Clarification:
This article was updated to clarify when citizens who aid and support immigrants do not have to fear legal repercussions.
Twelve refugees previously vetted and granted refugee status by U.S. immigration officials had their travel arrangements to Akron canceled last week, said Christina Hodgkinson, executive director of the International Welcome Center.
The situation serves as a local example of the immediate consequences of President Donald Trump’s executive orders targeting immigrants. Refugees and refugee resettlement agencies in the Akron area are bearing the brunt of the directives, though their consequences will be far reaching.
The refugees who were due to arrive in the Akron area in February include:
A father from the Democratic Republic of Congo. He was to be reunified with his wife and four school-age children after years apart.
A family of five from Afghanistan traveling via Pakistan with an 8-month-old.
A family of six from Colombia traveling via Ecuador.
“These families have been through quite a process,” Hodgkinson said. “They were so close and now have to wait.”
Within hours of his Jan. 20 inauguration, Trump signed executive orders that included suspending the admission of refugees for at least 90 days and prioritizing the deportation of undocumented immigrants, emphasizing recent arrivals and those who already have deportation orders. It has been widely reported that the far-reaching nature of these orders has created uncertainty and unease for millions of immigrants and foreign nationals in the United States.
Akron-based immigration attorney Farhad Sethna shared with Signal Akron tips to help immigrant families navigate.
Should U.S. citizens or people in the country with valid immigrant and non-immigrant visas be worried about Trump’s new policies?
Sethna, who teaches immigration law at the University of Akron School of Law, assured citizens of foreign countries with valid immigrant and non-immigrant visas that “People here lawfully have nothing to worry about. They should carry a document that shows their status.”
What extra steps can immigrants take?
Sethna advised immigrants to always carry copies of their passport’s biographical page and U.S. visa rather than the passport itself. This information will allow U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to verify their status.
What if you’ve overstayed your visa?
Undocumented immigrants and those who have overstayed their visas or whose visa statuses have lapsed should immediately work with an immigration attorney to inquire about options to legalize their status, Sethna said. “Sticking your head in the sand and hoping it will all go away is not going to work,” he said. “I don’t want people to be afraid. I want them to take action.”
What Akron-area agencies work with immigrants?
The International Welcome Center, Immigrant Legal Resource Center and American Civil Liberties Union provide information in multiple languages for those who anticipate encounters with immigration authorities.
Agencies that support immigrants are facing increasing needs and funding cuts, which is why Hodgkinson advocated donating to these organizations.
Hodkinson and Sethna concurred that in the current climate of uncertainty and fear, immigrants need to know their rights. They called for the broader community to actively support their immigrant neighbors. Sethna advocated for the formation of community groups that can focus on helping immigrants verify the legality of warrants if they encounter ICE agents and their attorneys are not immediately available.
Hodgkinson called on Akron residents to continue showing love for their neighbors.
“Have compassion and empathy for the community being targeted right now under these orders,” Hodgkinson said. “… Remember that we’re all human.”
How can U.S. residents voice their opinions on the topic?
Hodgkinson called on residents to contact local and national representatives and share their opinions about refugee admissions programs as well as talk about contributions immigrants make to the Akron area.
Do Akron residents who support immigrant neighbors face legal repercussions?
Sethna said citizens who aid and support their immigrant neighbors — whether documented or undocumented — do not have to fear legal repercussions unless the person they are helping is subject to a final deportation order, does not have a pending appeal or a valid stay of removal, or has been asked to report to the Department of Homeland Security.
“In a nutshell,” said Sethna, “the legal processes need to play out, and aliens are entitled to common human decency, including food, clothing and shelter while their removal proceedings wend their way through the system.”
