May 19 Updates
National
ICE Activity in Worcester, MA last week shows troubling tactics:
Article by Rolling Stone here details how ICE lured an undocumented woman out of her home where she was safe by targeting her two daughters (and her granddaughter, who was also in the car) and telling them that someone needed to come and take care of the baby after they arrested both girls.
Reminder for folks to emphasize the importance of emergency family preparedness plans. Make sure people have someone who can come to take care of children who is not also at risk of detention/deportation (if possible).
Activists around the country are protesting the deal that Avelo Airlines has signed with the US Govt to carry out deportation flights. Avelo is currently the only commercial airline contracted with ICE. The Connecticut legislature has moved to move forward a bill aimed at limiting the scope of Avelo in CT. More from Truthout here.
TPS for Afghans was terminated by DHS on May 13th.
New refugee admittance policies from the Trump admin (following this February Executive Order) means admitting Afrikaners fleeing “discrimination” – which has been met with the following responses:
The Episcopal Church USA has refused to resettle Afrikaners due to moral opposition. They have terminated their contract with the federal govt due to this. Read more from NPR here.
Church World Service has urged the federal government to resettle all eligible refugees. Read more from CWS here.
World Relief has capitulated to the administration, saying that it “will serve them with the same compassion and respect we serve others, rooted in our biblical convictions.” Read more here
The lawsuit brought at the beginning of May still stands, advocating for the admittance of 12,000 refugees who were already approved to enter the US before inauguration.
The Trump administration plans to reassign approximately 2,000 federal agents from the FBI, DEA, ATF, and U.S. Marshals Service to assist the DHS with immigration enforcement, according to multiple sources familiar with the directive. Internal memos indicate that FBI agents would constitute 45% of the Justice Department contingent in each of the 25 cities affected by the new initiative, with agents expected to work seven days a week on immigration operations.
From Immigrant Rising: Guide for Undocumented Individuals traveling in the US
Useful map from ILRC showing different state’s safety levels for immigrants (with regard to state laws) here
Chicago
Uptick in ICE sightings and activity last week – rapid response groups are on it and responding in local neighborhoods, canvassing with KYR information and more.