“I couldn’t stay silent,” said a man interviewed by AP, who used his phone to record a raid at a popular restaurant, “It was literally outside of my front door.” Immigration lawyers in Miami have emphasized the importance of documenting these incidents to protect immigrants’ rights.
The Trump administration recently announced its goal of arresting 3,000 people a day, “like Amazon,” a quote dreamed up by the head of ICE. This comes as private companies with little to no oversight have been tasked with the logistics of transportation of immigrant detainees. According to CBS News, Florida’s attorney general has proposed a temporary detention facility in the Everglades, on an old airstrip surrounded by pythons and gators. This facility, proposed as a step toward further expansion of a strained and bloated deportation apparatus, has been dubbed “Alligator Alcatraz,” a place for what he calls “criminal aliens.” Immigration lawyers in Miami are concerned about the inhumane conditions detainees might face in such facilities.
There have also been reports of people taking notice of the more frequent raids—and demonstrating their objections. The Associated Press reported on crowds gathering around ICE agents and their vehicles during raids outside gyms and busy restaurants. In San Diego, a crowd that reached nearly 75 people in an hour surrounded agents at a popular Italian restaurant, yelling at ICE officers to leave. This event involved authorities throwing flash bangs into crowds that included grandparents, hippies, retired service members, and patrons of the restaurant.
Be very careful!
Beware of notaries, immigration consultants or anyone who is not qualified and prepared in these matters. Always seek the advice and services of an immigration attorney for your immigration processes and procedures.