JOHN: TONIGHT ON "PBS NEWS WEEKEND" -- WITH MEASLES CASES STEADILY RISING, QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION IS DEALING WITH THE OUTBREAK.

THEN, SCHOOLS BRACE FOR THE POSSIBILITY OF IMMIGRATION ARRESTS AFTER PRESIDENT TRUMP'S DECISION TO ALLOW ICE INTO CLASSROOMS.

AND, HOW SCIENTISTS ARE USING SATELLITE TRACKERS TO HELP SOLVE A MYSTERY ABOUT ONE OF THE WORLD'S OLDEST LIVING CREATURES.

>> OUR LONG-HELD ASSUMPTIONS ABOUT THESE ANIMALS MAY NOT BE 100% CORRECT IN PART BECAUSE IT'S VERY HARD TO FIND THEM OFF SHORE SO WE'VE IMPROVED THE BEST AVAILABLE DATA.

JOHN: GOOD EVENING.

I'M JOHN YANG.

THE GROWING MEASLES OUTBREAK IN THE SOUTHWEST UNITED STATES CLAIMED A SECOND LIFE THIS WEEK.

NEW MEXICO HEALTH OFFICIALS SAID AN UNVACCINATED ADULT, WHO DID NOT SEEK MEDICAL CARE, TESTED POSITIVE FOR THE VIRUS AFTER DYING.

MEASLES IS A HIGHLY-CONTAGIOUS DISEASE.

BUT IN 2000, HEALTH OFFICIALS SAID THAT THE WIDESPREAD ADMINISTRATION OF THE MEASLES VACCINE HAD ELIMINATED IT IN THE UNITED STATES.

BUT NOW, THE CDC WARNS THAT MORE CASES CAN BE EXPECTED.

SO FAR THIS YEAR, MORE THAN 220 CASES HAVE BEEN REPORTED ACROSS 12 STATES.

TEXAS, WHERE THE OUTBREAK FIRST EMERGED AND WHERE LATE LAST MONTH AN UNVACCINATED CHILD DIED, HAS THE MAJORITY OF CASES.

AT LEAST 198 SINCE LATE JANUARY.

JESSICA MALATY RIVERA IS AN INFECTIOUS DISEASE EPIDEMIOLOGIST AT THE DE BEAUMONT FOUNDATION.

THAT'S A PHILANTHROPY THAT PROMOTES PUBLIC HEALTH.

JESSICA, HELP US PUT THIS IN CONTEXT.

THERE HAVE BEEN MEASLES OUTBREAKS IN RECENT YEARS.

HOW IS THIS ONE DIFFERENT OR IS IT DIFFERENT?

JESSICA: YEAH, IT IS DIFFERENT AND WE HAVE HAD MEASLES OUTBREAKS IN PREVIOUS YEARS.

IN 2019, THE U.S. NEARLY LOST THE ELIMINATION STATUS BECAUSE OF 1300 CASES THAT WERE REPORTED THROUGHOUT NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY.

AND IN 2013, THERE WAS AN OUTBREAK -- WHEN WE SAY OUTBREAK, WE REFER TO CASES THAT INVOLVE THREE OR MORE INFECTIONS - - IN 2024, THERE WERE A NUMBER OF OUTBREAKS, BUT TWO MONTHS INTO 2025, THIS IS OUR THIRD OUTBREAK, AND IT'S GROWING TO BE ONE OF THE WORST.

SO IT'S -- YOU KNOW, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THIS, IT IS UNUSUAL FOR THIS TYPE OF SCALE, BUT BECAUSE OF DECREASING VACCINATION RATES AND VACCINE REFUSAL IN GENERAL, WE ARE SEEING EMERGING CASES HAPPEN ON OCCASION.

JOHN: THE VACCINE REFUSAL, IS THAT THE MAIN DRIVING FORCE FOR THIS OUTBREAK OR THE PREVIOUS OUTBREAKS?

JESSICA: YES, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT MEASLES HERD IMMUNITY, WHICH REFERS TO WHAT THE VACCINATION RATE THAT WE NEED TO PREVENT MEASLES OUTBREAKS, IT'S 95% OR HIGHER.

WHEN WE DIP BELOW THAT PERCENTAGE, THAT'S WHEN WE START TO SEE NEW CASES EMERGE.

