that may have occurred many years prior to an arrest. Furthermore, the bill does not include provisions for individuals to resolve the underlying criminal charges against them before immigration detention.
• The Laken Riley Act, if implemented, will create a pipeline to indefinite detention for current undocumented people and for those in the future. Given the painful history of immigrant detention, this is an unacceptable outcome.
• It is inevitable that HR 29 will exacerbate racial profiling. In communities where profiling is already documented and is highly problematic, HR 29 would become a weapon for targeting immigrants, making entire communities afraid to report crimes or cooperate with law enforcement.
• Mixed-Status Families will almost certainly face increased risk of separation. It is equally certain that the stringent enforcement measures in the Laken Riley Act will lead to imminent risk for deportations and the life altering traumatic consequences for young children in such families.
• The bill places Temporary Protected Status (TPS) recipients at heightened risk of being racially and ethnically profiled and overly scrutinized for evidence past “criminal” behaviors that would justify immigration detention procedures. All of which will disrupt the lives of TPS recipients and create uncertainty about their future in the United States.
• Similarly, “Dreamers” are also at risk of being adversely affected by the Laken Riley Act. It is not unrealistic to suggest that those with an anti-immigrant agenda will use the act as a pretext for profiling dreamers with increased scrutiny. This will lead to increased fear and instability among  Dreamers and their families, who have already faced significant uncertainty regarding their legal status.

For these and other reasons, NASW urges Members of Congress not to be swayed by those who profess that the Laken Riley Act has merit due to its supposed public safety objective. This is a cynical position, considering there is  no correlation between citizenship or immigration status and crime.

Evidence shows that immigrants make our communities stronger by invigorating local economies and fortifying urban development and cultural growth.  We should all be reminded that Laken Riley’s tragic death should be mourned and that the perpetrator – not the entire immigrant community – should be punished for that crime.

Turn Professional Aspirations into the Job of Your Dreams with   

       NASW’s Social Work Career Guidebook

Have you wondered how to channel your passion for change into not only your professional success but also a lasting legacy? Social workers, often referred to as “agents of change,” join the profession with the intention of making the world a better place. However, most social workers do not learn a systematic approach to fostering change in their own career advancement.

By focusing on your personal and professional growth, you can build a legacy that extends beyond immediate impacts, ensuring that your contributions endure and inspire future generations of social workers, clients, and communities. This interactive guidebook will provide you with useful tools and inspiration for every stage of your social work career journey.

The authors of The Social Work Career Guidebook, Jennifer Luna, Cindy Snell, and Michelle Woods, have decades of experience leading career services offices in top-tier social work schools. They break down the stages of career development and provide tips, easy-to-access exercises, and resume and correspondence samples.

The chapters will guide you through applying for jobs, interviewing, evaluating offers, negotiating salary and benefits, and successfully onboarding at your new job. Case studies and appendices provide strategies for building and documenting your network, interview questions and tactical responses, personal budgeting templates, and tools for evaluating single and multiple job offers.

Throughout, the authors encourage the readers to take a long view of their career and their legacy. Whether you are a recent social work graduate or a seasoned expert, this book will set you on a path toward your ideal job and professional fulfillment. Follow this link to learn more about the authors and read a sample chapter and reviews.

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Learn more about all NASW Press titles, including books, eBooks, CEU books, reference works, journals, brochures, and standards by visiting the Press website. If you have questions, please email NASWPress@BrightKey.net or call 1-800-227-3590.

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More NASW Career Tools . . .

Start the new year with purpose and intention! Earn continuing education credits by reading select NASW Press books via the NASW Social Work Online CE Institute. Titles range from early childhood education and care, ecosocial work, economic well-being, mentoring women for leadership, and social work ethics to burnout, self-care, and meditation, digital practice, and social entrepreneurship to name a few. Visit the NASW Press website to learn more about the full list of books offered and how to participate.

The Haitian community in Springfield, Ohio, in recent weeks has found itself at the center of a storm fueled by baseless rumors and misinformation  about the absurd notion Haitians were capturing and eating dogs and cats.

This unfounded claim soon spread on social media, resulting in a series of threats and harassment, leaving many Haitian residents fearful for their safety . This blog entry aims to shed light on the lead up to these events, explore the impact on the Haitian community, and discuss the broader implications for Springfield and all migrants of color across the country as they grapple with the fallout from these damaging falsehoods.

