(Photo Courtesy of WSAV-TV)
Pictures and videos of 11-year-old Magdalena, crying for her father, have plastered online forums and social media platforms for the last two weeks. She unofficially became the face that represented the despair and mayhem that families encountered as a result of an “immigration weep” by ICE (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement) in the state of Mississippi. Her father, Andres Gomez-Jorge, was among the massive number of undocumented workers that were arrested at the Morton Koch Foods Plant and taken to the Adams County Correctional Facility.
The joy of young Magdalena’s first day of school was overshadowed by the shadowy gloom of not knowing where her father was and if he were still alive. Just imagine the amount of fret that overcame her mother and three siblings, especially since he was their primary source of income. Also, Educators, imagine the burden students with similar situations could be bearing and think how they could react to it while in your classrooms. Even though her father was not fortunate enough, about 300 of the 700 people arrested were released after a few days.
Her father, Mr. Gomez-Jorge, migrated to the United States with his wife over ten years ago to create a better life for his future family. Even though Magdalena has never visited her parent’s home country of Guatemala, if their situation does not improve, the family will be forced to relocate back. Documented or Undocumented, the sight of a young girl outside of a gym pleading for her father’s return, with eyes drowning in tears, have raised soul-stirring discussions and brought awareness to the situation across the United States. At that moment, many viewers only saw human suffering.
So, how can you reduce risk to yourself if you are stopped by Police, ICE, or Border Patrol? The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) is a nonprofit organization whose stated mission is "to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed to every person in this country by the Constitution and laws of the United States."
If stopped, it is suggested that you:
Stay calm. Don’t run, argue, resist, or obstruct the officer, even if you believe your rights are being violated. Keep your hands where police can see them.
Don’t lie about your status or provide false documents.
You have the right to:
Remain silent and not discuss your immigration or citizenship status with police. Anything you tell an officer can later be used against you in immigration court.
If you are not a U.S. citizen:
You must show immigration papers if requested.
If you don’t have them, tell the officer that you want to remain silent, or that you want to consult a lawyer before answering any questions.
If an immigration agent asks if they can search you, you have the right to say no, unless there is probable cause.
If you are driving and are pulled over:
The officer can require you to show your license, vehicle registration and proof of insurance, but you don’t have to answer questions about your immigration status.
“Regardless of your immigration status, you have guaranteed rights under the Constitution. Learn more here about your rights as an immigrant, and how to express them.”
For additional Information, please visit: https://www.aclu.org/know-your-rights/immigrants-rights/
The Jeremy Anderson Group