Over the past year, concerns about Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) have grown in metro Atlanta. According to recent findings by the UCLA School of Public Affairs, roughly 90% of people detained by ICE are of Latino origin, a disparity that has fueled accusations of systemic racial profiling. At the same time, the recent deaths of protesters and detainees, including Renee Nicole Good, Alex Pretti, and Geraldo Luis Campos, have sparked outrage across the country and intensified scrutiny of immigration enforcement tactics. In the face of this news, it is easy for teens to feel powerless, but there are many ways young people can channel that frustration into meaningful action.
Walkouts
Protesting is one of the clearest ways to pressure the government into action. According to the ACLU, peaceful protest is protected speech under the U.S. Constitution, though certain restrictions can apply depending on time, place, and manner.
The Commons Social Change Library recommends preparing by verifying information, learning about the group leading the demonstration, and double-checking logistics such as the route and time. The Human Rights Campaign suggests bringing water, wearing comfortable clothing, and having a fully charged phone.
Legal risk is also an important consideration. The National Immigration Law Center notes that if someone is arrested, local law enforcement may share fingerprints with federal databases, which can carry additional risks for undocumented individuals. Because of this, advocates stress that families should carefully assess potential consequences before joining a demonstration.
According to NPR, “Protests that are disciplined are more likely to elicit sympathy or sympathetic views.”
Petitioning Representatives
Another effective way to challenge ICE is to appeal to your legislators.
“Often, governors can make it easier or harder for federal immigration enforcement agents to work in their cities.” Manny Pastreich, President of SCIU 32BJ, says. “They can ban local police cooperation, restrict access to state property such as parks, hospitals, and schools, and implement sanctuary policies.”
On the flip side, CNN notes that governors also have the power to enable data sharing and direct state police to assist in federal immigration enforcement.
Various levels of local, city, and state government intersect to shape the regulations governing ICE in different communities. Often, organizations such as Amnesty International provide targeted templates for drafting these communications, making it easier for teens to advocate efficiently.
Knowing your resources and rights
Often, ICE agents will use misinformation and fear to detain individuals. Spreading accurate legal information can help easily combat this process and ensure that ICE adheres to the same legal standards as the rest of law enforcement.
Before educating others, teens must understand their own rights. According to Immigrant Legal Resources Center, individuals approached by ICE have the right to remain silent and are not required to open their door unless agents present a valid warrant signed by a judge. The National Immigration Law Center says that those being questioned have the right to speak to an attorney and should avoid signing documents without legal counsel. Providing false information can carry serious legal consequences, so remaining silent is often the safest course of action.
Collaborating with organizations that already exist
While individual action can make a difference, collaborating with established organizations is often more effective. Across the country, hundreds of nonprofits work to petition elected officials, provide lawyers and resources to detainees, and organize marches. For young people, there are many preexisting entry points; the key is to find an organization that aligns with their interests and plays to their strengths.
Human rights organizations such as Amnesty International, the American Civil Liberties Union, Detention Watch Networks, and the Immigrants Defense Project provide resources, email templates, petitions to sign, and ways to start chapters in local communities. Other organizations, such as the Amica Center for Immigrant Rights, the Florence Project, HIAS, the Immigration Justice Campaign, the Vera Institute, Acacia Center for Justice, and NILC, volunteer to support migrants in detention centers by providing letters, books, and visitors.
For those seeking lower-risk but equally meaningful ways to contribute, supporting access to legal representation is critical. As the Vera Institute, a national nonprofit focused on immigration reform and mass incarceration, explains, “Because there is no federal right to a government-funded attorney in immigration court, people targeted for detention and deportation must either hire a private attorney at their own expense or find an attorney to represent them for free.”
Because Vera and other similar organizations do not charge for legal representation, they rely entirely on donations. Community fundraising efforts can play a meaningful role in sustaining the legal support that many detained individuals rely on.
Boycotts
Focusing on companies that support ICE can help defund deportations and disrupt the data these companies provide to federal immigration enforcement. AT&T, Dell, and FedEx are some of the largest donors to ICE, according to Forbes. Amazon, Palantir, Deloitte, Motorola Solutions, Microsoft, and Comcast have donated and have also used their technology to identify undocumented people and facilitate raids in the past.
Economic pressure has historically shaped corporate behavior. By researching company contracts and choosing where to spend, consumers can pressure these organizations to stop supporting ICE and facilitating raids.
When it comes to talking about immigration, money is central. Although a lot of xenophobic rhetoric comes from the belief that immigrants are harming the economy, research suggests that this is far from the case.
Jelaena Moreno Hernandez, a senior at the Paideia School, writes: “You have heard about how ‘illegal aliens’ are taking Americans’ jobs, and their money, and how we are ‘killing you.’ Our people are the last to take your jobs. We are the last to receive money for our equal needs.”
