Street roots., March 03, 2017, Page 11, Image 11

iv iw iv z i I
1
f
Commentary
BY ANDREA WILLIAMS
C O N T R IB U T IN G C O L U M N IS T S ’ .
ver the last few weeks, community
organizations like Causa have
received dozens of questions from
the Community regarding rumors about
Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE)
raids, unmigration checkpoints and other
enforcement activity suspected of happening
throughout Oregon.
Recent changes to our nation’s
immigration policy have undoubtedly caused
fear and panic within Oregon’s immigrant
communities. In January, President Trump
issued two Executive Orders that affect
immigrants and refugees. In February, the
Department of Homeland Security issued
memos to further detail how these
Executive Orders would be implemented.
Among many things, these memos make
virtually every undocumented immigrant a
priority for deportation. It is understandable
that many in our communities feel targeted.
These feelings are backed up by real
experienees,liketheDREAM€riiTSeattle
being detained, or the father of three U.S. -
born children from Woodburn, Ore., that is
Andrea Williams is the executive director of
going through deportation proceedings after
Causa, Oregon’s im m igrant’s rights
setting roots in the U.S. for nearly three
organization.
decades. The list of examples go on and the
concerns are legitimate.
Despite announcements regarding
undocumented individuals that got caught in
changes to immigration policy, the great
the crosshairs of ICE as they were looking
majority of the recent rumors spread
for someone else. In some cases, ICE will
through social media in Oregon have turned
arrest an undocumented individual they
out to be mostly false. According to the
come across even if it wasn’t the particular
Oregon ACLU, we know very little at this
person they were originally looking for.
moment about how ICE is changing
A few rumors that were not accurate
enforcement actions in Oregon in response
include:
to Donald Trump’s executive order.
• Workplace raids in outer west and
What we have confirmed is a few
south Metro Portland
enforcement actions around Multnomah
• ICE enforcement actions on TriMet and
County courts, which we are responding to
agents at MAX stops
by working with our local officials. Our
• ICE checkpoints in North Portland
understanding is that these actions have
• Enforcement actions at or around local
been in response to repeat offenders in the
Portland schools.
DUII courts. These cases were enforcement
Although currently it appears that mass
priorities under the old Obama
raids and checkpoints aré not happening in
administration guidelines. Additionally, we
Portland or throughout Oregon, that doesn’t
are working to address ICE presence in
mean they won’t happen. In fact, given what
other courthouses throughout the state.
We’ve seen in the rest of the country, we
We have also confirmed cases of
■
PHO TO BY JOE GLOOE
Life under II
Stay calm and get informed
Causa
may see increased enforcement actions in
our communities. ;
It is crucial that we prepare forthese
actions in two ways:
1. If you are reporting on ICE actions, you
must report information accurately and
know when to share it publicly.
2. We must know our rights when
interacting with law enforcement and ICE.
If you believe you are witnessing an ICE
enforcement action or any kind of
interaction between an immigrant and the
police, follow this guide, issued by the
Oregon ACLU:
Step one: Keep yourself safe. Stay calm,
maintain a safe distance, and do not
interfere with or obstruct law enforcement.
Interferring with or obstructing with law
enforcement can unnecessarily escalate
situations and lead to your injury or arrest
Step two: Document the interaction. If
you have a smartphone, download the
Mobile Justice Oregon App, also available in
Spanish. This app will let you take video
that is sent directly to the ACLU of Oregon.
It also will walk you through a questionnaire
that will help you document the incident
after you’re done recording. If you don’t
have a smartphone, but your phone has a
camera, take pictures, write down your
impressions immediately.
Step three: Call or text the ACLU of
Oregon immigration hotline. 971412-ACLU.
You should only use this hotline when you
personally witness an action or have
information from a first-hand account of an
action (i.e., you’re calling on behalf of
someone who was a first-hand witness).
ACLU will work with community partners to
both confirm rumors and disseminate
accurate information. While they will do
their best to answer questions about
rumors, they have limited capacity and
cannot respond to general information
requests. For all other ACLU legal requests
or questions, please contact them via their
legal request voicemail at 503-227-3186. A
volunteer will return your call.
Step four: Pause before posting on social
media. Fight the urge to put the information
oh social media until the report has been
confirmed and, verified. Once the report has
been confirmed, sharing the information
with specific details about when and where
the incident occurred may be useful. But
remember, you may be sharing very
personal information about the person who
was arrested. Use good judgement here.
Even though Trump’s executive order
substantially expanded potential ICE targets
on paper, ICE currently does not have the
personnel or resources to enforce these
changes. This may change rapidly. If ICE
begins to use workplace raids and conduct
checkpoints in Oregon, this guidance will be
revised. For now, it is critical to try and
remain calm and well informed.
Other ways individuals can stay informed
and get involved include:
1. Find a calendar of Know Your Rights
Workshops at www.
oregonimmigrationresource.org ,
2. Sign up for action alerts for events and
rallies at www.causaoregon.org
3. Consider your place of worship
becoming a sanctuary for families by
contacting the Interfaith Movement for
Immigrant Justice at www.imirj.org