What to do at an ICE checkpoint if you're a white citizen

Not my words. I'm heeding the call to share widely.

Share widely/copy and paste

WHAT TO DO AT AN ICE CHECKPOINT, ESPECIALLY IF YOU'RE A WHITE CITIZEN (please, please, please copy, paste, and share widely):

Hello, I saw someone on here post that they encountered an ICE checkpoint in NYC. Here's the deal:

-Border Patrol can verify citizenship within 100 miles of a border or "external boundary." This includes coastlines, so Seattle, SF/Bay, Chicago, LA, Portland, NYC, Philadelphia, and all of NJ are within the 100-mile zone.

-Border patrol can only ask brief questions about citizenship, and they cannot hold you for an
extended time without cause.

-You always have the right to remain silent. You do not need to answer their questions.

-***WITH THAT SAID, IF YOU ARE A BORN CITIZEN OF THE UNITED STATES AND ESPECIALLY IF YOU ARE WHITE, YOU NEED TO SPEAK THE FUCK UP.***

-The most important acts of resistance are the small ones. Make it difficult and uncomfortable for ICE agents to do their jobs. They are counting on citizens to turn a blind eye and allow them to deport undocumented citizens without challenge. Disabuse of that notion.

-If you are on a train, bus, or anything else and ICE or CBP boards, you need to stand up and loudly let everyone know that they have the right to remain silent or only answer questions in the presence of an attorney, no matter their citizenship or immigration status. There have been numerous reports that confronting the agents in this way has caused them to leave without verifying citizenship. THIS CAN SAVE LIVES.

-If you see anyone being held up by immigration, loudly ask if they are being detained and if they are free to go.

-Immigration officers cannot detain anyone without reasonable suspicion, an agent must have specific facts about you that make it reasonable to believe you are committing or committed, a violation of immigration law or federal law.

If an agent detains you, you can ask for their basis for reasonable suspicion, and they should tell you.

-Always say no to a search and let everyone know that they can and should refuse consent to a search.

-They cannot search or arrest anyone without facts about that make it probable that they are committing, or committed, a violation of immigration law or federal law.

-Silence alone meets neither of these standards. Nor does race or ethnicity alone suffice for either probable cause or reasonable suspicion

-As white citizens, we have a level of privilege which protects us from retaliation from ICE for being "rude" and making a scene, which makes it our DUTY to speak up and make sure people without the same privilege know their rights. GET LOUD. YELL. YELL IN SPANISH IF YOU KNOW IT. LET PEOPLE KNOW THEY DON'T HAVE TO SAY SHIT. MAKE ICE UNCOMFORTABLE. THROW SAND IN THE GEARS OF WHITE SUPREMACY.

BONUS INFO:

-It is perfectly legal to record immigration agents as long as you are not on government property or at a port of entry. If your train/bus gets board, pull your phone out and start videotaping immediately.

-If you are detained or see someone getting detained, get the agent's name, number, and any other identifying information. Get it on tape.

-Contact the ACLU if you see someone's rights being violated.

Knitted Hat

Hat made for a friend.

Question: Who will speak out for you?

First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Socialist.

Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out— 
Because I was not a Trade Unionist.

Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out— 
Because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.

By Martin Niemoller

Such wisdom written so long ago and so apt for today.

Martin Niemöller (1892–1984) was a prominent Protestant pastor who emerged as an outspoken public foe of Adolf Hitler and spent the last seven years of Nazi rule in concentration camps.

I've learned a lot in my time spent at the knees of various elders over the years. Some shared stories and tales that would teach me a lesson, others shared so it wouldn't be forgotten.

As I sit and watch what is happening, I hear an echo of their voices. The whisper remember and do better than we. Don't forget so that it doesn't happen again. These elders were kindly meant as they worried over me. The fretted that a day could be repeated and hoped it would never be. Sadly it looks like it is being repeated.

As I see pictures of children who are shell shocked, crying uncontrollably, I am taken to my own set of memories of my pain for once I was a shell shocked, crying uncontrollably child, separated from my family. Not knowing why I had to leave them or when/if I would ever see them again. I have already shared about being locked up into a dog cage cause my parents couldn't be bothered to find a babysitter.

