Many people in our region feel a need to respond to the increasing pressure the current administration is placing on immigrant communities. The ACLU Arizona website articulates this basic condition: “No matter what someone looks like, sounds like, or what their immigration status may be, they should feel safe in their own communities.”
If you’re looking for ways you can support our local immigrant population, a new organization, Advocates for Immigrants (A4I), is developing seven action teams to help local Hispanic families at risk.
A4I is an expansion of the efforts of Maria Elena Dunn and Prescott Indivisible, which have been raising funds for DACA recipients to pay for renewals of their status. Every two years recipients must reapply for authorization to remain in the US and work; the application fee is $550. A4I’s seven action teams include one for the continuing support of DACA recipients. Here are the other six:
A strictly nonviolent Rapid Response network will mobilize, witness, document and inform about moments of crisis with ICE interactions, and work with affected families to help with emergency needs. Trainings for rapid response are being planned now.
The Family Preparedness team is focusing on helping families at risk of disruption in advance of need. This team will remind families of their rights in their own homes, and have proxies in place for childcare, financial and household needs in emergencies. Fluent Spanish-speakers will be of great assistance.
A group focusing on Legal Assistance will help affected people understand their legal situation, and connect with legal help.
Changing the Narrative/Storytelling is designed to collaborate with the wider community to shift the narrative about our local immigrant population by sharing stories about their personal histories and economic and cultural contributions.
Tracking Policy and Legislation will follow and report on current changes and alert members to contact legislators when a vote is pending.
A Community Outreach team will provide updates for allied groups and make connections with local media for inclusion in print and broadcast news; contact and invite mutual cooperation with law enforcement at community functions; network with other immigrant support organizations statewide; and cooperate with local faith organizations for immigrant-support activities.
You may or may not be on the Rapid Response Team when you witness an incident involving ICE. What can you do?
It is legal to stop and take pictures or video the event as long as you stay at least eight feet from the agent(s) and detainee. It is legal to ask the person their name and that of anyone you can notify for them, and phone numbers. Be aware that your legal actions may nonetheless put you at risk in these times. After witnessing a detainment or raid, send your statement and documentation to A4I, other immigrant-support groups, news agencies and social media.
Immigrants should have a plan in place for their families for when they are stopped, detained, arrested or deported. Some of these preparations include:
• If you have children or caregiving responsibilities, have a plan for them if you’re detained. Identify a caregiver in advance and make sure the children’s school and medical information are somewhere easy to find. Look into official-custody paperwork. Make sure other people know about this plan.
• Give someone an extra set of keys.
• Find someone you trust to make decisions for you if you are detained. For example, you can sign a power of attorney document that will allow that person to withdraw money for you or pay your bills.
• A trusted person should know about your health needs, including needed medications.
• Do not rely on having your cellphone available to check. Memorize the phone numbers of family contact and an attorney.
The Immigrant Defense Project has Know Your Rights information for specific situations: encounters with ICE on the streets, at the front door, in the home, in the car, how to document encounters, and how to prepare for emergencies.
Beware of a common lie or trick used by ICE agents where they pretend to be local police. Sometimes they will call and say they have found a lost ID or they are investigating a crime and want to meet in person. You have a right to leave your door closed, to refuse to answer questions, and to remain silent.
If you are told there is a search warrant, have them slide it under the door. It must be a legal warrant signed by a judge. If the name or address is wrong, the warrant is invalid. It must have the signature of a judge. The other kind of warrant is an administrative warrant signed by an immigration officer, not a judge. Immigration officers have no legal basis to enter your home or car with an administrative warrant and without your permission.
The Immigrant Legal Resource Center has information at ilrc.org. Printable Red Cards spell out your constitutional rights in any of 82 languages. These cards are available to citizens and noncitizens alike.
To learn more or participate with an A4I team, email a4ivol@gmail.com. The next Prescott Indivisible general meeting will feature a DACA recipient’s story. Join them Thursday November 6 at 5:30pm for a light dinner and meeting at Granite Peak Unitarian Universalist Congregation, 882 Sunset Ave. in Prescott.
[sidebar]
2023 Regional Demographics
Prescott population: 46,700, 9.24% Hispanic
Prescott Valley: 48,048, 19.9% Hispanic
Chino Valley: 13,300, 15% Hispanic
Dewey-Humboldt: 4,430, 11.5% Hispanic
[sidebar]
Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals is a US immigration policy established in 2012 by former Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano that allows some undocumented individuals who entered the country as children to receive work authorization and a temporary reprieve from deportation. The protection lasts for two years; every two years a request for renewal must be applied for, requiring a $550 fee. (On January 17 the US Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit stopped processing initial DACA requests.)
