Due to privacy, one of the subjects in the article wishes to remain anonymous.
Throughout the article, the subject is referred to as Moises.
If you or anyone you love are potential targets for deportation, there are rules you can observe to protect yourself and those important to you.
On March 10, teachers gathered at Humboldt Park with lawyers who had a strong understanding on the matter. Sydney Hart, a Wright College professor, was among those in attendance and answered some questions asked at the event. Much of the information, however, is not as positive as hoped. “Things are not looking good,” Professor Hart stated.
One of the most important pieces of information she shared was if ICE comes to your home, school, or job with a judicial order to detain a person, you must go with them. However, if it is not signed by the judge and does not have a Circuit Court stamp then you or the one being detained is not required to allow them into the building.
Additionally, an undocumented individual should not fill out a FAFSA application as it could disclose personal information making one known to the agency.
If an individual is pulled over by an officer and states “I am exercising my right to remain silent,” it is very important to not speak another word, no matter what is asked of the individual afterwards. Documented students can help those who are not by following this rule as well. This signifies unity and that undocumented people are not the only ones who will stay silent.
It is also important to state that Chicago is a sanctuary city. Professor Hart informed that if a Chicago police officer approaches you and begins to ask you questions on your citizen status you are not required to answer as they are not allowed to act as immigration officers.
While all of this information is important, it is more important for us to realize what kind of an effect these events are having on students. Moises, an undocumented student, made clear that although he tries to stay strong and pretend these things are not happening, the fear he feels daily is crushing. “I try my hardest to be strong, but I’m really scared,” said Moises. “Some people don’t realize how much the little stuff is on my mind now. I can’t just leave the house to go to work or hang out with my girl. I have to check my clothes. I have to check my car and make sure all the lights work, and that there's no flat tires. Getting pulled over once could get me sent back.”
Another Wright student, Omar Khawam, believes, “The process is a scam. How much do we use to send people back or build walls? We could use that money to help with citizenship or making America better.” He continued, “They’re running into public spaces and homes taking people and tearing apart families just because they aren't the same as them.”
Even though Khawam himself is not undocumented, he acknowledged that he could understand what the struggle must feel like as he himself came from a place where families were denied a place in the U.S when they were running for freedom. “Unless you feel it, you don't know what it's like. This land is supposed to be for freedom and it’s not.”
In a time of hardship and uncertainty, it is important to be aware of the things that you can do to keep you and the people around you safe.