*student names altered for safety*
They’re not just orders. They’re not just actions. They’re a message. A message that clearly states, “You are no longer safe here.”
Since being sworn into office, President Donald Trump has shown a motivation to secure the border against invasion. His administration has strongly pushed toward the deportation of undocumented immigrants, unleashing additional fears into the daily lives of these individuals.
Thus far, President Trump has enacted eight executive orders regarding immigration. The orders include the restriction of entry to the United States, identification of illegal immigrants, detainment of illegal immigrants, declaration of a national emergency at the Southern Border, suspension of the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program while admitting immigrants on a case-by-case basis, building the wall, pursuing criminal charges against illegal immigrants, and defunding “sanctuary” jurisdictions.
The order “PROTECTING THE AMERICAN PEOPLE AGAINST INVASION,” incited disruption in the minds of many Americans. The order threatened to restrict birthright citizenship, a right enumerated in the Fourteenth Amendment. A federal judge has temporarily blocked the order. So far, 22 states have sued the Trump Administration in hopes to block the order in the courts.
“It’s no different than his other threats, or promises that he’s doing,” Peyton Leone, a Research and Communications Specialist at Centro de Pueblo said. “We just have to wait and be calm and patient, and not let the panic of his messages to us take over, but more just prepare and be ready to keep ourselves safe, to be with our community, and educate each other.”
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids have dominated news headlines nationwide. The increase in raids resulted from the same executive order allowing ICE and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) access to churches, hospitals, colleges, and K-12 schools.
Recently, there were false reports that raids had occurred at the Winco in Eureka, sparking fear in Humboldt residents.
“People are fearful of what could come, and that by itself is harmful to us,” Leone said. “That’s not even to mention that people are experiencing violence in the community.”
Beyond ICE raids, threats of violence towards immigrants have been made in Humboldt.
“[Threats of violence] are something that the entire country is now reckoning with, with the election of Donald Trump and with the escalation of the rhetoric their [supporters] willing to use to dehumanize and exaggerate people’s fears,” Leone said.
Hate crimes have been ongoing at Centro de Pueblo’s “El Jardin Sanctuario,” including vandalism and targeted graffiti. Furthermore, there has been an increase in threatening online comments directed at the Humboldt immigrant community, primarily celebrating deportation.
The threats of violence aren’t just in national news headlines. They’re at home. Students have begun to fear the possibility of an ICE raid at Arcata High.
“I just think it’s really sad that you have to be scared to go to school when sometimes it’s a privilege to come to school,” junior Amanda Nelson said.
The Northern Humboldt Union School District has responded to the threats ICE poses to undocumented students in schools, spreading information to faculty and students regarding rights to remember in the case of visitations through ParentSquare and StudentSquare.
The district has stated that it will continue abiding by the California Values Act. The act outlines that no state or local resources may be utilized to assist federal immigration enforcement. The district also plans to follow the guidance of the California Attorney General’s office.
“I’m hoping to make sure my students feel safe and feel safe communicating,” English teacher Gabriella Emerick said. “[I’m] trying to give them many outlets for safe conversations and questions.”
Centro de Pueblo outlined resources for immigrant families during a recent English Learner Advisory Committee (ELAC) meeting. One of the highlighted resources that Centro de Pueblo could provide was a legal observer. Legal observers are trained volunteers who sit in on questionings and other legal proceedings to make sure due process is being followed.
“They stress with the legal observers that they’re not trying to impede the process of law,” Emerick said. “They’re not trying to be disruptive. These people are truly just there to observe and not to impede the law or the actual due process.”
Additionally, “red cards” are being provided by Centro de Pueblo. The red cards are small slips of paper containing the Fourth Amendment protection against unreasonable search and seizure, and the Fifth Amendment’s right to remain silent. The cards protect against rights violations when in contact with federal immigration officers. The ELAC, led by Emerick and Anayeli Auza, is creating red cards to distribute to Arcata High students.
“We want everyone to know that they have rights,” Leone said. “Regardless of any immigration status or anything like that. We all have human rights and we’re all entitled to that dignity.”
