This week on Fronteras:
· The Trump administration’s deportation policies reportedly have some unauthorized immigrants fleeing the country to avoid arrest.
· Undocumented parents worried about deportation take action to protect their children in case that happens.
· The ACLU in San Diego files suit against the federal government for detaining immigrants for months without a hearing.
· A look at what happened when Alabama passed a tough immigration law.
Rights Advocates Go Door To Door To Educate On ICE
Numerous reports of Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers taking people with no criminal records into custody continue to keep many neighborhoods on edge. Versions of just who is being deported under the Trump administration vary. But as the number of undocumented immigrants in custody rises, so does fear in their communities. More and more it appears that those who have committed crimes are not the only ones who are a priority for removal. In response, organizations across the country are educating immigrants about their rights when it comes to ICE. Reynaldo Leaños, Jr., reports for the Texas Standard on one local organization in the Rio Grande Valley going door-to-door..
Immigrants Take Action To Protect Their Children
Many of the unauthorized immigrants living in America have children who are U.S. citizens. As KUT’s Joy Diaz reports, parents are worried about what might happen to their kids if they are deported.
Albuquerque Church Provides Sanctuary For Honduran Grandmother
In New Mexico, an Albuquerque church recently offered sanctuary to an Albuquerque grandmother under threat of deportation. Her name is Emma – she’s originally from Honduras and she’s been living in the U.S. for 25 years. The Albuquerque church is one of over a dozen churches in the nation to provide sanctuary to an immigrant. KUNM’s Chris Boros spoke with Justin Remer-Thamert about this case – he’s the executive director of the New Mexico Coalition for Immigrant Justice.
San Diego ACLU Sues Government Over Detention Hearing Delays
The Trump Administration is fighting another lawsuit. This time, from the ACLU of San Diego and Imperial Counties in California. They’re suing the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Justice for allegedly depriving immigrants of their due process rights by detaining them for months before giving them an opportunity to see an immigration judge. The ACLU says the delays will only get longer if immigration officials step up deportations. Michael Lipkin of KPBS talked with Bardis Vakili, senior staff attorney with the San Diego area ACLU.
Alabama Immigration Law May Indicate Future For Trump Administration
As President Trump clamps down on immigration, the state of Alabama offers more clues to what exactly this could mean. In 2011, Alabama passed what was called the toughest immigration law in the country. There were intended and unintended consequences. Much of the law was struck down by the courts but it provides a snapshot of potential challenges ahead for the Trump administration. Dan Carsen of WBHM in Birmingham explains.