It is important to know that the “damaging falsehoods” did not happen in a vacuum. They are part of an intentional campaign to target and disparage the close to 20,000 Haitians who have lived in Springfield for the past five years. What is certain is that the threats and falsehoods are motivated by racial animus. The purveyors of the malicious anti-Haitian misinformation used language that they know would stoke pre-existing racial tensions in Springfield. The accusations included statement posted on the internet that said Haitians are “illegal immigrants,” were “dumped” on Springfield without the community being informed of the influx, are responsible for “skyrocketing” HIV and tuberculosis cases, have driven up housing prices, and of course that they’re stealing and eating the city’s geese and household pets. All of which is untrue.

The racial motivation of these acts is evidenced by the fact that it has been reported that Neo-Nazi groups. For example, a  national Neo-Nazi group called Blood Tribe has taken credit for spreading false information with a specific objective of stirring racial conflict. In early September, Blood Tribe began posting rumors about Haitians in Springfield on racist websites  The Neo-Nazi group posted their hate-filled diatribe —which included many racial epithets— falsely describing incidents where Haitians “eat the ducks out of the city parks.”

Downtown Springfield, Ohio

This is where national politics enters the picture in a very reprehensible way. After former President Trump’s terrible debate performance, he apparently needed a distraction. That distractionhas become the growing migration controversy involving an “invasion” of Haitians into Springfield, Ohio. Trump and his running mate J.D. Vance leapt into that conflict wholeheartedly. By highlighting the most salacious aspects of the rumors and infusing heavy racial imagery, the Trump/Vance campaign made a conscious decision to dangerously stoke  racial tensions in the Springfield community for political gain.

Even when the mayor of Springfield and the Ohio governor – both Republicans – emphatically disputed the racist reports, Trump and Vance continued to stridently peddle bogus and inflammatory anti-Haitian nonsense. A direct result of  Vance’s massive distortion of facts, many Springfield institutions – including hospitals and elementary schools – have received violent threats targeting members of its Haitian community.

The decision to scapegoat Haitian residents of Springfield is the height of cynical political opportunism. This was recently reinforced when Vance added more discordant energy  to the issue  when he said,  “The media loves to say that the Haitian migrants, hundreds of thousands of them, by the way, 20,000 in Springfield, but hundreds of thousands of them all across the country, they are here legally.”

This too was a strategic falsehood designed to paint a picture of “dangerous” hordes of uncivilized Black people  posing not only a threat to Springfield but the rest of America. The key words in the recent statement by Vance were “they are here illegally.” This phrasing is meant to rile up whites locally (and nationally), and eventually justify  mass deportations similar to that found in Project 2025 .

This escalation by Vance was also strategically designed to stir up anger against Haitians by attaching the explosive term “illegal alien” to the image of Haitians being pet eating savages who, by the way, happen to be Black. This newest tactic had an additional, and more malicious intent, of expanding scapegoating not only to Springfield Haitians, but to all Black migrant throughout America, again with the objective of politically capitalizing on existing anti-immigrant sentiments.

In a recent speech on the topic, Vance doubled down on his distortions when he said “Well, if Kamala Harris waves the wand illegally and says these people are now here legally, I’m still going to call them an illegal alien…”

Not only was he openly seeking to exacerbate an already explosive situation, but Vance was fully aware that his untruths endangered the lives of thousands of innocent people in this country seeking asylum from rampant violence in their home country. To say that Vance lacks even a basic sense of compassion is a gross understatement.

The Distinction Temporary Protected Status (TPS) Designation as Legal Right

As was previously pointed out, the Trump-Vance campaign intends to weaponize the term “illegal aliens” in its attack on Haitians. Therefore, It is important that social workers and other who care about social equity fully understand that a vast majority of Haitians have been living in America for years and are currently in this country legally, covered by Temporary Protected Status (TPS).

TPS is a highly significant, long-standing policy created to respond to exactly for the situation that many Haitians find themselves in  – the threat of death or severe physical harm if they are deported back to their country of origin.

That Springfield’s Haitians are in the United States legally cannot and should not be an issue. But the Trump-Vance campaign actually think by perpetuating their lies, they will  gain a political clout. However, there are those who take the position that that the constant attacks on immigrants and the rising tensions in Springfield and around the country could be a net negative for Trump . We can only hope that the this deeply troubling and divisive strategy will fail.

