Nationwide Interconnection of Police and ICE Arrests, Raids, Kidnappings, and Mass Deportations
Photography by Colin Patrick
Whether you’re at work, home, on public transportation, or vacation, your citizenship status knows no bounds if you are Black or Brown in the United States when it comes to ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement). In Donald Trump’s previous and current presidential terms, he promised to deport every migrant in the country. Even though many cities, including sanctuary cities, Trump has deployed ICE agents in all kinds of spaces—Black and Brown neighborhoods, businesses, parks, construction sites, train stations, community recreation centers, and more.
For over a week, ICE has been conducting illegal raids across the country, with an all-time high for arrests, kidnappings, and mass deportations of both protestors and immigrants. Many of these raids are unwarranted, meaning ICE is not checking for citizenship but instead detaining people who fit their archetype, as a “justifiable” candidate to detain and deport. As demonstrators continue to fight against the ICE raids, Trump continues to want to deploy the National Guard and the Marines in an attempt at crowd control. However, this has only escalated the violence and destruction caused by the U.S. forces.
According to the Pentagon, the deployment of the National Guard and Marines will cost $134 million; funds that could be used to provide housing and resources for both U.S. citizens and immigrants. Mind you, the U.S. government could end homelessness within a week of the military’s budget. Without immigrants, America would crumble. They master the jobs and tasks that Americans are too lazy to do—whether it’s in the food, landscaping, construction, or farming industries. The situation has become so dire that many cities are not complying with the ICE raids. As of the night of June 12, a federal judge blocked Trump from deploying the National Guard in LA.
These arrests, raids, kidnappings, and mass deportations are not only occurring in Los Angeles. This past weekend, a Chilean tourist named Javiera Andrea was legally visiting New York City with her family. Out of nowhere, the NYPD detained and arrested her as her 12-year-old daughter. She was apprehended when the NYPD said they were arresting suspects after a burglary at Sunglass Hut. Despite Andrea pleading that she was a tourist, they detained her for eight hours, made her daughter come to the precinct, and admit that they had unlawfully arrested her without reason.
Photography by Colin Patrick
In addition, on the night of June 9, ICE made their rounds through Flatbush, Brooklyn, a predominantly Black and Caribbean community. On June 10, at least five people were kidnapped by ICE in Philadelphia. On the same day, a man also posed as an ICE agent, robbed a car repair business, and tied up and manhandled a woman from the Dominican Republic. On the night of Sunday, June 8, popular Brooklyn venue Mood Ring hosted a Puerto Rican Day Parade after party.
What started as a peaceful night ended in violence as police charged at anyone they saw, singing and dancing outside the venue, leading to multiple arrests and injuries. Last night, the NYPD created more violence at another anti-ICE demonstration, slamming peaceful protestors to the ground and arresting over 20 people. Lastly (hopefully), ICE raids across Detroit drew activists to the streets, increasing police presence in one of the Blackest cities in America and a densely populated Mexican and Latino community.
While no two incidents are the same, they are all parallel. Whether it be police or ICE, U.S. forces’ missions are all the same: to separate communities, families, and uphold white supremacy. It is unclear how long the Trump Administration will continue to try to remove, oppress, and erase Black and Brown people. As they say, ICE melts under resistance, and no one is illegal on stolen land. It’s not an easy fight, but it’s one to keep fighting for.
Please find resources here for New York, Los Angeles, Texas, Philadelphia, Detroit, and the Pacific Northwest.
