Immigration enforcement in the US has gone through rapid shifts recently and, once again, the landscape has changed. In contrast with high profile, intensive enforcement focused in a particular city or state, the past few months have seen enforcement activities surge around the country, but in a more diffuse way.
As previously reported in the Acton Exchange, a resident of Indian Village was detained by ICE agents in the early hours on Tuesday, July 7. This detention was witnessed by neighbors, and Acton Police were called. But other detentions are happening in the community that have not been reported or publicized. While the broader community may not be aware that their neighbors continue to be targeted by federal agents, mutual aid networks have been overwhelmed by the recent surge in families needing support.
Many Acton residents volunteer with LUCE, a large coalition of immigrant-led grassroots organizations that, in part, serves as the rapid response network for Massachusetts. LUCE operates a hotline that concerned individuals can call when they think they see ICE agents. Trained LUCE volunteers respond to hotline calls, verify if reported activity is ICE or not, and act as observers when ICE is present. This verification process can contribute to peace of mind for immigrants as they go about their lives, send children to school, head off to work, do errands, or attend medical appointments. LUCE leaders said that unfounded rumors of ICE activity create anxiety, keeping people home unnecessarily. LUCE also works to bridge the gap between impacted households and critical resources, including legal aid and financial assistance.
The Acton Boxborough Racial Justice Collaborative (ABRJC), a coalition of more than 30 community organizations, coordinated by the Acton Boxborough Community Compass (ABCC), maintains a list of vetted volunteers who are at the ready to drive folks to work or medical appointments, deliver groceries, provide rides for kids to camp or school, and more. Additional volunteers are always needed.
Federal mass deportation efforts rely heavily on state cooperation, though some states are fighting back with protective legislation. In Massachusetts, the PROTECT Act has passed both legislative chambers but still requires final reconciliation before the session ends on July 31. This bill would set statewide standards for interactions between local entities and federal immigration enforcement, hold agents accountable for civil rights violations, and prohibit arrests at sensitive locations such as schools, hospitals, and houses of worship.
At the federal level, Senator Edward Markey introduced S.4814 to extend Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitians for three more years. Co-sponsored by at least 25 other senators, including Elizabeth Warren, the bill’s House companion (H.R.1689) has already passed with bipartisan support.
An educational forum on the current surge in federal immigration enforcement, the ways it is impacting the community, and how volunteers can support their neighbors, has been organized by the Acton Boxborough Racial Justice Collaborative, Indivisible Acton Area, and LUCE. Sunday, July 19, 7:00 p.m.at Great Road Church, 257 Great Road.
Alissa Nicol chairs the Acton Select Board and writes for the Acton Exchange on Community issues.
