To continue with the saga of contradictory messages on the issue of immigration, it turns out Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) wants to better its image among the immigrant population of Chicago, Illinois, while in nearby Detroit, Michigan, ICE appears to be focused on intimidating families in the vicinity of a school, going against its own guidelines not to conduct immigration operatives near schools or houses of worship.
Today, Monday, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) kicks off a pilot project in Chicago "to combat the negative image some groups have of the Department," the AP reported.
The AP note added that the idea is to bring together public officials from several DHS agencies, such as ICE and Customs and Border Protection (CBP), with immigrant and other community groups, to answer any questions they may have. The article quotes a CBP official stating that the only thing that people are accustomed to is "to see us at the borders inspecting baggage," adding that since the DHS was restructured in 2003, there has been a "disconnection" with the public.
Unfortunately, the immigrant community is not only accustomed to seeing agents at the borders "inspecting luggage," given that ICE deportations are now become the daily bread for many.
Now it is no longer the so-called silent raids.
In the neighboring state of Michigan, in the city of Detroit, organizations denounced the intimidation tactics used by ICE, this time in the vicinity of a school.
In a press conference held last Wednesday in front of the school, pro-immigrant advocates and some of those affected explained that immigration agents followed several families to the school, and at least six agents were stationed in cars outside the school.
Similar to other operatives, those affected are not only undocumented immigrants but their children, many who are U.S. citizens. An article quotes Al Abdel, the director of Hope of Detroit Academy, stating "the children cannot concentrate because they fear that if one of their parents is separated from them, they wonder if their brothers and sisters or parents will be here tomorrow with them."
There were enough complaints that ICE released a statement indicating that an investigation of the incident was taking place. Brian Hale, an ICE spokesperson, stated, "A preliminary analysis indicates that the required steps were taken; however, certain aspects of the operation appeared to have been contradictory to our guidelines, priorities and practice."
But, of course, there is nothing to fear since not only the White House but DHS –consequently ICE and CBP, the every agency that removed a four-year-old girl, a U.S. citizen, to Guatemala – assure us that the full force of the law is focused on the worst of the worst criminals.
This week, once again, President Obama will meet with the Congressional Hispanic Caucus to discuss immigration, among other issues. This comes on the heels of a Bloomberg report that alleges the White House attempted to persuade some Democrats not to participate in a press conference, on March 31, to announce a national campaign demanding an end to the deportation of parents of U.S. children or youths who could benefit from the DREAM Act.
President Obama has indicated that he does not have the power to go beyond existing law in order to stop deportations, adding that administrative solutions do not work broadly, since only comprehensive immigration reform can do that, something he is working on.
In the meantime, perhaps they believe that the ICE campaign to change its image can be applied broadly and pacify the community, at least until after the elections.
Like the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights stated, in regard to the change of image campaign: "It's like putting lipstick on a pig; it still is a horrid pig."