Another memory comes to mind of being shipped off to a locked down facility that resembled the converted abandoned Walmart that is being reported and shown by reporters housing the boys at the moment. Again I was shell shocked, numbed with fear, and crying uncontrollably. I once again found myself not knowing when or if I would ever see my family again. I can't handle going into some places because it triggers the memory of that time.

It was in the facility that I first came across Mr. Niemollers poem. His poem was the first thing to enter my mind after being told my children were special needs. It finally clicked as to why some of the elders were horrified by my own diagnoses of special needs. The voices of the elders chimed who will speak for you? Who will defend you now? has turned into Who will speak for you and yours? Who will defend you and yours? it haunts me regularly especially in moments like this.

When I hear that the children deserve to be treated this way, his poem comes back. That is why I am saying I will. I will speak for these children. Because if it's so easy to do this to them.... what in the world is going to stop it from happening to me and mine?

I already know no one will speak out for us. We aren't worthy. So I must speak out for them. and with that in mind I ask you to consider this question...

If they can come for these children, if they came for you and yours? Wouldn't you want someone to speak out?  Who would speak for you?

Maybe it's just me.... Immigration and Asylum seekers

Tap Tap Tap Is this thing on???? 

Can someone give me a boost up on to the soapbox, please?

Hello, Please forgive me for my short fuse and improper language.

I'm going to stand on this soapbox and share my POV. I've got a lot to say and I hope that it can be digested.

I am frustrated by the stuff going around here. I try to avoid anything political because it tends to bring out anger, hatred, and trolls. But I can't say silent and I need to say something.

For those not aware of why I'm stating this it's in reference to ICE. And my remarks about military and prisons are in regards to separation of parents from children. That's simply so the context will make a bit more sense below.

The people who I was forced to call my parents would often and frequently put me in dog cage instead of trying to find a babysitter to watch me. At least until I got too big to fit. Because of that, I find the reports that children are being put into such a thing extremely distasteful and highly triggering. There was no one in authority to protect me. There weren’t any adults with the balls to speak up and out. So whether it’s true or not it bothers me, it makes me angry, it makes me sad, and it makes me not want to live in a world that treats children how my parents treated me.

Because of that treatment, I have been dictated to on what I can and can’t do for my children. Even having it recommended that I be medically neglectful for my children because those in authority aren't up to speed with information such as the DSMV which says girls can have autism and epilepsy or that Muscular Dystrophy can be passed down through the generations. To live with the horror and fear of having my children ripped away from me into some unknown hell. It’s my reality and the reality of many others so I can have empathy for the children and parents. I am going on just the facts of families torn apart. Nothing more and nothing less.

I know my history, I don’t remember a lot of it but I know enough to know the shame of it. I was born too late to be alive during the big push to take Native American families apart. But I do know the fallout from it. I’ve heard from surviving Native Americans who were removed from their family and sent off to boarding schools. Forced to be with strangers both peers their own age and the employees. I know the stories of their treatment. I hear it in the group counseling sessions, I hear it in the community gatherings. I hear it at the meetings for getting programs to the children on the reservations. I hear it from the lack of response to children who are kidnapped on the reservations. I hear it from the elderly survivors in church. I hear the pain in their voice, I see their disconnect from not only their culture and society but also society as a whole.

I have heard the stories from a survivor of the concentration camp. I have heard the stories from the children and grandchildren of this survivor. The world was horrified by what happened in Germany. It was drilled into my head not to ever forget. As if I could with the nightmare-inducing tales I was told. But the ones who wanted me to swear not to forget where the men who fought in the war. Don’t let it happen again they said to me.

I know the horrors of being in a foster/group home situation and of being placed in an institutional prison type program simply because no one knew what to do with me and the lack of proper parenting I was getting from my parents at home. I didn’t belong there but there I was put. I was ripped from the family I loved and who had never treated me badly. I was ripped from the world I knew. I learned what fear, despair, and unknown means. I have nightmares from my past experiences still.