IT IS THE MOST CONTAGIOUS INFECTIOUS DISEASE WE HAVE AND THE MMR VACCINE IS ONE OF THE MOST EFFECTIVE VACCINES.

WHEN WE HAVE VACCINATION RATES ABOVE 95%, THAT'S WHEN WE CAN MAINTAIN THAT ELIMINATION STATUS.

AS SOON AS IT STARTS TO DIP, AND WE'VE SEEN THAT DIP BELOW 90% IN SOME COMMUNITIES, BUT WHEN IT'S IN THE 92%, 93% RANGE, THAT IS A VULNERABILITY FOR POPULATIONS.

JOHN: MMR VACCINE 3, MEASLES, MUMPS, RUBELLA, AND THAT ONE VACCINE.

TALK ABOUT THE EFFECTIVENESS AND THE HISTORY OF THAT VACCINE.

JESSICA: YEAH, SO THE MMR VACCINE IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST EFFECTIVE VACCINES THAT WE HAVE.

IT PROTECTS WITH ONE DOSE, YOU HAVE 93% PROTECTION FROM INFECTION.

AND WITH TWO DOSES, YOU'RE PROTECTED UP TO 98%.

THE FIRST DOSE IS TYPICALLY GIVEN TO CHILDREN WHO ARE BETWEEN 12 TO 15 MONTHS, AND THE SECOND DOSE IS GIVEN BETWEEN THE AGES OF FOUR TO SIX, IDEALLY SO THAT CHILDREN ARE FULLY VACCINATED AND PROTECTED BY THE TIME THEY ENTER KINDERGARTEN.

AND IT'S KINDERGARTEN VACCINATION RATES THAT WE'RE TYPICALLY LOOKING AT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT POPULATIONS THAT ARE EITHER PROTECTED OR VULNERABLE.

JOHN: THE NEW HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES SECRETARY ROBERT F. KENNEDY, JR., LONG-TIME VACCINE SKEPTIC, WHEN THIS FIRST OUTBREAK BROKE OUT, HE SAID IT WAS NOT UNUSUAL.

HE'S BEEN SUGGESTING THAT THINGS LIKE VITAMIN A AND COD LIVER OIL COULD BE REMEDIES.

WHAT EFFECT IS THAT HAVING, DO YOU THINK?

JESSICA: IT'S HAVING A PRETTY SIGNIFICANT EFFECT.

IT IS SOWING ADDITIONAL DOUBT IN VACCINE CONFIDENCE.

I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT VITAMIN A CANNOT PREVENT MEASLES INFECTION.

VITAMIN A IS A VERY SPECIFIC POST-INFECTION GUIDANCE.

AGAIN, OFFERED BY THE WHO BECAUSE IN SOME CASES, MEASLES CAN DEPLETE A CHILD'S VITAMIN A LEVELS.

AND SO THE DOSAGE OF VITAMIN A IS GIVEN BY A DOCTOR, TWO DOSES, 24 HOURS APART FOR THE PURPOSE OF REPLENISHING THAT DEFICIENCY IN VITAMIN A.

IT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE DOSED AT HOME.

IT'S NOT PROPHYLAXIS OR PREVENTION.

THE ONLY WAY TO PREVENT MEASLES INFECTION IS THROUGH THE MMR VACCINE.

JOHN: IN THE FIRST TERM, OF COURSE, PRESIDENT TRUMP HAD TO DEAL WITH COVID.

HOW WELL EQUIPPED, DO YOU THINK, OR PREPARED IS THE SECOND TRUMP ADMINISTRATION FOR SOMETHING LIKE THIS?

JESSICA: THIS IS A REALLY DIFFICULT QUESTION TO ANSWER BECAUSE IT'S HARD TO QUANTIFY, BUT IT DOESN'T BODE WELL WHEN WE ARE SEEING A WIDESPREAD ATTACK ON A LOT OF OUR PUBLIC HEALTH INSTITUTIONS.

WHEN I SAY ATTACK, I MEAN THE SILENCING AND THE KIND OF REMOVAL OF ESSENTIAL PUBLIC HEALTH DATA AND PUBLIC HEALTH INFORMATION.

RIGHT NOW, WE'RE SEEING A LOT OF POLITICAL FIGHTING WHEN IT COMES TO WHAT CDC AND NIH AND EVEN FDA CAN DO.

