Vidya Sethuraman
India Post News Service
President Donald Trump’s mass deportation project is ramping up, with federal deportation efforts now including large-scale radios across sanctuary cities, including New York City. The crackdown targeted undocumented immigrants with criminal records.
More than 200,000 people believed to be undocumented have been arrested over the past 30 days, according to data from Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The majority countries of origin were South and Central America, but ICE data shows a significant number of arrests of Indians, Chinese, and Russians. Speakers at the EMS briefing discussed how immigrants can protect themselves when ICE agents show up at homes, workplaces, and even schools.
According to statistics, the number of illegal immigrants arrested in major cities such as Los Angeles, San Francisco, and New York has increased significantly in recent months. Even in areas that call themselves “sanctuary cities,” federal immigration law enforcement officers are unable to completely prevent raids. Immigrant rights organizations point out that this policy not only affects new immigrants crossing the border, but also puts some immigrant families who have integrated into the local community and have stable jobs at risk of separation.
Viridiana Carrizales, Founder, ImmSchools said there are 5.5 million children born in the United States to at least one undocumented parent. U.S. law stipulates that regardless of the child’s identity or the identity of his or her parents, they all have equal access to pre-K12 education, and schools are not allowed to ask about the identity of children and parents when admitting students. When ICE and other law enforcement officers are at school, they are not allowed to ask about the identities of children and parents without permission.
Amanda Alvarado-Ford, Deputy Directing Attorney, Immigration Institute of the Bay Area reminded undocumented immigrants that they have basic legal protections regardless of their status. When questioned by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) or the Department of Homeland Security, any individual has the right to remain silent and not answer questions about their immigration status or residency status. Law enforcement officers must have a valid search warrant to enter a private residence. For undocumented immigrants who have lived in the United States for more than two years, it is recommended to retain important documents including water and electricity bills, bank records, rental contracts, etc., for use in legal defense when necessary.
Thank You For Your Vote!
Sorry You have Already Voted!