Because I know this and know it well I don’t want children put into any situation like this. These children may or may not fully grasp what is going on. They may or may not fully understand why they are coming here with mommy and/or daddy. But they sure are learning the horrors of an institutional setting that is outside of their typical cultural experience.

My crimes are my crimes, not my children. I don't want my children judged/punished for my crimes. My children sadly are on a regular basis but that's not the point here. The point is should children be locked in dog cages, or infants ripped from the breast of their mother while nursing. I don't think so.
Until we really know what is happening as to why these families are trying to get into this country I don't think we can judge if they are or aren't doing something wrong. I think there's more to it than that.

I mean take a look at Hawaii. If the people who are in Hawaii started fleeing here because of the volcanic action that started in May and doesn't show signs of stopping any time soon should we do this to them? I mean seriously how do we know they were there legally?

What about Puerta Rico? Look at the devastation they are still struggling with. They are part of the USA and yet they are being treated unfairly and inhumanely and they didn't do anything more than just got hit by a hurricane.

I'm not saying it's right or wrong to want to be in America. I fully admit that if my ancestors hadn’t wanted to come here I wouldn’t be here now. But I do think it's wrong to degrade and traumatize children for their elders' wanting to come here.

Now for the but Military and prisoners are separated from their children blah blah blah. In the case of the Military they know full well they will be separated and so do their families. They know it’s not a matter of if but a matter of when. I have military friends and family and have also been the little woman at home during deployments several times as my friends and family joke with me. The person enrolled in the military knows they will be sent to someplace outside their comfort zone for basic training and AIT. Unless they are incredibly lucky and live near the training camps. They know when it comes to deployments and even annual training for those in the guard or reserve units that separation happens.

Last I knew the families coming here aren’t military and didn’t sign up to be military so the separations are different. These people didn’t know it was happening. Heck, I didn’t know it was happening before now. So how can they know what they will be facing when they get here? These people are coming with hopes of staying intact and with the hope for a better life and the American Dream. In the cases of an unattended minor, someone probably sent them off with the hope of a better life and the American Dream. They knew separation was going to happen and had the pluck to come anyways. Still, these people don’t really seem to know what’s going to happen here and I don’t know if it would or wouldn’t be a deterrent. I just know they don’t deserve to be traumatized.

Now for prisoners. Yes, that does causes families to be separated. That does causes children to be ripped from their parents and a separation and breakdown in the family unit. But those children aren’t put in dog cages because mommy or daddy or the caregiver broke the law. The children aren’t punished for their parents crimes. Judged yes. Written off yes. But not punished with going to an institutional prison setting. They are put in the care of other family members or friends or even in to the system of foster care. And while the foster care system isn’t ideal it’s better than what’s happening to these families. And yes, I know there are horrible foster parents just like there are wonderful foster parents but that’s a totally separate issue. Still there is hope for reunification. Do these families have that? Most of these parents don’t know where or what is going on with the children. The children don’t know where or what is happening with the parents. Reunification isn’t even on the table. When a child’s parents go to prison, there are options for the child. People can discuss where the parent is, the child might be able to write to the parent or make a phone call or accept a phone call from the parent, there might be visitation. These children aren’t getting any of this. So in my humble opinion Military and Prisoners separations are nowhere close to what is going on with these families.

As for these families being unfit well you have to define unfit to me because unfit isn’t a one size fits all label. I know this from personal experience. I swear it’s on the flashing neon sign over my head. Yet every time it’s brought up and investigated I am found not to be unfit. For endangering their children by coming here? Maybe I don’t know for sure. But if that’s the case what about the families in Flint? Last I knew Flint Michigan still has unhealthy water. Should we be removing the children there and locking them in cages because their families can't provide clean water for them? No, we shouldn't. We shouldn't do it to anyone.

And why can we get away with it when if this happened in any other country there would be hell to pay.

Thank you for listening.

Let's Help Pu’uhonua o Puna

My dearest friend Alica  says "This is by far the best way to donate to the evacuees of Kilauea eruption. Created by the community, for the community."

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Donate if you can. Otherwise, please pass this on let's help these people overcome and succeed.