SO THINGS ARE NOT LOOKING GREAT, BUT THERE ARE A NUMBER OF VERY ACTIVE PUBLIC HEALTH LEADERS AND ORGANIZERS WHO ARE TRYING TO DO THE BEST THEY CAN TO PUT OUT GOOD INFORMATION AND TO HELP CREATE SYSTEMS OF HARM REDUCTION.

AND ADVOCACY, KIND OF THE CORE PRINCIPLES OF PUBLIC HEALTH.

JOHN: EPIDEMIOLOGIST JESSICA MALATY RIVERA, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

JESSICA: THANKS, JOHN.

JOHN: IN OTHER NEWS, RUSSIAN STRIKES ON UKRAINE HAVE KILLED AT LEAST 20 PEOPLE.

IT WAS THE SECOND NIGHT OF AERIAL ATTACKS SINCE THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION STOPPED SHARING SATELLITE IMAGES WITH UKRAINE.

IN THE DONESTK REGION, 11 PEOPLE DIED IN STRIKES THAT DAMAGED APARTMENT BUILDINGS.

OTHERS WERE KILLED IN AREAS ALONG THE FRONT LINES.

U.S. AND UKRAINIAN OFFICIALS ARE TO MEET NEXT WEEK IN SAUDI ARABIA TO START TALKS ON A POSSIBLE CEASE-FIRE.

UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT ZELENSKY SAID UKRAINE IS FULLY COMMITTED TO THE TALKS.

AND IN SYRIA, CLASHES OVER THE LAST TWO DAYS HAVE LEFT OVER 1000 PEOPLE DEAD.

FIGHTING ERUPTED BETWEEN THE INTERIM GOVERNMENT'S SECURITY FORCES AND LOYALISTS OF OUSTED PRESIDENT BASHAR AL-ASSAD.

IT'S IN A REGION HOME TO THE ALAWITE MINORITY, WHICH WAS ASSAD'S LONGTIME BASE OF SUPPORT.

THE GOVERNMENT SAID IT WAS RESPONDING TO RECENT ATTACKS FROM REMNANTS OF ASSAD'S FORCES.

A BRITISH-BASED HUMAN RIGHTS MONITORING GROUP SAID 148 PRO-ASSAD FIGHTERS DIED IN FIGHTING AND NEARLY 750 CIVILIANS WERE KILLED IN REVENGE ATTACKS.

WOMEN ACROSS THE WORLD MARCHED TODAY ON INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY.

CHANTS CALLING FOR EQUAL PAY, REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS, AND SOCIAL JUSTICE ECHOED IN STREETS FROM BERLIN TO ISTANBUL.

THOUSANDS IN MADRID PROTESTED FAR-RIGHT POLICIES THEY SAY UNDERMINE HUMAN RIGHTS.

IN FRANCE, WOMEN PAID TRIBUTE TO GISELE PELICOT, WHOSE HIGH-PROFILE RAPE TRIAL SPARKED A GLOBAL CONVERSATION ABOUT SEXUAL VIOLENCE.

AND DON'T FORGET TO SET YOUR CLOCKS AHEAD TONIGHT.

FOR MOST OF THE COUNTRY, DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME STARTS AT 2:00 A.M. SUNDAY.

SPRINGING FORWARD MAY COST US AN HOUR OF SLEEP, BUT WE'LL GAIN AN HOUR OF DAYLIGHT IN THE EVENING.

STILL TO COME ON "PBS NEWS WEEKEND," THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION POLICY THAT HAS SOME PARENTS PULLING THEIR CHILDREN FROM SCHOOL.

AND, HOW MODERN SCIENCE IS SHEDDING NEW LIGHT ON THE LIVES OF AN ANCIENT SPECIES.

JOHN: THERE'S AN ESCALATING DISPUTE BETWEEN PRESIDENT TRUMP AND SOUTH AFRICA OVER A NEW LAND POLICY THAT HE SAYS DISCRIMINATES AGAINST THE COUNTRY'S WHITE MINORITY.

ON TRUTH SOCIAL YESTERDAY, THE PRESIDENT CRITICIZED WHAT HE CALLED THE TERRIBLE TREATMENT OF LONG-TIME FARMERS IN THE COUNTRY AND OFFERED THEM A RAPID PATHWAY TO CITIZENSHIP.

