Thread: CA: Groups get illegal immigrants ready for raids

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Groups get illegal immigrants ready for raids

Sunday, November 25, 2007
Groups get illegal immigrants ready for raids
Lawyers and advocacy organizations teach illegal immigrants to prepare for deportations and know their rights.
By AMY TAXIN
The Orange County Register


ORANGE - After immigration raids near her house this year, Rosa isn't taking many chances.

The 35-year-old illegal immigrant tries to stay home when possible and avoids extra trips to the store. And she's spoken with her two U.S.-born children about what lacking papers means – and let them know that if she is deported, a family friend will bring them to her in Mexico.

Citing an increase in raids, immigration rights advocates are urging families to plan for a deportation if someone in their household faces that risk. About 3 million children who are U.S. citizens have at least one parent who is undocumented, according to a 2006 Pew Hispanic Center study.

Immigrant organizations across the country try to encourage families to prepare for deportation much in the way safety experts encourage people to plan for an emergency or natural disaster. Their advice includes taking care of property records and finances and making clear plans for who will care for children if U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrests caretakers.

"We're anticipating enforcement being the No. 1 thing that is going to happen in immigration," said John Ayala, chairman of the Southern California chapter of the American Immigration Lawyers Association. "We're trying to get prepared for it."

During the past fiscal year, ICE made nearly twice as many arrests – 30,396 – in its fugitive operations program as it did in the year before. The program tries to track down illegal immigrants who ignore court deportation orders or have criminal records. It may also lead to the arrest of undocumented immigrants with no previous contact with the law and legal immigrants with criminal convictions.

ICE also arrested more than 4,000 illegal immigrants in workplace raids during the 2007 fiscal year, up 11 percent from a year earlier and more than three times the number of arrests two years earlier.

Advocacy groups started urging immigrants to make plans after a workplace raid this year in New Bedford, Mass., separated detained parents from young children. While groups have long dispensed advice on immigrants' rights during a raid – for example, on whether they must open the door to agents and on their right to remain silent – many now also offer guidelines on what people can do ahead of time to protect their family.

The Catholic Legal Immigration Network recently issued new guidelines that aim to give illegal immigrants more practical advice, such as keeping copies of important documents with a trusted relative and carrying prescription medications. The Mexican consulate in Santa Ana is distributing wallet-sized cards that tell people what to do if arrested and remind them of their rights and responsibilities under U.S. law.

Rosa, who asked that her last name be withheld because she fears deportation, said she spoke with her 10-year-old son and 7-year-old daughter after they saw TV footage of ICE raids near their home. "It's the same as always, but now we've seen more raids," she said.

Some organizations suggest immigrants get a power-of-attorney signed to handle personal matters, though Anaheim-based immigration lawyer Louis Piscopo said California notaries require a valid form of U.S. identification or a foreign passport stamped by U.S. authorities.

Ayala, who works with a network of Southern California immigration lawyers to provide emergency legal services in case of a raid, suggested parents take other precautions, such as authorizing a relative to pick up children at school in case of an emergency.

www.ocregister.com

Well, it sounds like they are being prepared to leave. That's good. I do hope they provide for their kids to get to their home country or to stay with legal residents.

It sounds like the lawyers feel that it is inevitable. Which is also good.

Today, Chertoff said that 600 miles of the fence and technology fence will be built next year. My husband her that on Fox today. I didn't hear it.

"We're anticipating enforcement being the No. 1 thing that is going to happen in immigration,"

Well, we can hope.

Rather than lose documents--like those that would prove their childrens' citizenship--- they are being coached to keep everything in order to allow their return when their kids can sponsor them. Does such coaching come under the category of "assisting illegal aliens because of personal convictions?"

That means that more are headed to Utah.

Originally Posted by Paige

That means that more are headed to Utah.

Wouldn't worry about that happening Paige.

Know Orange well. It's next to a huge sanctuary city, Santa Ana. And Lost Angeles is only about 25 miles away to the north. This state is the safest in the nation for illegals.

Originally Posted by Captainron

Rather than lose documents--like those that would prove their childrens' citizenship--- they are being coached to keep everything in order to allow their return when their kids can sponsor them. Does such coaching come under the category of "assisting illegal aliens because of personal convictions?"

I think you're absolutely right.