By JAN McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
The rash of detentions and deportations in the U.S. has many local immigrants living in fear even though they are here legally.
Adults no longer attend English as a Second Language courses offered by La Conexion, fearing ICE will target those types of programs. Children worry they will come home to empty houses, with their parents being arrested while they are at school.
“A number of our community members are afraid right now. Even if you are a citizen, if you fit a certain profile, you are at risk,” said Lucia Myers, executive director of La Conexion.
La Conexion, headquartered in Bowling Green, is focusing on protecting the increasingly vulnerable Latinx population. There have been no ICE raids in Wood County, Myers said. But she understands it may only be a matter of time.
“We’ve been keeping our ear to the ground, talking to members,” Myers said. “We want to be prepared as best we can be.”
In order to brace local residents for potential encounters with ICE, La Conexion has been working with legal services such as ABLE to make people aware of their rights. The organization is dispersing small orange cards that explain the Fourth and Fifth Amendments in the U.S. Constitution – that provide protection to all in the nation.
The printed cards are available in Spanish, English and Creole.
“We want people to know their rights,” Myers said.
LaConexion is also suggesting that members of the Latinx community have all documents and notarized letters gathered in case they are needed.
“Anything to keep their loved ones together,” she said. “We want to be active, not reactive.”
“We have a responsibility as an organization and as human beings,” said Beca Rios, also representing La Conexion.
Since President Donald Trump took office for his second term, the rules for immigrants have changed. Now, even with the proper documentation, immigrants are at risk of being detained and deported.
Even for immigrants who came to the U.S. legally, and jumped through all the necessary hoops, there is no guarantee of due process.
Even for those who have lived here for decades, and paid taxes on their incomes, there is a risk.
“Their home is here. This is the only country they know,” Myers said.
Both Myers and Rios have watched national coverage of deportations in horror.
“It’s heartbreaking to see our community being targeted,” Rios said.
“It’s so disheartening, and to me it was shocking. It just came so hard and so fast,” Myers said.
And they’ve listened to the Trump administration’s challenges to birthright citizenship, which has been the law of the land for more than a century.
“No presidency has ever questioned it,” Myers said.
Until now.
The targeting of Latinx populations has led to many local residents limiting their interaction in the community.
“A lot of people are just sticking to their homes,” Myers said.
“They are very fearful,” Rios said.
ESL classes for adults, and tutoring for K-12 students have seen attendance drop drastically, or all together.
Some seasonal workers are not returning to work the fields this year.
But La Conexion is still committed to serving their community.
“If there is one person there for an ESL class, we will be there,” Myers said.
The brutal detentions and deportations have made La Conexion members even more resolute in their intentions.
“It has reignited that flame for our mission,” Myers said.
“Our fight is not over,” Rios said.
“We still have a job to do. Our doors are open – no matter who’s in office,” Myers said.
In addition to preparing local Latinx community members, La Conexion is also telling other community members how they can help.
“Know your neighbors’ rights,” Rios said. “There are people who care.”
“There’s always a need for social justice and basic human rights,” Myers said.
For some people, advocating for their neighbors may take the form of donating to nonprofit groups, or writing letters and making phone calls to legislators.
“Or speaking up when the need calls for it. Making good trouble,” Myers said.
Both women see those supporting the immigration deportations as emboldened under the new administration. In the past on social media, anti-immigration comments were concealed behind fake names. They no longer feel the need to remain anonymous, Myers said.
As she monitors the La Conexion social media, she is frequently confronted by messages like, “We the people have voted for your people to be sent home,” she said. “And that’s the polite version.”
Both Myers and Rios agree the U.S. immigration system is broken. But targeting certain populations and denying them rights guaranteed under the Constitution isn’t reform, they said.
They have also seen funding dry up for any programs that mention the words “immigrants” or “social justice.”
Yet, they still believe.
“Don’t give up hope,” Myers said.
And Rios quoted from the base of the Statue of Liberty about the U.S. welcoming the poor, tired and huddled masses – even though that welcome mat has been removed.
“That is what makes our country the beautiful melting pot that we are,” she said.