AND IN FEBRUARY, MR. TRUMP SIGNED AN EXECUTIVE ORDER HALTING ALMOST ALL FOREIGN AID TO SOUTH AFRICA BECAUSE OF WHAT IT CALLED RACIALLY-DISCRIMINATORY PROPERTY CONFISCATION.

ALI ROGIN SPOKE EARLIER WITH JOHN ELIGON, THE JOHANNESBURG BUREAU CHIEF FOR "THE NEW YORK TIMES."

ALI: JOHN, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING WITH US.

FIRST OF ALL, TELL US ABOUT THIS NEW LAND POLICY.

JOHN: SO ESSENTIALLY, WHAT THE GOVERNMENT HAS DONE IS THEY'VE PASSED A LAW THAT ALLOWS THE GOVERNMENT TO TAKE LAND WITHOUT PROVIDING COMPENSATION TO THE PEOPLE THEY TAKE IT FROM.

BASICALLY, THE JUSTIFICATION THAT THE SOUTH AFRICAN GOVERNMENT GIVES FOR THIS IS THAT WE KNOW THROUGH THE LONG HISTORY OF APARTHEID IN SOUTH AFRICA THAT BLACK PEOPLE WERE ESSENTIALLY ROBBED OF THEIR LAND.

SO, THEY ARE REALLY LOOKING AT WAYS TO SORT OF MAKE RIGHT SOME OF THE INEQUALITIES THAT HAPPENED DURING APARTHEID.

ALI: PRESIDENT TRUMP, IN HIS EXECUTIVE ORDER, REFERRED SPECIFICALLY TO WHITE SOUTH AFRICANS.

BUT THEN IN A LATER SOCIAL MEDIA POST, HE INVITED ALL FARMERS TO CONSIDER THE UNITED STATES A PLACE TO COME IF THEY FELT THAT THEY WERE BEING DISCRIMINATED.

DO YOU THINK THAT THAT SHIFT IN LANGUAGE WAS DELIBERATE?

JOHN: IT'S HARD TO SAY.

AS WE'VE SEEN WITH MANY OF THE PRESIDENT'S SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS, THAT THEY ARE NOT ALWAYS NECESSARILY NUANCED.

RACE IDENTITY, CULTURE IS A VERY TRICKY THING ACROSS THE WORLD, ESPECIALLY IN SOUTH AFRICA.

AND NOW THAT HE'S BROADENED IT TO ALL FARMERS, THE REALITY IS THAT WHILE MOST COMMERCIAL FARMERS IN SOUTH AFRICA ARE WHITE, MOST FARMERS IN SOUTH AFRICA ARE ACTUALLY BLACK.

WHAT THE PRESIDENT WAS THINKING, WHETHER HE HAS MADE THIS, THIS DISTINCTION OR HIS ADMINISTRATION HAS MADE THAT DISTINCTION, I DON'T KNOW, BUT CLEARLY IN THE INITIAL ORDER, IT WAS NOT SOMETHING THAT WAS MEANT FOR BLACK FARMERS.

ALI: AND THE REALITY THAT YOU LAID OUT JUST NOW UNDERSCORES THE HISTORICAL REALITY, WHICH IS THAT LAND OWNERSHIP HAS HISTORICALLY BEEN DOMINATED BY WHITE SOUTH AFRICANS.

WE SPOKE TO YALE UNIVERSITY PROFESSOR DANIEL MAGAZINER ABOUT THIS, AND THIS IS WHAT HE TOLD US.

>> HISTORICALLY, IN FACT, FARMERS HAVE BEEN QUITE OPPRESSED IN SOUTH AFRICA.

BUT, THOSE ARE BLACK FARMERS.

THOSE ARE THE PEOPLE WHOSE LAND WAS ALIENATED OVER CENTURIES OF COLONIZATION AND WHO IN MANY CASES WORKED AS REALLY POORLY REMUNERATED, MENIAL LABORERS IN HORRIFIC CONDITIONS ON WHITE-OWNED FARMS.

AND SO, IN MANY WAYS, WHAT HE'S DOING IS HE HAS IMPLICITLY, NOT EXPLICITLY, BUT IMPLICITLY DOWNPLAYING THE REALITY OF SOUTH AFRICAN HISTORY.

ALI: IS THAT WHAT THE SOUTH AFRICAN GOVERNMENT IS SAYING PRESIDENT TRUMP IS DOING?

