By Anthony Bonilla-Lazo

Staff Writer

    Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is a federal law enforcement agency that is responsible for investigating immigration violations, but instead, there have been several citizens who have been detained, along with many immigrants who have not been committing violent crimes. In many cases, they’ve been harassing innocent Hispanic folks. In recent months, there were many concerned citizens worried that they might be next.

    Due to the immigration crackdown ordered by President Donald Trump, there have been some recent reports and citations of ICE agents in every state. 

    Many Hispanic and Latino folks are afraid of going out of their homes and being caught in public. It seems like ICE is everywhere we go, and it’s starting to get out of hand. Many innocent people are being picked up who are legal citizens of the state and/or people who are already in the process of receiving their green card.

    As of now, Trump is allowing ICE agents to go into states indiscriminately. Many of these people have families and are being separated from them. Children and students like me, are scared to go to school because of the fear that they may be taken away and possibly never see their parents again.

    Many people have to carry I.D.’s and passports just to be safe. Whenever I go out, I myself also have to carry an I.D. in the event that something were to happen.

    ICE needs to stop harassing people who are working hard to provide for their families, and they should be put on trial for all of the wrongs they have done. To bring awareness of the devestation emerging from ICE, there have been many protests happening throughout the entire country. 

    Many are asking for ICE to leave their state and to stop harassing them. After Renee Nicole Good, a woman in Minneapolis, Minnesota, was shot and killed by an ICE agent, the anger rose among Americans. Sadly, the killing didn’t stop with Good. A few weeks later, Alex Pretti, a care nurse, was also shot by ICE during a protest. In no world did these people deserve that to happen. From what I can tell so far, nothing has been done to bring justice to these situations. ICE agents haven’t been charged or taken into court. Seeing all this go down is just insane. This shouldn’t be happening at all. 

    We are not “aliens,” we are human beings, created by God, just like everyone else. 

    I hate hearing Hispanic folks being named “aliens.” Hispanics have worked so hard to be called names and be harassed. Just because they speak a different language doesn’t give others the right to look at them like they aren’t human. Many people glare when someone speaks Spanish or any other foreign language. However, language is not an indicator of citizenship, but people always assume that another language signifies they aren’t citizens when people speak their mother tongue. Don’t be that person. 

    If you are fearful of ICE and want to stay safe, remember, you have rights. Never open the door to anyone who says they are an ICE agent. If they are, ask for a warrant and make sure it’s a judicial warrant. A judicial warrant is a warrant that is signed by a judge. Do not consent or allow them in your home. Remember, you’re protected under the law. 

    I hope that this nightmare ends and everyone can go back to work, to school, to the grocery store and not fear of being profiled by one of the ICE agents. 

    I’m happy that there are people who care and are trying their best to keep ICE away from our schools and homes. Our local and state governments need to work to keep ICE out. Don’t be afraid to speak up about this matter, your voice can make an impact for the better.

    This is a very important topic that needs to be talked about more often. Don’t let anyone try to silence you or tell you that it shouldn’t concern you. Do your best to talk about this matter and let everyone around you know what this means to you as a person. 

    I hope this helps you find your voices and gives you the courage to speak up.