Georgia community leaders push back on new ICE crackdown
Community leaders push back on ICE raids
Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers can now enter houses of worship to arrest undocumented immigrants. The new trump administration policy is striking fear in some Latino and Hispanic communities. A group of community leaders met to weigh in on how to push back on that policy.
NORCROSS, Ga. - Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers can now enter houses of worship to arrest undocumented immigrants.
The new Trump administration policy is striking fear in many Latino and Hispanic communities.
Local perspective:
A group of community leaders met Thursday night to discuss how to push back against this policy.
Monte Sinai Church in Norcross hosted the meeting. Rev. Eli Chavez, the church pastor, says many people in Latino and Hispanic communities are now worried that ICE agents can detain individuals in schools and houses of worship, initiating the deportation process.
"They’re scared to go to work, to come to worship," Rev. Chavez said.
Norcross church posts people at doors in response to ICE raids
What they're saying:
Latino and Hispanic clergy members, representatives from Latin-American countries, and immigration lawyers met at the church to inform houses of worship about what they can legally do to protect their members from deportation and to educate them about their rights.
"They have the right to remain silent; they have the right, if they are home, to not open their door," said Paola Chavarro, an immigration lawyer. "The church can take measures to maybe close the doors and not let someone like ICE come into the church."
"We have people at the door every Sunday to prepare for any inquiries from ICE," Rev. Chavez said.
Community leaders say many people are so scared they’re not going to work, school, or even church. But they urge people to learn their rights.
The Source: FOX 5's Christopher King spoke with community leaders at Monte Sinai Church during a public discussion on recent ICE raids across the country.