JOHN: ESSENTIALLY, WHAT THEY'RE SAYING IS THAT HE IS FLIPPING THE NARRATIVE OF WHAT THE TRUE SITUATION OF SOUTH AFRICA IS ON ITS HEAD.

SO, IT'S A VERY TRICKY THING BECAUSE SOUTH AFRICA HAS ALWAYS SAID THAT THEY WANT TO BUILD AN INCLUSIVE RAINBOW NATION.

SO YES, THEY WANT TO WORK ALONGSIDE THE WHITE FARMERS WHO HAVE ALREADY EXISTED, BUT THEY ALSO WANT TO, IN SOME WAYS, FIND WAYS TO UPLIFT BLACK FARMERS WHO HAVE HISTORICALLY NOT HAD THE SAME OPPORTUNITIES.

ALI: THE U.S. GOVERNMENT HAS PAUSED MOST AID TO SOUTH AFRICA, CITING THIS POLICY AND ALSO THE NATION'S POSITIONS ON THE CONFLICT BETWEEN ISRAEL AND HAMAS.

HOW ARE SOUTH AFRICANS RESPONDING TO THAT MOVE BY THE UNITED STATES?

JOHN: I THINK SOUTH AFRICANS, LIKE MANY OTHER PEOPLE ACROSS OTHER COUNTRIES IN AFRICA, ARE VERY UPSET ABOUT THE AID CUTS.

SPECIFICALLY IN SOUTH AFRICA, MOST OF THAT FUNDING IS FOR HIV AND AIDS PREVENTION, TREATMENT, THOSE SORTS OF PROGRAMS.

SO, THE QUESTION IS WHEN YOU CUT OFF THINGS LIKE THAT, THAT WILL ESSENTIALLY COULD COST PEOPLE THEIR LIVES.

YOU KNOW, PEOPLE COULD WELL ARE HAVING DIFFICULTY ACCESSING LIFE-SAVING MEDICATIONS, SO THEY FEEL LIKE THIS IS SORT OF A PUNITIVE MEASURE THAT REALLY GETS AT THEM FOR SOMETHING THAT THEY DIDN'T CAUSE OR THEY DIDN'T DO.

ALI: AND WE'VE BEEN LOOKING AT THIS LARGELY THROUGH THE PRISM OF THE UNITED STATES AND THEIR ACTIONS AGAINST SOUTH AFRICA.

BUT HOW IS THIS DEBATE PLAYING OUT INSIDE THE COUNTRY?

JOHN: TO BE CLEAR, THE LAND LAW IS FAIRLY CONTROVERSIAL, RIGHT?

THERE'S A REAL SENSE WHEN YOU TALK TO WHITE SOUTH AFRICANS, PARTICULARLY WHITE FARMERS AND WHITE PEOPLE LIVING IN RURAL AREAS, THERE IS A SENSE OF VULNERABILITY IN THEIR EYES.

THERE IS A SENSE THAT, HEY, YOU KNOW, WE'RE STILL BEING BLAMED FOR ALL WHAT HAPPENED UNDER APARTHEID, AND WE'RE STILL BEING BLAMED FOR THE TROUBLES THAT HAPPEN NOW BECAUSE OF APARTHEID.

SO, IT IS VERY DIVISIVE BECAUSE THEN ON THE OTHER SIDE, YOU DO HAVE THE REALITY THAT A LOT OF BLACK SOUTH AFRICANS ARE STILL WITHOUT ANY WEALTH, ARE STILL IN VERY DEEP POVERTY AND SAYING, HEY, SINCE THE END OF APARTHEID, THOSE SCALES HAVE NOT BEEN EQUAL.

THE INJUSTICES THAT HAPPENED THAT LED US INTO POVERTY.

THAT LED US INTO GENERATIONAL POVERTY HAVE NOT BEEN CORRECTED AND THE GOVERNMENT HAS NOT DONE A GOOD JOB OF THAT.

SO, I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF HEAT ON THE GOVERNMENT AS WELL.

THERE'S A LOT OF TENSION ALL AROUND.

ALI: JOHN ELIGON, "NEW YORK TIMES" BUREAU CHIEF IN JOHANNESBURG, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

JOHN: THANK YOU.