Intersection of Racial Disparities in Treatment of Black Immigrants and Springfield

In many ways, the racially motivated harassment of Haitians in Springfield intersects with historic systemic racial disparities that plagued the U.S. immigration system for many years.

Numerous advocates for immigration reform advance the position that America’s immigration system was designed, from its inception, to keep Black immigrants out . These advocates go on to state that today’s immigration system – starting with the asylum process and detention centers and ending in immigration courtrooms – continues to make use of historical mechanisms for denying Black people entry to this country.

The intersection of Springfield and systemic discrimination against Black migrants can be found in an incident that occurred in the 1980s. At that time, the U.S. government sent its Coast Guard to block 23,000 Haitians fleeing Jean-Claude Duvalier’s repressive regime from reaching the U.S. border.

An abandoned boat used by Haitian migrants at Naval Station Key West. Photo from Library of Congress.

Of the 23,000 people who sought entry, only eight were granted asylum. This was completely contrary to our nation’s asylum law that says:   In the United States, individuals have the legal right to seek asylum if they fear persecution in their home country due to race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion.

The Haitians in the 1980s traveled to the United States in overcrowded boats, had little food and fresh water, and were physically exhausted. Yet, the U, S. government – even for humanitarian reasons – prevented then from touching American shores knowing that if they did do, the government was required by law to grant them entry for an asylum hearing.

Other incidents of unequal treatment of Black migrants include being disproportionately arrested by police and convicted for minor crimes and receiving disproportionately longer sentences by judges. Black migrants are also more likely to be put in immigrant detention centers, detained longer than their non-Black counterparts, and six times more likely to be subjected to solitary confinement.

The disparate treatment of Haitians in Springfield and the scapegoating by politicians of migrants, and particularly Black migrants, has a long history.  This underscores the need for Congress to pass  comprehensive immigration (and migrant) reforms  that include laws and policies that are devoid of racial biases.

In the meantime, the National Association of Social Workers and its allies in the immigration rights and human rights community will be uncompromising in its condemnation of Trump and Vance’s unconscionable disregard for upholding one of the primary tenets of America’s democracy – the guarantee of racial and ethnic equity and a commitment to protecting human rights.

Here is information from the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) to help the public and news media.

NASW CEO Anthony Estreet, PhD, MBA, LCSW-C, is an expert on mental health, substance use disorders, and the social work workforce. To arrange and interview with Dr. Estreet or other NASW experts contact:

NASW Communications Director Greg Wright

Email:  media@socialworkers.org or call 202.336.8324

Resources:

Click to download and print The Crucial Role of Social Workers in Supporting Individuals and Families.

The document can be used during public events and visits to policymakers.

Follow NASW on Social Media

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Recent NASW News Hits

Social workers advocacy group endorses Harris for president – The Hill

Getting more men into so-called pink collar jobs (NASW CEO Anthony Estreet) – NPR

State partners with Michigan State University to increase and retain social workers (NASW Michigan Chapter Executive Director Duane Breijak) – Fox 47 News

It Ends With US: What Is Going On With The Film (NASW CEO Anthony Estreet) – Glamour

Colorado expanded its red flag law. Few additional cases resulted (NASW Colorado Chapter Executive Director Leanne Rupp) – States News Service

How a lack of supervisors keeps new mental health workers from entering the field (Angie Lutts, vice president of the National Association of Social Workers’ Texas chapter) – Amarillo Globe-News

Sonya Massey, a 36-year-old mother and Woodside Township, IL resident, called 911 on July 6 to report a home invasion. When the police arrived, Sonya remained calm and in control. Even when the law officers suddenly changed the situation from investigating a reported prowler to one where the officers treated her as a threat to their safety, she followed their instructions and made no actions that would suggest harmful intent.

Despite those facts, a Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office deputy shot and killed Ms. Massey at close range, during which time he and his partner could be heard yelling expletive-filled orders at her. Shockingly, as Ms. Massey lay on the floor dying, they refused to render aid as required by police use of force standards.

Ms. Massey should not be dead, considering she was unarmed and not a threat to the officers. This is true even if one factors in suspected presence of mental illness on the part of Ms. Massey –  which has been implied in some reports.

Based her mother’s 911 call on the previous day, Ms. Massey’s mental illness did not pose a threat to herself or others. Therefore, the sheriff deputies had many other options for managing the situation without resorting to lethal force. The deputies simply failed to the use skills, techniques, and abilities — that their training would have taught them— to effectively and appropriately address the situation, while minimizing violence .

