Fil-Am groups join US-wide protests demanding abolition of ICE

NEW YORK — Members of the Filipino American community joined the call to abolish Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) following the agency's activities in Minneapolis, which have led to widespread protests as well as the killing by federal agents of Renée Nicole Good and Alex Pretti.

Among those who joined the nationwide protest was the Damayan Migrant Workers Association, an organization that assists Filipino migrants in the United States.

In a statement, the group said it stands with the call to abolish ICE due to alleged violations of human rights and due process.

“We joined thousands of people in New York City’s streets to respond to the call for a general strike and a national shutdown. Across the nation, millions of people are demanding the abolition of ICE. As a migrant workers’ organization, we demand that ICE withdraw from our communities, end the detention and deportation of our families, and treat us as human beings with equal rights,” the statement said 

Also taking to the streets was Filipina Amira Allah who, like Alex Pretti, works for the Department of Veterans Affairs.

While she said she respects the immigration policies of President Donald Trump, she expressed discomfort with how these policies are being implemented.

“What I do not like is how our federal agencies handle immigration policies. The chaos in capturing undocumented immigrants and worse, the resulting deaths are due to a lack of planning and standard operating procedures. We do not want to lose any lives just to implement strict compliance with immigration removal and deportation,” she said.

“For me, there is always a peaceful and legal way of handling things. I believe that if federal agencies sit down, address cases on a case-by-case basis, and implement standardized procedures, arrests would be peaceful. This would be possible if they also released to the public the proper documentation and processes behind immigration clean-up operations,” she added.

Allah said that she supports the deportation of undocumented immigrants, especially those with criminal records, but stressed that it should be done through proper procedures.

“We do not want to keep undocumented immigrants, especially those with serious criminal records. But America is very generous to talented and law-abiding citizens. So let’s keep praying that ICE and CBP [Customs and Border Patrol] will improve their deportation and removal processes,” she said.

'Violent invasion'

Human rights defender and movement safety and security trainer Kalay’an Mendoza described ICE operations in communities as a “violent invasion.”

“The violent invasion of ICE in our communities is a clear announcement of this administration’s utter contempt and disregard for our civil, constitutional, and fundamental human rights. These casually brutal paramilitary foot soldiers have done nothing but kill two observers in Minneapolis in broad daylight, violently separate families, kidnap community members from their cars on the way to work and school causing untold fear among loved ones and deploy chemical weapons outlawed in war against unarmed civilians courageously protecting their communities,” Mendoza told GMA Integrated News.

"The violent invasion of ICE in our communities is a clear announcement of this administration’s utter contempt and disregard for our civil, constitutional, and fundamental human rights," said human rights defender Kalay'an Mendoza. File photo courtesy Kalay'an Mendoza

Meanwhile, the Filipino American Press Club of New York released a statement regarding the arrest of independent journalists Don Lemon and Georgia Fort, who were accused of being among those who allegedly incited and participated in a ICE protest during a religious gathering in Minnesota.

“The arrest of journalists regardless of platform, affiliation, or personal views raises serious alarms about press freedom, due process, and the growing risks faced by members of the media in carrying out their duties. Journalism is not a crime,” the group said.

“Questioning authority, documenting events, and informing the public are essential functions in a democratic society.

“When journalists are detained or arrested under circumstances that may be perceived as intimidation or retaliation, it sends a chilling message to the press corps and undermines public trust in democratic institutions.” — BM, GMA Integrated News