Immigration Enforcement: Bearing Witness, Taking Action
Some of the many photos featured on the GoFundMe pages of people living in Montgomery County who have had family members detained by federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement actions.
While the shock and awe of the early days of President Trump’s immigration crackdown have died down, the cruel reality of mass detentions and deportation continues.
The Immigrants Rights Collective recently declared, “What we are witnessing is not simply an immigration enforcement operation. It is an assault on the safety, dignity, and stability of our communities. Every detention leaves behind children, parents, loved ones, coworkers, neighbors, and entire communities forced to pick up the pieces.”
The sheer scale of the terror is mind boggling. For example, last month ICE reported a record-breaking number of arrests: more than 1,300 people in the Maryland and Virginia suburbs; 51,000 individuals nationwide. The vast, vast majority of those arrested had no criminal record.
For the individuals who are detained, this involves:
The devastation of being kidnapped: ICE arrests are rife with instances of mistreatment, physical violence, and violation of an individual’s rights.
The horrors of detention: People who are arrested are often placed in cramped holding cells, frequently without access to adequate nutrition, needed medication, contact with family members, or legal representation. They are being moved further away from Maryland and more frequently than ever before. They often have no information about where they are being sent or when. If one fights deportation, they face the threat of extended time in detention.
The uncertainty of being deported: Sometimes people are deported back to their own country, where they may or may not have family and supportive communities. For some, they may not have lived there for decades or since they were children. In some cases, those countries are very dangerous places to return to. Some people are being sent to countries they have no connection to at all.
These arrests—and the fear they create—also affect family and community members left behind. There is the trauma of walking to school and seeing parents being snatched away from their children. There is the physical and emotional stress of living in constant fear of being picked up, whether one has legal documentation or not. How might that impact how you get to work, go to the grocery store, access healthcare, take kids to school, or attend religious services or other community gatherings? How might all of these things affect your health?
Recent studies have documented a decrease in the number of Hispanic children attending school and fewer immigrant children receiving healthcare or putting off going to a doctor until a problem gets much worse. Food insecurity is at a five-year high, but many food providers report immigrants are reluctant to reach out for assistance over fears of targeted enforcement actions.
Consider all the devastation, horror, and uncertainty and multiply it by the 51,000 people who were arrested just last month. It is hard to contemplate and it is devastating—especially if you believe, as I do, that the pain is the point of this cruel MAGA strategy.
Taking Action: What I Am Doing (at the State level)
Last session I introduced and passed several pieces of legislation to address some of the crises caused by increased and indiscriminate immigration enforcement, including:
the No Kings Act, which creates a legal recourse when someone’s civil rights have been violated by Federal agents, and
protecting sensitive personal data kept by the state and prohibiting data brokers from selling Marylanders’ data to ICE through my data privacy bill.
I worked with colleagues to support the ban on 287G agreements and the Community Trust Act to end Maryland law enforcement cooperation with ICE.
I also introduced the Aviation Safety Act, to add safeguards and transparency to ICE flights through Maryland airports. This bill did not pass, but I plan to bring it back again next Session.
I am currently engaged with individuals affected by ICE actions and with immigration advocacy organizations. I am developing legislation for next Session to continue doing everything within the power of the State to protect Maryland’s immigrant communities.
Taking Action: What You Can Do
Many groups are working hard to stand with impacted neighbors and communities. I encourage you to reach out if you need help and to get involved in whatever way works for you.
Donate directly to individuals: Here is just a sample of the many Go Fund Me pages set up for people in Montgomery County who have been negatively affected by immigration enforcement.
Blue Sweep Canvassing Opportunities
Ultimately, the way to keep our communities safe is to win the midterms to put a check on MAGA power, and then to throw MAGA politicians out.
With midterm elections just around the corner, now is the time to connect with our fellow Americans and encourage a strong turnout for Democrats who will hold the federal administration accountable.
➜ On Saturday, September 26th, we will meet in Clarksburg, MD, to support Maryland Democrats in District 9A. We will receive canvassing training and go out in teams to encourage folks to vote for Delegates Natalie Ziegler and Chao Wu.
➜ On Sunday, September 27th, join me as I head up to Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, to encourage folks to vote for Janelle Stelson in her race to unseat Republican Congressman Scott Perry. We will meet in Takoma Park, carpool to Mechanicsburg, receive training, and go canvassing in teams.
➜ We will have many more canvassing opportunities over the next week and I also hope to have my volunteers at polling locations around District 20 during Early Voting and on Election Day.
Sign up here for any or ALL of these opportunities and my Field Director, Eli Brennan, will reach out to you with further details.
(P.S. Feel free to share this sign-up email with friends who might like to join you. Canvassing is always more fun when you do it with a friend!)
Why Vote “Yes” on Question 3?
Donald Trump and his allies are rigging the system. He demanded red states like Texas and Florida change their maps, potentially creating 15 more seats in an attempt to lock in a Republican majority in Congress. He’s expecting blue states like Maryland to back down and not respond. Voting FOR Question 3 can help create a Democratic majority in Congress that will stop the policies crushing Maryland families.
I explained in a recent newsletter the specifics of what Question 3 does and doesn’t do. Most importantly, it allows Marylanders to decide how congressional redistricting will be handled in the future.
Transit Caucus Field Trip
What better way to educate my fellow state legislators and their staff about important transit issues than to go on a field trip? Last week we toured MARC trains and facilities. (Psst! Did you hear MARC recently announced more direct service between Silver Spring and Baltimore?)
As House Chair of the Transit Caucus, it’s just one of the ways I more effectively advocate for a robust and equitable transit system in the state.
Takoma Park Street Festival: Oct. 4th from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm
Celebrate all things Takoma at the annual Takoma Park Street Festival. Local bands, artists, food vendors, and community groups will all be on hand. I’ll have a booth, too. Stop by and say hi!
Need Help with a State Issue?
If you need help with a state issue, please contact my office at Lorig.Charkoudian@house.maryland.gov or leave us a message at (410)-841-3423.
Onward,
Lorig Charkoudian
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