Ethics and Advocacy Panel on Humanitarianism, Immigration, and Refugees

Transcription

1 Panelists Humanitarianism and non-citizens UNC SCHOOL OF SOCIAL WORK CLINICAL LECTURE SERIES Moderator: Josh Hinson UNC Refugee Mental Health and Wellness Initiative The Most Pressing Problem In the absence of federal legislation to implement a pathway towards legalization for undocumented immigrants in the US, the work of keeping families together in the face of the constant threat of deportation falls on all people of conscience. This includes teachers, counselors, business owners, etc. Since lack of legislation is the current status of immigration and ICE is emboldened to hunt down immigrant families, the most pressing problem is the inability of people of conscience to effectively and proactively advocate to keep families together now, to reunite those who have been separated by detention and deportation now. LOCATING DETAINEE 1. ICE Detainee Locator: 2. Call the facility, have full name and DOB handy UNC-CH School of Social Work Clinical Lecture Series 1

2 Process of ICE Detention and Removal A. If picked up in triangle area, detainee will be taken to the Cary processing center. B. Next destination is York County Detention Center in South Carolina. Detainees usually pass by this facility. C. Next destination is Irwin Detention Center in Oscilla, GA or Stewart Detention Center in Lumpkin, GA or Folkston ICE processing center also in Georgia. D. For women detainees, final destination will likely be Irwin Detention Center. E. For men detainees, final destination will likely be Stewart Detention Center. F. Detainees are sometimes moved to other detention centers, depending on bed space and country of origin. G. Once deported, you are left at bus station or airport and usually do not get back your property. H. Family doesn t know where you are until you call. 287g Program ICE Detainers - Local law enforcement does not need 287g to collaborate with ICE - ICE detainers are requests made by ICE to the local agency asking to hold an individual, honoring these requests is voluntary, in fact some federals courts have ruled detainers unconstitutional - Four NC counties have 287g MOAs with ICE (Cabarrus, Gaston, Henderson, and, Nash) however ALL counties honor at least some ICE detainers - Any county with 287g has ICE officers inside their county jails. None 287g counties do not have ICE officers inside their jails so communication with ICE is telephonic / electronic. Anyone arrested can be processed by ICE and deported even if only charged not convicted. Knowing Your Rights: Theory vs Reality ICE is a rogue agency Documented abuses by ICE during apprehensions include: lying, use of physical force, intercepting vehicles, fingerprinting anyone and everyone on scene, among others. The Truth About ICE Raids - The feds make a friendly phone call to local law enforcement of the jurisdiction they intend to raid to inform them that they are going to be conducting business - They often inform city/county officials as well - Even business owners know a raid is going to take place at their business before it happens - If local government officials are truly allies of immigrants, they will let the greater community know that raids are going to take place as did former Mayor of San Francisco Libby Schaaf. Former SF Mayor Libby Schaaf UNC-CH School of Social Work Clinical Lecture Series 2

3 As public servants, these folks work for us.. Congressional advocacy can stop deportations, get people free Thom Tillis US Senator for North Carolina Durham City Council G.K. Butterfield US Congressman for North Carolina - Ask the member to introduce a private immigration bill (biggest ask of a member of congress) - Ask the member to visit detainee / deportee - Ask the member to accompany family to ICE check-in / appointment - Ask the member to meet with DHS / Trump to make personal plea on behalf of family to stop deportation - Ask the member to write a letter to DHS / Trump - Ask the member to call DHS / Trump Call the office of Congressman David Price Burr inquires with ICE re Stewart detainee - Local offices handle casework typically. Price s immigration caseworker, Robyn Winneberger, is located in Raleigh office at When you contact the office, they will ask you for a constituent release form (Its often difficult to get these waivers signed because folks are detained so get creative ;) - The offices will often say that they cannot tell ICE what to do in which case you request that the office do an inquiry with ICE. UNC-CH School of Social Work Clinical Lecture Series 3

4 After the inquiry, keep pushing.. Summary: Ways to help families dealing with issues of deportation and detainment - Request a meeting directly with the member - All members have the power to stop deportations, regardless of what they say - For imminent deportations, sit in at their office and refuse to leave until you have written notice that the deportation is stopped / detainee is free - Don t take no for an answer 1. Locate detainee: 2. Legal counsel: Don t just hire an attorney, hire a good attorney. 3. Letters and statements of support for advocacy and legal 4. Reach out to local and federal elected officials for support 5. Media outreach for coverage and pressure (this should only be done if and once detainee and family are prepared) Presenting problem: Clinical perspective DONATE HERE: bit.ly/givetoalerta Lack of understanding related to the short-term and long-term psychological effects of toxic stress and trauma that children experience when separated from their families Lack of appropriate and/or accessible /AlertaMigratoria alertamigratorianc@gmail.com UNC-CH School of Social Work Clinical Lecture Series 4

5 Presenting problem: Clinical perspective Actionable steps Historical context of family separation and attachment Parental buffering of stress systems Short-term and long-term consequences of toxic stress and trauma Recovery after reunification Educate the community about toxic stress and trauma caused by family separation Increase culturally and linguistically appropriate services for children and families Assist families and children in accessing natural supports and connections within the community to increase resilience References References (cont.) Bouza, J., Camacho-Thompson, D. E., Carlo, G., Franco, X., Garcia Coll, C., Halgunseth, L. C., White, R. M. (2018, June 20). The Science is Clear: Separating Families has Long-term Damaging Psychological and Health Consequences for Children, Families, and Communities. Retrieved March 25, 2019, from Crouse, V. (2019, April 03). Family separation is wrong for North Carolina. Retrieved April 04, 2019, from Families has Long-term Damaging Psychological and Health Consequences for Children, Families, and Communities. Retrieved March 25, 2019, from Firestone, L. (2018, June 26). The Dangers of Separating Children from Parents. Retrieved April 07, 2019, from Society for Research in Child Development. (2018, June 28). The Science of Childhood Trauma and Family Separation: A Discussion of Short- and Long-Term Effects. Retrieved March 25, 2019, from Tizard, B. (2009, October). Looking Back: The making and breaking of attachment theory. Retrieved April 01, 2019, from UNC-CH School of Social Work Clinical Lecture Series 5