All About the 45 Days of Fear

Lately, in California, immigrant communities have been facing fear and uncertainty because of the Trump administration’s new “Operation Safe California.” This operation is not safe; in reality, it consists of 45 days of intensive ICE enforcement. Although it hasn’t been publicly announced, according to The Washington Examiner, reports have raised numerous concerns about who is being targeted. The publication reports that ICE agents and officers were told to “Go after anybody; they can pick up anybody,” even if they don’t have any criminal records. This heavily affects families and immigrant communities. Reports of these operations have been increasing across the state, stretching from San Diego to the Los Angeles area. In fact, a report on the ICE surge in San Diego highlights the enforcement of the surge and community responses.

  For many people like me, this isn’t just a political issue. It’s about parents who work long hours to put food on the table and might not come home, children as young as 2 months old (such as Juan Nicolas), and older kids who are afraid to go to school because of questioning or ICE waiting for their parents to walk them to the gates. People are scared to even step outside because they have a tan or an accent. No one should have to go through, nor should they have to live in constant fear of being separated from their families and the people that they love.

Many believe that “no one is illegal on stolen land.” The United States has a history of seizing land from Indigenous peoples, making the question of belonging highly complex. Indigenous populations have endured systematic dispossession, colonization, and shifting borders. Regardless of legal status, everyone deserves equal respect and dignity. Immigrants are neither animals nor “aliens”—they are human beings who bleed the same as everyone else. They are parents, students, teachers, lawyers, doctors, and neighbors.  

While immigration laws exist, enforcing them should never come at the expense of human dignity and rights. Critics often ask, “If they love the U.S. so much, why don’t they get a green card?” Yet, according to data on Green Card Processing, there is no standardized processing timeline. Wait times can span from months to several years, depending on your immigration categories, priority dates, visa availability, nationality, and whether the applicant processes their adjustment of status in the United States or via consular channels abroad. Consequently, individuals unfairly labeled as “lazy” may have spent years waiting for their citizenship, only to have their security stripped away by enforcement agencies biased toward accents and skin color. 

What can someone do if they are being detained by ICE? Knowing your rights and having a plan can easily help people and their families navigate this scary situation. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) provides vital “Know Your Rights” guidance on how to interact if ever being detained. “Remain calm and do not physically resist. Do not run, obstruct officers, or provide false information, for it can only make it worse. Prepare yourself just in case; memorize the phone numbers of your family and lawyer. If you have one, say your name, as people may be recording. If they leave or turn your phone off, your family will see it online and find you and the center that you might be in. You do not have to consent to a search of yourself or your belongings, but they might pat down your clothing if they suspect a weapon. You have the right to consult with a lawyer. The government might not provide one for you, but you can ask for a list of free or low-cost alternatives. You do not have to answer questions about where you were born—even if you’re a U.S. citizen—or how you entered the country. If a loved one gets detained, seek verified information. Family members can use the Detainee Locator to look for someone in immigration custody and to contact a qualified immigration attorney or a legal aid organization for more information.”

As California communities respond to these reports, it is really important to remember that there are human beings behind these headlines—people being pushed to the ground, hurt, and ripped away from their families. People should be able to attend school, go to work, visit a grocery store, and return home to their families without feeling that their lives can be taken or changed in an instant. For example, individuals like Renee Nicole Good (a 37-year-old American mom), Alex Pretti (a 37-year-old ICU Nurse), Geraldo Lunas Campos (a 55-year-old father of four), Victor Manuel Diaz (who wanted to help his mother), Luiz Gustavo Nunez Caceres (who was a 42-year-old with life-threatening emergencies), Parody La (who was arrested outside his home), Luis Beltran Yanez-Cruz (a 68-year-old-20-year resident, father, and grandfather), and Herber Sanchez Dominguez (a 34-year-old awaiting his hearing). These individuals had their lives taken by ICE or in ICE custody, and so many others. May we never forget their names, and may they rest in peace. 

For everyone living through this uncertainty, the next 45 days may feel much longer than just a number on a calendar. Behind every reported or unreported arrest is a person with a story, and every person is part of a community that may be left waiting for answers. Whatever the outcome of this operation may be, the pain experienced by families deserves to be acknowledged, and their rights deserve to be protected. Even if you voted red, that doesn't mean you're just as safe. According to ProPublica reports, over five hundred American citizens have also been detained by immigration agents during the Trump administration. Stay safe, be careful, and remember the steps you can take in case you experience a dangerous situation like this one.

Image Courtesy of Fibonacci Blue on Wikimedia Commons.