This is an important topic because a lot of people are being departed from their families not only by deportation but also by the abuse of powers the agents have over hispanic people — even going to a level of killing them, when they’re trying to ask for their rights. So I want y’all to feel empathy. These people just want a better future and I know that a lot of us have Hispanic friends or even best friends that are Hispanic. Just think for a moment how you would feel if your friend was killed or deported and you would never see them again.
As reported by The Texas Tribune, “Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, a man from Mexico whom Immigrations & Customs Enforcement (ICE) said was undocumented, was shot after agents tried to pull his vehicle over early Tuesday.” According to the ICE statement, Lorenzo tried to run away and evade arrest which many people who witnessed the accident say that was not true.
We see this type of thing in other places around the U.S. like in Biddeford, Maine, outside Chicago, Illinois, and Minneapolis, Minnesota. So it is always good to watch out for ICE agents around your neighborhood. If you are an American person and you have a Hispanic friend, please always keep them updated to keep people that haven’t done any damage to others alive and safe.
If you see any ICE agents, LUCE Immigrant Justice Network of MA recommends on their website that you should:
- Make sure the detained person’s children, pets, and any other dependents are cared for
- Contact the detained person’s lawyer, if they have one
- Find the detained person’s A-number
- (A#) An A# is an identification number issued to a person by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Customs and Border Patrol (CBP), or U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). It typically has 8 or 9 digits.
El País gave the following advice on spotting ICE in your neighborhood:
“ICE agents usually wear plain clothes or black bulletproof vests. These vests may have the word “POLICE” in large letters on the front or back, but this does not mean that they are local law enforcement officers. They may carry firearms, radios, handcuffs and other police instruments.
ICE agents could wear official government-issued badges that identify them as part of U.S. ICE. Anyone has the right to ask them for their badge and official identification. If they refuse to show their identification, it is a red flag.
ICE agents often use unmarked cars instead of regular police vehicles. Unlike local police vehicles, their cars are not required to have sirens, emergency lights or clear law enforcement insignia.
If ICE agents claim to have a warrant, the person has the right to ask to see it. A valid warrant must be signed by a judge, not just an ICE officer. If they refuse to show a warrant or insist on verbal authority, the person has the right not to open the door or accede to their requests.”
I interviewed the Teens in Print Manager Elvis Alvarado about ICE and their way of treating Hispanics in Boston and if he could improve ICE tactic, how would he do it.
Okay. So, good afternoon and who am I here with?
Elvis: You are here with Elvis Alvarado.
I have a few questions for you that I would like to ask you today.
Okay.
How do you feel about the ICE tactics and how they’re treating Hispanics?
I feel like it is incredibly violent, discriminatory, and rooted in hatred, bigotry, and hides behind the veils of rhetoric that make people feel safe and secure. And in actuality, it’s just causing more unsafety and more insecurity.
Mmm, that’s a good answer. And if you can change or improve ICE in a way that could help that community, what would you do?
Oh, abolish ICE. I don’t think ICE necessarily needs to exist in the way that it does now. But a more practical step I would take is perhaps the demilitarization of ICE – like removing, guns, firearms, vests, enhance their identification protocols. Like make sure that it’s very clear what an ICE vehicle is, who an ICE agent is. This ability for them to hide behind anonymity and not have to identify themselves so clearly is a problem.
So, you would make it like more friendly, right?
More identifiable and less weapons. People should be able to walk down the street and know that’s an ICE car, that’s a ICE agent, and they don’t have a gun. Those are the things I’d like.
Okay. And have you seen any ICE activities in Boston?
I have not.
Okay. And do you know anyone or heard anything about someone that was detained by ICE?
I do. Someone close to my family is currently in ICE custody right now.
Oh, I’m sorry to hear that.
Yeah, it’s okay.
Thank you for your time.
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