♪ JOHN: THE DAY PRESIDENT TRUMP BEGAN HIS SECOND TERM, THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY CHANGED ITS POLICY ON MAKING IMMIGRATION ARRESTS AT PLACES LIKE SCHOOLS, HOSPITALS AND PLACES OF WORSHIP.

FOR MORE THAN A DECADE, DHS HAD RESTRICTED ARRESTS AT THOSE PLACES.

NOW, OFFICERS ARE JUST TOLD TO USE DISCRETION AND A HEALTHY DOSE OF COMMON SENSE.

LAST MONTH, THE DENVER SCHOOL SYSTEM BECAME THE FIRST DISTRICT TO GO TO COURT OVER THE THE CHANGE.

AND LATE FRIDAY, A FEDERAL JUDGE DENIED THEIR REQUEST TO TEMPORARILY PAUSE THE NEW POLICY.

SO FAR, THERE HAVEN'T BEEN ANY RAIDS AT SCHOOLS, BUT THE POSSIBILITY HAS SOME PARENTS KEEPING THEIR CHILDREN OUT OF CLASSES AND SOME SCHOOLS SCRAMBLING TO BE READY FOR THEM.

HERE'S WHAT SOME EDUCATORS AND A STUDENT TOLD US.

THE STUDENT ASKED US TO HIDE HIS IDENTITY FOR SAFETY REASONS.

>> I'M A 12TH GRADER AND I HAVE BEEN LIVING IN THE COUNTRY FOR FIVE YEARS.

MY FAMILY WAS AFRAID BECAUSE I WANTED TO GO TO SCHOOL.

I WANT TO BE SOMEONE IN THE FUTURE.

>> IF A CHILD IS TOO STRESSED IN A CLASSROOM TO EVEN CONCENTRATE, HOW CAN THEY POSSIBLY LEARN ANYTHING WHEN THEY MAY BE SITTING AT THE DESK WORRYING IF W WHEN THEY GO BACK HOME, THE PARENTS ARE GOING TO BE THERE OR NOT?

>> THERE ARE SOME KIDS I HAVE NOT SEEN SINCE JANUARY 20.

I STARTED RECEIVING MESSAGES FROM STUDENTS SAYING, MISS, I AM SCARED, I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO.

MY PARENTS DON'T WANT ME TO GO TO THE BUS STOP.

>> WE ALREADY KNOW WE HAVE A NATIONAL TEACHER SHORTAGE IN OUR COUNTRY.

WHAT THIS IS DOING IS NOT PUTTING OUT STRESS ON TEACHERS.

>> I KNOW THESE PARENTS EXPECT ME TO TRY TO HELP THEIR CHILDREN AND THAT IS VERY SACRED.

IT IS I WILL NOT BETRAY -- A TRUST I WILL NOT BETRAY.

I SEE MYSELF AS A LINE OF DEFENSE FOR MY STUDENTS.

>> I HOPE NOTHING'S GOING TO HAPPEN TO US.

JOHN: THE OLD POLICY LIMITING ARRESTS AT WHAT THE DHS CALLS SENSITIVE LOCATIONS WAS IN EFFECT DURING ALL OF THE FIRST TRUMP ADMINISTRATION.

THE PRESIDENT OF THE NATIONAL IMMIGRATION LAW CENTER, A GROUP THAT ADVOCATES FOR LOW INCOME IMMIGRANTS.

WHAT HAVE YOU HEARD ABOUT THE EFFECTS OF THIS POLICY CHANGE?

>> THEY HAVE BEEN DEVASTATING TO IMMIGRANT FAMILIES, TO IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES, TO SCHOOLS ALL OVER THE COUNTRY THAT HAVE IMMIGRANT CHILDREN.

PEOPLE ARE LIVING LIVES FILLED WITH FEAR AND CHILDREN ARE AFRAID TO GO TO SCHOOL AND PARENTS ARE AFRAID TO TAKE THEM TO SCHOOL.

THE BROADER COMMUNITY IS ALSO AFRAID THEY MIGHT SEE SOME ENFORCEMENT ACTION THAT WILL AFFECT THEM, EVEN IF THEY ARE U.S. CITIZENS.

IT IS A REALLY TRYING TIME FOR OUR EDUCATION SYSTEM AND SCHOOLS AROUND THE COUNTRY.

JOHN: WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO PARENTS ABOUT HOW TO TALK TO THEIR CHILDREN ABOUT THIS AND TO SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS AND TEACHERS?

