Pat Taub
GUEST POST by MARY DUNN
Under this new administration things are happening quickly. Immigration, as expected, is in the cross hairs. But if we’re being honest, it has been for quite some time and across the political spectrum. Now it is just with more ferociousness and bluntness.
Within his first week in office Trump signed a dizzying number of executive orders including ones suspending pathways for immigration as well as a declaration of a national emergency at the border. This would broaden the harm he could cause, including stranding many in their home countries, along the Mexican border, or within their communities here in the U.S., while invoking presence from the military.
A child’s hand on a CBP detention fence at the southern border
Courts are challenging efforts to end Birthright Citizenship and DACA. Longtime shelters along the southern border have closed due to suspension of funding, yet volunteers continue their work. The list is endless.
Deportations have ramped up causing widespread fear and panic. For the first time since Eisenhower, the use of military planes to deport people has been used. Both the new President of Mexico, Claudia Sheinbaum, and the President of Columbia, Gustavo Petro, denied entry of these flights into their countries causing some to be rerouted to Guatemala. President Trump then ordered sanctions on Columbia.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum in a speech before her country declaring her refusal to accept immigrants from the US
The intensity of deportations is concerning for many reasons including a vocal increase in the need for personnel (that’s where the military may come in) and increased need for additional detention facilities. Of course, the primary concern is the removal of people and forced separations from their families and communities.
There is so much chaos and confusion that one could easily become overwhelmed and shut down. That is the intent. We must resist with all we have.
To respond to the increased presence of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (I.C.E), a branch of Homeland Security started in 2003, it is critical that we work to help our neighbors in harm’s way.
There are immigration and civil rights groups in every state which are planning appropriate responses to keep families and neighbors safe. Know Your Rights information and trainings are surfacing. Look for them. Find Immigrant led groups in your area. Many are on social media. They continue to need help more than ever, including financial aid, donations of supplies, and our presence. Listen to them. Follow them. Offer your help.
A valuable resource is https://unitedwedream.org/, a nationwide immigrant and youth led organization. Here in Maine, a group I recommend reaching out to is https://www.presentemaine.org/ which is a long time, on the ground group doing important work. A friend and I run Mainers for Humane Immigration and are found on Facebook. Find us there and request to join, We will keep you informed and updated on the best way to respond to ICE presence and how to offer help to these groups.
Another way to help is to go to https://www.ilrc.org/red-cards-tarjetas-rojas, and print off Know Your Rights red cards. These cards are small and being distributed to impacted communities. Something we can do is print some off and distribute them widely in our communities.
Along the Mexican border, friends are reporting that their shelters and relief groups have lost funding. They are reporting an increase in military, surveillance, and hostile vigilante presence. They are in dire need of support especially with the possible rise in dangerous desert crossings due to pure desperation. If you would like to help, find Mainers for Humane Immigration on Facebook and message us. We will share information on how you can help those along the border.
Stay strong. Stay loud. Find an ally to work with. Let’s unite and rise above this injustice.
