Minnesotans and the local community are being affected by ICE as some people are seen as illegal, therefore being detained/deported. This has been going on since the early 2000’s, but recently surged in Minnesota due to many factors that involve the government such as funding, political power and more.
“Due to the presence of ICE, some certain communities report avoiding stores, schools, court appearances, and more, due to fear of immigrant consequences whether illegal or not,” Metro Reporter Winter Keefer from Minnpost wrote. People from certain communities feel targeted despite their legal status due to the fear and consequences of one’s misjudgement.
History teacher Jason Caballero explained that from a social standpoint, “There is a sense of fear that is heightened” and “people feel like they’re maybe hiding.” Economically he said “a lot of jobs Americans won’t do immigrant labor has been a big part to fill that.” This indicates the importance of immigrants with their hard work being put in everyday even though some may bash them due to their physical and background differences.
“School districts around the country fear a replay of heightened immigration enforcement during Trump’s first term; research has shown that those policies negatively impacted students, who were less likely to attend school and less likely to participate in extracurricular activities,” Education Reporter Melissa Whitler Minnesota Reformer wrote. She described the effect of ICE towards students’ education and extracurriculars as pessimistic.
Anthony Klehr, SCEA president and history teacher, said that as he has served his role in the community, he noticed students are afraid since they do not necessarily know if their family will be whole by the end of the day due to fear of inequality faced with legal statuses. They report feeling anxious and unable to focus on their studies since their attention is directed on personal conflicts.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said in an article from The Minnesota Daily, that about 1.6 million people have self-deported or been detained, then deported. If one was to self-deport, they would receive $1000 to buy a plane ticket to their home country.
In response to the question on what one wished others would understand about those affected by ICE, junior Lesley Villalobos Puertas said, “They’re humans too. They’re not criminals. They’re just like people working hard, trying to get by, trying to help our community.” She emphasized how immigrants are just like others, they are hardworking and face their own issues as well, however many disregard this and put their personal concerns first.
“Legislative movements in Minnesota now require local law enforcement to comply with ICE requests, raising concern with trust between community and the local police,” content editor Nick Longworth from FOX 9, wrote. This act shows the strength in the people that govern us as well as their precedence in keeping our country a “safe” place.
When asked about how ICE’s prominence has surged, Caballero said, “When you have a new person in political power,” there is “a shift in what is prioritized.” He added, “You see a lot of reform happening in regards to economic policy, social changes, and political changes.” In other words, the impact that one person has on a whole country is deeply reflected on those being governed and how the country is from an economic standpoint.
“ICE was originally made in response to the 9/11 act to protect national security and the public’s safety,” the official U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement website wrote. Historically, ICE was assembled to unite the country by assuring people’s safety, but now, some report feeling uneasy with their presence.
Sophomore Charity Vang explained from the experience of a friend, that ICE has taken innocent people native to our land, however faced with racism and assumptions, they have been detained/deported without a fair hearing.
ICE is significantly surging in Minnesota and our local community at this point of time. This has impacted how people view their safety, inclusion and fairness. Though their goal is to enforce immigration laws, many report feeling anxious, targeted, and face inequality with this system. ICE has both strengthened and torn our community apart emotionally and with its safety regulations. Despite its flaws, the system in some ways has continued to keep the country and community safer.
