After an aggressive first day in office, President Donald Trump has signed sweeping executive orders, sparking controversy across the US. Running on a platform of deporting illegal immigrants, Trump finally began to set his plan in motion, using the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency (ICE) to arrest migrants with criminal convictions, though migrants without criminal records were also targeted. To further the process, Trump ended a policy that restricted ICE’s ability to arrest people in “sensitive places,” such as schools and hospitals. On top of increasing the number of people ICE assigns to make arrests, the Justice Department was also ordered to identify illegal immigrations and prosecute violations of immigration law. Amongst the cities at the top of his list to target include Chicago, New York, and Los Angeles, all of which are sanctuary cities that limit cooperation with the federal government in enforcing immigration laws.
Being a sanctuary city in one of the most anti-Trump states, Los Angeles is first on the chopping block, with the raids starting on the first week of Trump’s presidency, and extending into the week after. Though Los Angeles is strongly pro-immigration with numerous policies designed to protect both documented and undocumented immigrants, the LAPD Chief of Police, Jim McDonnell, has historically been willing to assist ICE with deportations, endangering the lives and security of Angelenos. To put some numbers into perspective, it is estimated that the undocumented immigration population in Los Angeles County is around 950,000, almost 10% of the county’s entire population. It has already been statistically proven that immigrants, both documented and undocumented, do not correspond with an increase in crime, and sanctuary cities have lower crime rates and stronger economies than non-sanctuary cities. Sanctuary city policies drastically reduce deportation rates for undocumented immigrants without criminal records, but they do not protect those who do have violent records.
If you are an Angeleno or someone who is targeted by these raids, it is imperative that you remember your rights; ICE officers cannot legally enter your home without a judicial warrant, and it is permissible to not open the door for them if they do not have a relevant warrant. Regardless of whether or not they have a warrant, every individual has the right to remain silent–if ICE officers attempt to ask you questions or otherwise converse with you, you are not required to provide an answer. Furthermore, if ICE officers ask you to sign something, you have the right to a lawyer and should speak to one before putting down your signature. It can be difficult and nerve-wracking when interacting with an ICE officer, but it is important to remain calm and remember your set of rights. If officers do have a warrant, you should ask them to show it to you by either sliding it under your door or showing you in another way. If you are able to reach a lawyer immediately, do so and send them a copy of the warrant before proceeding any further. If this is not possible, read the warrant carefully and establish what the warrant allows officers to do and not do to you.
If you are outdoors and an ICE agent stops you, you should ask if you are being arrested or detained. If you are not arrested or detained, you are free to leave; if you are detained but not arrested, officers will ask you questions to gather information about a crime or violation–remember that you have the right to remain silent, even about your immigration status; if you are being arrested, you are still guaranteed your Miranda Rights–the right to remain silent and the right to an attorney. When conversing with ICE agents, it is paramount that you only give truthful information if you so choose to talk–otherwise, remaining silent is your right.
In these turbulent times, it is encouraged not to carry documents about your country of origin, which would be a dead giveaway for ICE, and one should not carry around fake IDs or immigration documents. It is important to establish a plan in the event of detainment–this involves finding an immigration lawyer and helping relevant individuals memorize their contact information, educating and informing those around you about their rights, and practicing what to say and do in the event of an ICE encounter. If a family or friend is detained, the National Immigration Justice Center outlines a list of steps to take: firstly, ask for their A# number, a 9-digit identification number that is given on immigration documents or by ICE; secondly, contact detention facilities to know how to send money to the detained person; thirdly, find a lawyer–immigration courts do not guarantee a lawyer if they are unable to find one; and lastly, you can use their A# number to find their next court hearing. The Immigrant Legal Resource Center provides more guides on how to protect yourself in times of immigration emergencies.
What is especially worrying about Trump 2.0’s administration is his use of fast-track deportations, which allows immigration officers to deport migrants without needing to appear before a judge. The policy targets those who are unable to prove that they have lived in the US continuously for at least two years, allowing border patrol agents to “determine whether or not they should be deported in less than an hour”. Angelenos should expect a much greater police presence around the city, which necessitates a great deal of caution and consideration when surrounded by a community of vulnerable people. Though ICE may seem intimidating, every individual residing in the US is protected by the law, even if they are undocumented. Everyone has the right to remain silent and the right to an attorney–ICE officers can’t take those away from anyone. For those who are not targeted, it is critical that you stand up for members of your community, whether by recording instances of ICE officers questioning people, by reminding detainees of their rights, or by providing information and assistance to those who need it most.