immigration // ICE raids
what’s going on?
As of 06/22/19, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers are starting raids in two weeks in 10 major cities(Miami, Atlanta, Chicago, Baltimore, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, New Orleans, New York City, San Francisco) as well as in other cities across the country to see if Congress can “work out a solution”
Trump delayed the ICE raids from Sunday 06/23/19 after criticisms from the cities’ mayors and House Speakers Nancy Pelosi, among others
why is this happening?
Immigration law has become an attack on all immigrants without documentation
ICE, in addition to the two other Homeland Security agencies (Customs and Border Protection and Immigration and Citizenship Services), was founded in 2003 as part of the reorganization of the government following 9/11 - NYT
When it was created, ICE’s attention was placed on preventing terrorism
Since 2004, the U.S. has spent over $100 billion on border and interior enforcement and doubled the size of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) - IFTJ
The best-known ICE division is Enforcement and Removal Operations, which arrests, detains, and deports undocumented immigrants already in the U.S.
During the Obama Administration, the division prioritized removing undocumented immigrants who had committed serious crimes
Trump has focused his policy on deporting all undocumented immigrants, and in the 2017 fiscal year, ICE had a $3.8 billion budget and 7,900 full-time employees
The Trump Administration supports quick deportation and advocates the construction of a border wall
According to the White House website, Trump supports ending chain migration, eliminating the Visa Lottery, and moving the country to a merit-based entry system
Since Trump took office in 2017, ICE has increased its presence at criminal and civil courts, including in family, landlord-tenant, and traffic courts across the country, meaning that what might start as a court hearing on a minor traffic infraction could turn in to an immigration arrest - ACLU
Immigrants struggle to find legal ways to enter the country and are forced to enter without documentation
Visas are inaccessible or unaffordable, and backlogs at U.S. Customs and Immigration Service (USCIS) of up to 22 years force immigrants to choose between being separated from their families or entering the country without documentation - IFTJ
There is no path to citizenship guaranteed by DACA
People seeking asylum are turned away
Even the U.S.’ attempts to address the root cause of migration in the Northern Triangle (Honduras, Guatemala, and El Salvador) have not been effective since the State Department has certified conditions despite grave human rights concerns (e.g. assistance to Honduras was certified two days after highly contested elections), thereby increasing people’s desire to flee their country - IFTJ
Immigrants in the U.S. are denied legal rights
The 1893 Fong Ye Ting decision continues to apply today even though deportation was very different in the 1890 (immigrants were no longer subject to deportation after a year because of the statute of limitations)
Today, however, immigration courts are civil courts rather than criminal courts, so immigrants don’t have the right to a lawyer free of charge
There is no statute of limitations on immigration offenses, so a 50-year-resident of the U.S. is just as much at risk of deportation as someone who has just entered the U.S.
Immigration court proceedings are done quickly, resulting in mass deportations
Immigrants may be at a further disadvantage because of a language barrier
what’s happening now?
Immigrants across the country are living in fear and uncertainty about their safety and the safety of their families
Unless there is bipartisan agreement on a plan, or if as Trump puts it, Congress can “work out a solution”, ICE raids will proceed in the 10 major cities listed above as well as in other cities throughout the U.S.
Individuals with Temporary Protected Status who are fully integrated into their lives in the U.S. will lose work authorizations and temporary legal status in the coming years
what can I do?
Check in with your neighbors
Share “Know Your Rights” info
If you see ICE, report to @UNITEDWEDREAM (1-844-363-1423) including specifics such as badge numbers, number of agents, time, type of car, and location - take pictures and videos!
Put a 🦋 in your bio to show that you are willing to open your home to or be an ally to undocumented immigrants
Donate to United We Dream, RAICES, Support Kind, Refugee Caravan, Al Otro Lado, Florence Immigrant & Refugee Rights Project, Justice in Motion, Texas Civil Rights Project, Border Angels,
Sign a petition to shut down Miramar, Miami’s ICE facility, which has become a place for silent raids
some organizations involved:
United We Dream (UWD) is an immigrant youth-led organization that empowers people to develop their leadership, their organizing skills, and to develop campaigns to fight for justice and dignity for immigrants and all people
American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) - The ACLU is working on proactive legislation that offers immigrants the opportunity to attend school, seek professional licenses, and apply for driver’s licenses regardless of immigration status
The National Immigration Law Center (NILC) is dedicated to defending and advancing the rights of immigrants with low income
The National Immigrant Justice Center (NIJC) provides quality low-cost immigration legal services
The Immigration Advocates Network (IAN) is dedicated to expanding access to immigration legal resources and information through collaboration and technology
social media guide:
Hashtags to use/follow: #ProtectEachOther, #HereToStay, #AbolishICE, #ICERaids
Accounts to follow: @ACLU, @UnitedWeDream, @_danalvarenga, @RAICESTEXAS
Sample posts/stories/profile photos:
