This is What Mass Deportation Looks Like – Militarizing Mass Deportations and Targeting Kids, Parents and Workers

Access online version of this press release HERE

Washington, DC — As Stephen Miller and the Trump administration push for 3,000 ICE arrests per day, the overreach and examples of Americans recoiling and communities pushing back is growing.

In particular, the horrific visuals in community after community of swarms of militarized ICE agents and law enforcement in militarized tactical gear, weapons brandished and masks on, only to target parents, trusted workers and even kids, is generating condemnation and recognition that there’s a better way. See here for examples of visuals.

According to Vanessa Cárdenas, Executive Director of America’s Voice:

“Masked and armed ICE agents are coming to a community near you. Their approach is to arrest first and ask questions later. This is not who we are and presents a threat of violence to every American – citizen or not. Americans don’t want militarized ICE agents in masks and tactical gear swarming neighborhoods and brandishing weapons to go after workers, spouses, kids and parents. This is not what Americans voted for, as the recent community pushback in states across the country demonstrates – from the story of Ximena in Dalton, GA to the high school student athlete, Marcelo, in Milford, MA to the way the Trump-supporting community of Kennett, MO has rallied around Carol, a beloved community member and waitress from Hong Kong, to the community-led resistance in Minneapolis, MN and San Diego, CA against the militarization of our communities. All of it captures the reality of Americans recoiling from watching the costs and consequences of the deportation dragnet in action and the recognition that we must find a better way.”

Below find key excerpts from recent coverage on examples of Trump’s widening immigration dragnet and community pushback:

●     Ximena Arias Cristobal, the 19-year old TheDream.US scholarship recipient recently detained in Georgia, said on a recent America’s Voice press event: “I am a daughter, a sister, and an avid runner. I have lived in Georgia for 15 years now and I attended Oglethorpe University thanks to TheDream.US Scholarship. Sadly I was detained by ICE at the Stewart Detention Center, a life-altering experience that left a mark on me emotionally and mentally. This isn’t just an immigration issue, it’s a human rights issue. People are being stripped of their dignity and basic freedoms and it is something we can not ignore. I am not just an immigrant, I am a human being, I am a Georgian, and I am an American without papers. No one should have to go through something like this. ”

●     NBC News, “ICE arrest of H.S. student sends shock waves through a Massachusetts town,” noting: “Gomes Da Silva was supposed to play the drums at his girlfriend’s high school graduation Sunday. His absence was palpable during Milford High School’s commencement as his bandmates performed without him, sparking a post-graduation protest demanding his release. Hundreds of students still in their graduation gowns, teachers, relatives and other community members marched a mile to Milford Town Hall following the commencement ceremony — holding signs and chanting “Free Marcelo.”

●     The New York Times, “A Missouri Town Was Solidly Behind Trump. Then Carol Was Detained,” “Ms. Hui’s detention has forced a rural Missouri county to face the fallout of President Trump’s immigration crackdown, which was supported in theory by many residents in this Trump-loving corner of an increasingly red America…In Kennett, some residents said they had implored state and national Republican lawmakers representing the area to intervene to stop Ms. Hui’s deportation, but had gotten mostly cursory responses. Kennett’s own leaders have not officially weighed in.”

●     NPR, “An immigration raid at a San Diego restaurant leads to a chaotic scene,” “Video shared on social media and local news shows armed and masked agents in full tactical gear swarming the area near a popular Italian restaurant called Buona Forchetta late Friday afternoon. A crowd of people gathers, filming and yelling in protest, surrounding cars and detention vans. Then, a momentary explosion of what appears to be a flash-bang grenade sends smoke floating through the street.”

●     CBS News, “Minneapolis mayor says Lake Street business raid not “immigration enforcement”,” “Minneapolis mayor says Lake Street business raid not “immigration enforcement”” and featuring quote … “Immigrant advocates say the sheer show of force from law enforcement in one of the most dense immigrant communities in the city puts people living there on edge. ‘They’re trying to scare communities. This affects businesses, this affects our neighbors. It’s a trauma that our community doesn’t need. People are welcome in Minneapolis, when they show up like that, fully militarized, that’s not a good sign for our community,’ said Miguel Hernandez, with the Minnesota Immigrant Rights Action Committee. ‘A lot of people’s doors are locked. Businesses are locking up because they’re afraid — what are they looking for? Why are they here? They don’t know.’”