Factors of Race and Racism in Excessive and Use-of-Force Cases

There are inequities at every level of the criminal justice system. As a result of disparities in arrests and prosecution, there are many more African American and Latino males in jail than any other racial groups. They are also vastly more likely to be killed by police.

Recent studies indicate that racial minorities represented 62.7 percent of unarmed people killed by police. Emerging data and studies indicate that disparities in police use of force is more widespread across the entire American criminal justice system.

People of color continue be the victim of discriminatory, and deadly policing. Police and other law enforcement encounters continue to result in the deaths of Indigenous, Latinx, and Black people at significantly higher rates—as much as 350 percent more frequently—than white people.  Such disparities are much more evident when we look at nonfatal uses of force by police — where police similarly target people of color, especially Black people, for stops and arrests at much higher rates than white people.

The deaths of Ms. Massey, George Floyd, Eric Gardner, and Breonna Taylor demonstrate there is a continued need for enhanced use-of-force training. To that end, Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D- IL) has re-introduced the  Police Training and Independent Review Act.  The background statement of the act states that: “On average, police in the United States shoot and kill more than 1,000 people every year. Despite staggering rates of fatal on-duty shootings, low conviction rates highlight the challenges in holding police officers accountable. Factors such as close relationships between local prosecutors and police departments can hinder independent investigations and impact the pursuit of charges and convictions.”

As its title suggests, the Police Training and Independent Review Act seeks to greatly reducing incidents of excessive use -of- force by authorizing states to expand training on use of force standards, The bill also  authorizes funds to hold police accountable allowing states to conduct independent investigations of incidents of excessive force resulting in injuries and deaths.

What can be Done to End Unjustifiable Law Enforcement Excessive use of Force?

Implicit and Explicit Bias Training

Use of excessive force does not necessarily stem from of overt racism, according to research. There are recent studies that suggest that law enforcement officers’ decisions to use force is more likely the product of unconsciously biased, decisions that instigate disproportionate arrests, shooting deaths, and incarceration of Black and Latino men. This is commonly referred to as implicit bias.

For that reason, many advocates and law enforcement agencies believe that training on explicit and implicit bias is essential. Data that points to racial and ethnic disparities among victims of excessive police force cannot be ignored. Although implicit bias is often associated with white law enforcement officers in the encounters with Black or Brown suspects, the Center for Policing Equity says Black-on-Black implicit bias also exists. Therefore, implicit bias trainers and participants must approach the need for implicit bias training to include all police, regardless of race or ethnicity.

Demonstrators protesting in front of police.

Legislation (The George Floyd Justice in Policing Act)

The murder of George Floyd was such a horrific public execution (spectators captured it on cellphone video) that it caused world-wide outrage and condemnation and a call for comprehensive policing reforms. In response to the demand for changes in police practices, a Democratic-led House passed the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act. Unfortunately, the legislation failed to pass the Senate. Among many other standards and practices to address abuses in the bill there is a use of force provision that states:

“Deadly force be used only as a last resort and requires officers to employ de-escalation techniques first. Changes the standard to evaluate whether law enforcement use of force was justified from whether the force was ‘reasonable’ to whether the force was ‘necessary.'”

NASW has joined the social justice and civil rights community in calling for passage of the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act.

Body Cameras

It is important to note how essential police body worn cameras have become in the quest for accountability and transparency during police encounters, especially in incidences of excessive use of force. The body worn cameras have been immeasurably valuable for public awareness with respect to Ms. Massey’s shooting death and many other recent lethal force tragedies.

NASW is an active member of several policing reform coalitions and these groups nearly a decade of ago successfully mobilized to demand that all law enforcement agencies mandate that officers have body cameras. As demonstrated in the Sonia Massey case, they continue to play a crucial role in modern policing.

However, it is problematic that the officer who shot Ms. Massey did not turn on his body camera until after he fired his weapon Ms. Massey. For that reason, NASW recommends that all law enforcement offices be subject to penalties for turning off camera during official encounters with suspects.

Review of hiring practices and Background Checks Standards for police

One of the most concerning things that came out of the reports about the background of the officer who killed Ms. Massey is that he had worked for six different police department over a four-year period. He also had two DUI charges between 2015 and 2016. Lastly, this deputy was discharged from the Army for serious misconduct  – the details of which are confidential according to military policy. Such a record is a “red flag” that reflects badly on the police agencies that hired him, and on the integrity of their hiring and background check standards.

