My posts have been very lighthearted but for this one, I decided to get a bit more serious about a topic near and dear to my heart.
ICE is U.S. Immigration and Customs enforcement.
They work under the U.S Homeland security. Their job is to ensure that people come into this country the, "right" way. Many families have been ripped apart because of this. My earliest memory of this was when my uncle was deported in 2009. My uncle was at work when ICE found and detained him. He had four children and a wife he was not able to hug goodbye. I was 10 at the time making his eldest 14 and the youngest 7 years old. One of my cousins a year older than me cried and all I could do was sit there because there was nothing we could do. Their dad was gone from one day to another being sent to a country he had not set foot in years. They spent some time without thier father but ultimately left for Mexico to be reunited. However, things have escalated since 2009.
Recently there have been family families who have been separated and put into cages, kown as, "care centers."
"During May 5th - June 9th 2,235 families, and 2,342 children were detained.
416 girls under the age of 10 and 525 over the age of 10 were detained.
617 boys under the age of 10 and 1,096 over the age of 10 were detained.
There are 121 different detention or 'care center' across 17 different states.
In Arizona, California, and Texes 41% were detained.
Some people last more than 5 months in, 'care centers.' The picture above is what a, 'care center' looks like." (more of this in the links below)
I remember reading a while ago about a four-year-old girl named, "Luna" who was separated for nearly 10 months before she was reunited in Guatemala with her father. I can't even imagine being that young and not seeing my dad for months and then be taken to a country I have never been to.
Below is a video of a young girl who went to school and was shocked to find out her family member was taken away while she was at school.
This video shows how many children are left without anyone to take care of or represent them.
You don't have to be against ICE to see the mistreatment and unethical things the U.S government is doing. I have seen how families are affected by this and how many of my friends are even scared to drive. Many of my friends were born here or immigrated when they were too young to even have a say in the fact. They were raised in the U.S. thier home is here, many havent even set foot in countries their parents came from.
This article by ACLU did a great job in listing your rights;
Law enforcement asks about my immigration status
How to reduce risk to yourself
Stay calm. Don’t run, argue, resist, or obstruct the officer, even if you believe your rights are being violated. Keep your hands where police can see them. Don’t lie about your status or provide false documents.
Your rights
You have the right to remain silent and do not have to discuss your immigration or citizenship status with police, immigration agents, or other officials. Anything you tell an officer can later be used against you in immigration court. If you are not a U.S. citizen and an immigration agent requests your immigration papers, you must show them if you have them with you. If an immigration agent asks if they can search you, you have the right to say no. Agents do not have the right to search you or your belongings without your consent or probable cause. If you’re over 18, carry your papers with you at all times. If you don’t have them, tell the officer that you want to remain silent, or that you want to consult a lawyer before answering any questions.
I’ve been stopped by police or ICE
How to reduce risk to yourself
Stay calm and do not resist or obstruct the agents or officers. Do not lie or give false documents. Prepare yourself and your family in case you are arrested. Memorize the phone numbers of your family and your lawyer. Make emergency plans if you have children or take medication.
Your rights
You have the right to remain silent. If you wish to exercise that right, say so out loud. (In some states, you may be required to provide your name if asked to identify yourself.)You do not have to consent to a search of yourself or your belongings, but police may pat down your clothing if they suspect a weapon. f you are arrested by police, you have the right to a government-appointed lawyer. If you are detained by ICE, you have the right to consult with a lawyer, but the government is not required to provide one for you. You can ask for a list of free or low-cost alternatives. You do not have to answer questions about where you were born, whether you are a U.S. citizen, or how you entered the country. (Separate rules apply at international borders and airports and for individuals on certain nonimmigrant visas, including tourists and business travelers.)
Police or ICE are at my home
How to reduce risk to yourself
Stay calm and keep the door closed. Opening the door does not give them permission to come inside, but it is safer to speak to ICE through the door.
Your rights
You have the right to remain silent, even if officer has a warrant. You do not have to let police or immigration agents into your home unless they have certain kinds of warrants. If police have an arrest warrant, they are legally allowed to enter the home of the person on the warrant if they believe that person is inside. But a warrant of removal/deportation (Form I-205) does not allow officers to enter a home without consent.
PLEASE CHECK OUT THE REST OF THIS ARTICLE!
Please stay safe and know your rights!
Links to articles facts were found in