Immigration activists part of lower arrests in ICE targeted enforcement operations
The Trump Administration’s enforcement operations targeted over 2,000 immigrants who failed to leave the U.S. after receiving a final order, poses a threat to national security and community safety, or have prior convictions for violent crimes. Yet the operations only resulted in 35 arrests.
The operations garnered mass media attention which may have given immigrant rights activists like the Colorado Rapid Response Network an advantage. Knowing when the enforcement would begin — prompted them to push the “Know Your Rights” campaign.
When U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers tried to take a Tennessee man into custody, his neighbors were quick to step in.
“We made sure they had water, food, gas in the vehicle to make sure they were OK,” said Felishadae Young, a neighbor for 14 years.
It’s activists like her who are also helping immigrants in Colorado. Hannah Martin is a volunteer for the Colorado Rapid Response Network and her job is to tell people their rights.
“ICE can only detain you or enter your house if they have a warrant that is signed by a judge with your full name. Without that warrant they don’t have to give them any information or share anything with them,” Martin said.
Alethea Smock, a spokesperson for ICE in Colorado, says agents have a specific target — immigrants who failed to leave the U.S. after receiving a final order, those who poses a threat to national security and community safety, or people have prior convictions for violent crimes.
She says when ICE conducts a targeted enforcement operation they know who the targets are and have a specific location of where they are located. Raids or round-ups indicate an operation with no specific target in mind, which could mean law enforcement on the streets looking for anyone who is in the country illegally.
Though Siena Mann with the activist group says they believe they, too, deserve a second chance.
“That’s what our criminal justice system is based on, so we really believe people should be able to fulfill all the requirements of their criminal justice process.and have that not affect their immigration case,” Mann said.
While there are most likely many reasons for why arrests and deportations are limited, activists are considering this a true success story.
ICE says between May 13 and July 11, nearly 900 people who were ordered to leave and had criminal backgrounds were arrested.