According to the Department of Justice, police agencies traditionally have used the hiring process primarily to identify and exclude candidates who do not meet certain agency standards. The emphasis of 21st century policing is for police agencies to use the hiring process to do more than simply disqualify the negative. They should use that process to proactively identify candidates who demonstrate positive attributes.

In the aftermath of this latest use of lethal force incident, it is imperative the Justice Department work with local police and law enforcement agencies on developing national standards for recruiting and hiring law enforcement officers. Such standards must reflect the 21^st Century Policing criteria and model for screening out officers who have the deficits shown by the deputy who took Ms. Massey’s life.

Sonia Massey’s shooting death at the hands of a law enforcement officer is more than a personal tragedy –  it is a national shame. The national shame is rooted in the fact that, in America, between 2013 and 2019 more than 1,000 unarmed people died as a result of police use-of-force and approximately a third of these victims were people who are Black. However, despite intense advocacy and social actions by the police reform community, there seems to be no end to such killings.

In the absence of national standards and mandatory use-of-force training for all law enforcement officers, America will continue to function with a fragmented pattern and practice system of use-of-force guidelines. Similarly, there is an absence of national standards on employment screening for police officers to identify the “red flags” shown by the deputy who Ms. Massey encountered.

Lastly, but of equal importance, is the need for improved training for all law enforcement officers on implicit and explicit bias when they encounter people of color. Related to the need to address racial disparities in deaths from lethal use-of- force, there is also a  need for national standards for disaggregated data collection which tracks incidents  excessive use-of-force by race, ethnicity and other similar demographics.

As we assess the damage done by Hurricane Beryl, we know that many are without power and are evaluating their needs. We want to make sure we get the right resources to those in need. If you’re in the area impacted by the storm and have specific ways that we can help, don’t hesitate to reach out to us at: naswtex.naswtx@socialworkers.org.

In the meantime, the Texas Standard offers resources for safety and support, and ABC 13 in Houston provides additional ways to donate and seek help. The NASW Texas Chapter is here to keep social workers and our communities connected as we move forward. Don’t hesitate to contact us with questions or immediate needs.

Texas Standard Resources: https://bit.ly/45WAZwm

ABC 13 Houston Help: https://bit.ly/4cBnkxa

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore of Maryland on June 17 announced he will pardon more than 175,000 residents who were convicted for possessing marijuana.

Gov. Wes Moore

This is one of the most expansive efforts ever in our nation to right the wrongs of criminal convictions of Marylanders for the nonviolent offense of simple possession of cannabis. While the order would have had greater impact if it included expungement of arrest and conviction records, Moore must be commended for this important action.

Equally as impressive was Moore’s recent comments that pardoning the 175,000 people  “will also help remove systemic barriers that disproportionately impact Black and brown residents of the state.”

That statement underscores the sentencing disparities and collateral consequences – both economically and socially – that criminalization of marijuana for decades has had on the lives of thousands of Maryland residents in communities of color.

The governor’s executive order demonstrates a real and sincere commitment to directing Maryland drug policy toward public health as an instrument of public safety—as opposed to an over-criminalization mindset.

In that context, it is hoped that the federal government will follow Moore’s signal by fully decriminalizing marijuana within the federal system— instead of its current policy of retaining marijuana on the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Schedule as a Schedule III drug. In the meantime, we support and appreciate Governor Moore’s actions.

Additional Resources:

NASW Social Work Talks Podcast on how marijuana law reforms affect Black and brown communities

A Social Work Perspective on Drug Policy Reform

Studies indicate Black fathers, even when absent from the home, tend to be more engaged with their children than fathers of other groups. However, Estreet said Black fathers can experience mental health stressors that other groups do not and it is important they seek out therapy, including from clinical social workers.

“Black men are facing higher challenges, you know, when compared to other groups, such as economics, health care, educational disparities, systematic racism, social injustice,” Estreet said. “You know we are one of the only groups of people who can literally be watching the news and see somebody that looks like us and from communities like us be shot down and killed on live TV.”

“I would really say that therapy works, right,” Estreet said later. “You know, find yourself a therapist, preferably a social worker. I am a little biased.”

Take time to listen to Estreet’s interview below:

Social workers help people overcome mental illness so they can live more fulfilled lives. Learn more at NASW’s HelpStartsHere.org.