While the Trump administration has diverged from the prior administration in a variety of areas, one of the most visible policy changes has been the federal view on undocumented immigrants. Sanctuary cities have often been negatively received at the national level, but the Trump administration has been in a league of its own, threatening to cut off funding to such cities, and deploying ICE (Immigrations and Customs Enforcement) agents to cities where they believe that the local governments have taken too soft of an approach to the issue. I chose to do my Contested Border page on the grassroots resistance to the surge in ICE raids.
On February 24th, 2018, Mayor Libby Schaaf of Oakland announced publicly that ICE agents would soon be conducting an operation in her city. This proclamation caused national controversy, with Schaaf garnering both supporters and detractors. This was many Americans first exposure to the grassroots resistance to ICE operations that has developed in many cities throughout the country.
— Libby Schaaf (@LibbySchaaf) February 25, 2018
Libby Schaaf's warning about upcoming ICE raids.
In Kansas City, local activists quickly organized when rumors of upcoming raids came to the fore. Lawyers, community leaders, and many others worked together to attempt to document these raids and work on their legal strategies were the raids to occur. While these raids did not end up taking place, the episode demonstrated that the grassroots movement to ensure that the rights of undocumented immigrants are not trampled could be effective.
ICE agents conducting raid in Northern California. Credit: AP.
A number of organizations, such as the Marin Rapid Response Network, the Immigrant Defense Project, and Bay Resistance have worked provide resources and information to those that are affected by these raids. If the Trump Administration chooses to continue following this path going forward, it is likely that the resistance to theses ICE raids will become more efficacious over time. The links listed below give additional information about the situation as well as relevant resources.
President Trump. Credit: Washington Post.
Links:
Defend Against ICE Raids and Community Arrests
Defiance, resistance: The front lines of California’s war against the Trump administration
How immigration activists mobilized to thwart deportation raids last weekend
Oakland Mayor Stands By 'Fair Warning' Of Impending ICE Operation
https://bayresistance.org/resources/