>> ONE OF THE THINGS WE ARE DOING IS MAKING SURE THAT IMMIGRANT CHILDREN, IMMIGRANT PARENTS, IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES, EDUCATORS REALLY GET A GOOD GRASP ON WHAT THEIR RIGHTS ARE.

WE ARE GIVING PEOPLE KNOW YOUR RIGHTS INFORMATION.

THEY ARE THESE LITTLE CARDS WE ARE GIVING TO PEOPLE AND SAYING TO THEM KEEP THESE IN YOUR WALLETS.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE ARE NOT JUST SAFE BUT THEY KNOW WHAT THEIR RIGHTS ARE.

AND WHEN IT COMES TO SCHOOLS, WE'VE HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH SUPERINTENDENTS ALL OVER THE COUNTRY TO SAY THAT THEY REALLY NEED PROTOCOLS IN PLACE.

YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU IDENTIFY PLACES IN THE SCHOOLS THAT ARE PRIVATE AND THAT ARE PUBLIC.

WHY?

BECAUSE THEN YOU HAVE THE PROTECTIONS OF THE FOURTH AMENDMENT WITH YOU IN CASE ICE COMES INTO THE SCHOOLS.

BEFORE, IT USED TO BE OK THAT ANYBODY WOULD GO INTO THE SCHOOLS.

NOW YOU WANT TO DIRECT PEOPLE TO GO TO AN ADMINISTRATOR'S OFFICE.

IF THERE IS SOMEBODY WHO'S COMING IN FOR ENFORCEMENT ACTION, YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU TRAIN, BE IT AN EDUCATOR, ADMINISTRATOR, THE SCHOOL PRINCIPAL, SO LOOK AT THE WARRANT THAT THE ICE OFFICER HAS.

BECAUSE THERE'S A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A JUDICIAL WARRANT, A WARRANT THAT IS SIGNED BY A JUDGE WITH SPECIFIC INFORMATION AT THE DATE, AND WHAT ICE CALLS AN ADMINISTRATIVE WARRANT WHICH REALLY DOES NOT CARRY THE FORCE OF A JUDICIAL WARRANT.

YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE IF ICE COMES TO YOUR SCHOOL WITH A WARRANT THAT IT IS ACTUALLY A WARRANT SIGNED BY A JUDGE AND HAS ALL THE SPECIFIC INFORMATION ABOUT WHO IT IS THEY MIGHT BE LOOKING FOR OR WHAT ACCESS THEY WANT TO THE SCHOOLS.

JOHN: AS THE TENSIONS OVER IMMIGRATION BUILD, IT IS NOT JUST THE ADMINISTRATION OR OFFICIALS THAT POSE A THREAT.

THERE WAS A STORY OUT OF TEXAS WHERE AN 11-YEAR-OLD DIED BY SUICIDE AFTER BEING BULLIED FOR IMMIGRATION STATUS.

WHAT IS YOUR MESSAGE TO SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS ABOUT BULLYING OVER IMMIGRATION STATUS?

>> SCHOOL EDUCATORS NOW HAVE TO BECOME COUNSELORS, THERAPISTS.

THEY HAVE TO MONITOR EVEN MORE CLOSELY THE KIND OF INTERACTION THAT KIDS ARE HAVING.

THEY HAVE TO PAY ATTENTION TO THE TRAUMA THAT IMMIGRANT CHILDREN EXHIBIT IN THE CLASSROOM.

SCHOOLS ARE THE PLACES WHERE WE ARE SUPPOSED TO FEEL SAFE.

WHERE WE GET AN EDUCATION.

WHERE WE LEARN ABOUT OUR RESPONSIBILITIES IN THE DEMOCRACY, HOW WE SHOW UP CIVICALLY.

THAT SHOULD BE THE MANDATE OF ANY SCHOOL IN THE COUNTRY AND OUR WORLD IS BEING TURNED UPSIDE DOWN BECAUSE TEACHERS HAVE TO FIELD IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT.

THEY HAVE TO FEAR AND BE CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT KIDS WILL DO TO EACH OTHER.

SO THERE IS AN INTIMIDATION THAT IS TARGETING IMMIGRANTS ALL OVER THE COUNTRY THAT IS REALLY UNACCEPTABLE AND HEARTBREAKING.

