Anti-immigration raids harm all communities (Commentary)

As the new administration issued a flurry of executive orders during its first weeks in power, many of the actions have specifically targeted immigrants and negatively impacted many community members in our country. These sweeping acts have created chaos and fear within all communities of color, regardless of immigration status. That’s because a growing number of law enforcement officials have stopped and detained individuals without credible information about immigration status. They are stopping individuals solely because of their appearance.

Trump’s anti-immigrant raids have reportedly impacted many legal residents – including American Indian populations. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents have racially profiled many American Indian and Alaska Natives, confusing American Indians as immigrants and detaining them during raids. Given that U.S. land was forcibly taken from its original inhabitants – often through colonization, unfair treaties, and theft – no one should be considered illegal on stolen land. No one should be defined in terms of their immigration status nor should they be dehumanized as an “illegal.” For a nation formed through land theft and unsanctioned settler migration, it is hypocritical for government officials to enforce deportation policy against vulnerable community members.

Tribal Nations throughout the U.S. are reminding Tribal citizens to always carry their IDs. In New Mexico, the Navajo Nation reported that at least 15 American Indians were being questioned or detained by ICE, who have targeted Indigenous people. Despite the number of IDs many Native Americans already have in order to have Tribal citizenship, ICE agents seem to still not recognize Tribal identification as valid proof of citizenship. The intensified deportation has caused many Tribal leaders to encourage Tribal citizens to carry further identification to avoid harassment from immigration officials. For Indian Country, this is yet another injustice in our ongoing history of injustices.

Native Americans being mistaken for undocumented immigrants is proof that our communities are being racially profiled. Our community strengths must be in unity and moving with courage for all Oklahomans to thrive during a time when headlines create uncertainty, division, and fears of racial profiling.

We must also remember that immigrants who have already gone through the long process to become U.S. citizens are also at risk of arrest. Between 2015 and 2020, ICE arrested 674 potential U.S. citizens, detained 121 of them, and deported 70 of these individuals. There are far too many instances of U.S. citizens being held by federal immigration authorities for prolonged periods despite their attempts to prove their citizenship status. Studies have shown that agencies like ICE have a history of racism and racially profiling people, therefore targeting people of color. Furthermore, immigration courts do not have a guaranteed right to counsel, meaning that U.S. citizens could potentially find themselves alone in trying to prove their citizenship status.

The fear of being caught up in Trump’s mass deportation attempts is compounded for immigrants who are undocumented. These impacts extend to the point that they can harm the entire family’s mental and physical health, regardless of immigration status. This is because about two-thirds of people who are undocumented have lived in the United States for more than 10 years and during their time here, they have become our friends and neighbors. Even though they have long lived and contributed to our communities, they now face the threat of deportation even if they have not committed or been convicted of a crime.

Trump’s immigration policies are disproportionately harming people of color. It’s not just recently naturalized U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents who are getting caught up in the administration’s hate-mongering, but also Native Americans who have lived in these lands long before the United States was even a concept. In such times, it is important to know your rights and create a plan in case you or a loved one has an encounter with immigration authorities.