Despite ICE’s claims, raids are designed to sow fear and terror in immigrant communities

Fusion ^ | February 11, 2017 | David Boddiger

[2ndDivisionVet]

Following an intense week of sweeps across the country that nabbed hundreds of undocumented immigrants in at least seven states, authorities on Friday tried to downplay those actions as “routine.” Don’t believe them.

Department of Homeland Security spokeswoman Gillian Christensen, who according to The Washington Post “dislikes the term ‘raids,’ and prefers to say authorities are conducting ‘targeted enforcement actions,’” said the sweeps were “routine” and targeted mostly hardened criminals. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) official David Marin echoed that line, calling the raids “surge operations” that target “people in this country illegally who have criminal convictions,” according to NPR.

But in reality, the operations are meant to send a broader signal that spreads panic and fear in immigrant communities, at workplaces, and in homes, immigrant rights advocates say. And the timing of the raids is unmistakably attributable to Donald Trump’s Jan. 25 executive order calling for a crackdown on the 11 million undocumented immigrants currently living in the U.S.

According to The Washington Post:

Hiba Ghalib, an immigration lawyer in Atlanta, said the ICE detentions were causing ‘mass confusion’ in the immigrant community. She said she had heard reports of ICE agents going door-to-door in one largely Hispanic neighborhood, asking people to present their papers.

‘People are panicking,’ Ghalib said. ‘People are really, really scared.’

Immigration officials acknowledged that authorities had cast a wider net than they would have last year, as the result of Trump’s executive order.

David Abud, regional organizer for the National Day Laborer Organizing Network, released a statement on Friday addressing the new fear tactics:

We recognize these raids as an effort by ICE and the new administration to sow chaos and intimidate our communities. They are attempting to normalize these attacks towards our community....

[2ndDivisionVet]

Fax me a crying towel.

[Pollster1]

I thought the raids were designed to sow joy and pride in law-abiding communities. I’ll take fear and terror among criminals as an added bonus.

[docman57]

We will be sure to let the rest of the world know when this causes us concern.....Sometime around 2173

[varon]

BTTT

[PGalt]

Whatever it takes. HOORAY I.C.E.

[meyer]

Here’s a signal - get out of my country.

[Ann Archy]

GOOD!! They are ILLEGALLY HERE....GO HOME!!!

[jsanders2001]

If it means I don’t have to work an extra day a week to support them and listen to the loudmouth Erika Andiola, finger shooting type La Razans I’m all for it...

[blu]

I’m trying really hard to find the downside of all this fear, but I’m just not feeling it.

[Hugin]

It’s called deterrence. Do enough of it and illegals will start self-deporting. Now if they just go after employers who systematically hire them.

[Hardastarboard]

She said she had heard reports of ICE agents going door-to-door in one largely Hispanic neighborhood, asking people to present their papers.

Gosh, gotta feel sorry for people who have brazenly broken the law for years and then suddenly have to answer for it. /sarc

It sure would be a shame to have people in sunglasses wearing ball caps and windbreakers labeled ICE going around in immigrant communities, spreading fear. Even if they weren't technically members of law enforcement. As long as you didn't claim to be ICE, nobody can tell you what letters you can have on your jacket, and where you can wear it. ;-)

[grey_whiskers]

[MSF BU]

E-Verify will go a long way to remedy all of this. Once the supply of funds is chocked off, citizens of other nations illegally in America will begin to go home.

[lurk]

Romans 13 says government is meant to be a source of fear for those who do wrong and a rewarder of those who do good.

[98ZJ USMC]

Good. Now, GTFO.

[Redleg Duke]

And, there is a problem???????

[BTCM]

Works for me.

[trebb]

I guess the "mass confusion" among the illegals is because everyone thought Hillary was a shoo-in so they never paid attention to trump's promises.

Now, the defense is going to be, "Yer Honor, I totally ignored all the promises that the law was going to be upheld and that I would be taken to task for being a criminal under US law - I'm shocked ... shocked I tell ya.

"Judge" - "We can't have folks being shocked by the execution and enforcement of the law, you are free to go and don't let them law enforcement types give you any guff in the future".

[Robert DeLong]

Hiba Ghalib, an immigration lawyer in Atlanta, said the ICE detentions were causing ‘mass confusion’ in the immigrant community. She said she had heard reports of ICE agents going door-to-door in one largely Hispanic neighborhood, asking people to present their papers.

‘People are panicking,’ Ghalib said. ‘People are really, really scared.’

As it should be Hiba, if they have come here illegally. What is it about the word illegal that escapes your comprehension anyway? I guarantee as a citizen I would face the fully force and fury of the government if I did something illegal.

[HarleyD]

So people who broke the law are in a panick??? And I’m suppose to be sympathetic???