JOHN: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> THANK YOU.

♪ JOHN: FINALLY TONIGHT, A STORY ABOUT NEW INSIGHTS INTO ONE OF EARTH'S MOST ANCIENT LIVING CREATURES -- SEA TURTLES.

ITS TINY FLIPPERS CHURNING SAND.

THIS NEWLY-HATCHED SEA TURTLE HEADS TOWARD THE OCEAN, JUST AS GENERATIONS OF ITS ANCESTORS HAVE DONE FOR MORE THAN 100 MILLION YEARS.

CONSIDERED ONE OF THE OLDEST LIVING SPECIES ON EARTH, IT'S BEEN A MYSTERY WHERE BABY SEA TURTLES GO AFTER HEADING OUT TO SEA.

IT'S KNOWN AS THEIR LOST YEARS.

KATE: BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE THAT INFORMATION, IT'S REALLY HARD FOR US TO DEVELOP MANAGEMENT PLANS AND CONSERVATION MEASURES TO BEST PROTECT THESE ANIMALS.

JOHN: KATE MANSFIELD AND THE TEAM OF MARINE SCIENTISTS SHE LEADS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL FLORIDA ARE WORKING TO CHANGE THAT.

THE BREAKTHROUGH CAME AFTER THE ATTACH SPECIALLY-SIZED GEOLOCATED DEVICES TO 114 WILD SEA TURTLE SHELLS IN THE WATERS OFF THE GULF COAST.

TELLITE TAG FOR, YOU KNOW, LARGER ANIMALS, AND THIS IS BIGGER THAN SOME BABY HATCHLINGS.

SO, WE NEEDED SOMETHING THAT WAS SMALLER.

RE'ONE.

AND HERE'S THE OTHER.

THEY'RE IDEAL CANDIDATES FOR SOMETHING THAT CAN RECHARGE OVER TIME AND ALLOW US TO FIGURE OUT THEIR LOCATIONS WITHOUT HURTING THEM.

JOHN: FOR MORE THAN A DECADE, THEY TRACKED YOUNG SEA TURTLES WHEREABOUTS TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THEIR MIGRATION PATTERNS.

THE DATA MANSFIELD'S TEAM COLLECTED REVEALED THAT IN JUST A FEW MONTHS, THE TURTLES TRAVELED MORE THAN 1000 MILES, SWIMMING BETWEEN RELATIVELY SHALLOW WATERS CLOSER TO SHORE AND THE DEEP OPEN OCEAN, A MUCH WIDER AREA THAN SCIENTISTS HAD PREVIOUSLY THOUGHT.

KATE: WE ENDED UP REALIZING THAT THESE ARE ANIMALS THAT ARE ACTIVELY SWIMMING SOME OF THE TIME, AND THAT MEANS THAT THEY MAY NOT BE PASSIVELY DRIFTING AND ENTRAINED WITHIN AN AREA THAT COULD BE IMPACTED BY HUMAN ACTIVITIES, LIKE AN OIL SPILL.

JOHN: MANSFIELD SAYS THE RESEARCH WILL HELP FEDERAL AGENCIES LIKE THE NATIONAL MARINE FISHERIES SERVICE PROTECT ENDANGERED TURTLE SPECIES AND THEIR HABITATS.

KATE: OUR LONG-HELD ASSUMPTIONS ABOUT THESE ANIMALS MAY NOT BE 100% CORRECT, IN PART BECAUSE IT'S VERY HARD TO FIND THEM OFFSHORE, SO WE'VE IMPROVED THE BEST AVAILABLE DATA ON THESE ANIMALS.

I WOULD SAY THAT IS ONE OF THE BEST AND MOST FUN THINGS ABOUT THIS PROJECT.

JOHN: A FUN PROJECT THAT'S PUSHING THE FRONTIERS OF SCIENCE BY UNLOCKING THE SECRETS OF THE JOURNEY SEA TURTLES TAKE WHEN THEY DISAPPEAR INTO THE SEA.

OLDER THAN DINOSAURS, THOSE SEA TURTLES.

AND THAT IS "PBS NEWS WEEKEND" FOR THIS SATURDAY.

I'M JOHN YANG.

FOR ALL OF MY COLLEAGUES, THANKS FOR JOINING US.

AND DON'T FORGET TO SET YOUR CLOCKS.

SEE YOU TOMORROW.