Denver, Colorado – Today, beginning at 8:53am, the Colorado Rapid Response Network (CoRRN) documented Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) inhumanely and unnecessarily detained one family, including a 1 and a half year old child, who had just attended their court hearing, fulfilling their obligation to appear. 6 unidentified people in plainclothes surrounded the young family, terrifying the small child. Once they surrounded the family the ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations agents showed their badges. The agents denied a lawyer the right to speak with the family and then whisked them down a staircase. (CORRN) volunteers were present outside the courthouse this week distributing Know Your Rights at court flyers. The network has followed similar operations across the country.
Lee, one of the CoRRN volunteers present today states “I volunteered to be at the Immigration Courthouse today because I’m infuriated and terrified about the increase in institutionalized white supremacist violence against immigrants and their families in the United States. Join our community and stand up with your neighbors, get off your couch and your social media and take action before it’s too late.”
The overwhelming majority of immigrants appear for their immigration court without surveillance or monitoring. People attending immigration court are following all of the rules for their asylum or immigration process. Immigration courts are often the only mechanism for people to access an adjustment of status. The consequence of not showing up to court is a likely deportation order in absentia and targeting of the individual by Immigrations and Customs Enforcement for failure to appear.
Emily Brock, Rocky Mountain Immigrant Advocacy Network (RMIAN) Children’s Program Deputy Managing Attorney shared, “As a parent, I cannot imagine the terror these parents experienced as the officers surrounded them with their child in their arms and told them they were to go with them. As the officers got closer, the little boy’s arms clung tighter around his father’s neck. To take enforcement action against a family following the rules, attending their proceedings is an attack on due process and serves only to instigate increased levels of fear in the community.”
“With these immoral actions, the administration is trying to distract from the horrific impacts of the House’ budget, now on its way to the Senate. The Senate must reject this budget that strips Colorado communities of our safety net – food stamps, Medicare – while unconstitutionally granting the administration authority beyond the courts and tripling the budget for federal law enforcement directly under the Presidency to detain and deport people. We call on Senators Hickenlooper and Bennet to reject that budget and to physically stand with immigrants attending court in the coming days.” states Jennifer Piper, Program Director for the Colorado office of the American Friends Service Committee.
“This administration’s actions force immigrants into an impossible choice – attend court and face possible arbitrary mandatory months long detention, family separation and the prospect of arguing your case from inside detention or not appear in court and face certain targeting for deportation by ICE and other federal agents in the community.” states Christina Brown, Colorado Asylum Center.
“This Administration hopes to further criminalize people by scaring them into not attending court. This operation is shameful. We encourage community members attending court to make a safety plan, know your rights and go to court with accompaniment. If you are attending a hearing and want to request accompaniment you can fill out this form a week in advance and we’ll connect you with a trained volunteer.” explained Jordan Garcia of the American Friends Service Committee, a founding organization of CoRRN.
“This is outrageous. Detaining an entire family—including a baby—after they did exactly what was asked of them shows how far ICE will go to punish people simply for trying to stay together and follow the law,” said Raquel Lane-Arellano, Communications Manager of the Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition. “This is a deliberate attempt to scare our communities out of the courtroom and into the shadows. But we won’t back down—we will keep showing up for each other, demanding justice, and holding those in power accountable.”
Background on CORRN and Know Your Rights
The Colorado Rapid Response Network (CORRN) releases data regarding community response to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activities. Enforcement activity that terrorizes communities across the state, the CORRN Network has worked hard to prepare individuals and families by providing Know Your Rights information, family preparedness plans, and sharing the 24 hour hotline in response to targeted raids, 1-844-864-8341.
Having a family preparedness plan for immigrant communities ensures that each family knows who to call and what to do in the event of an ICE raid or detainment. Having a lawyer and CoRRN’s hotline number (1-844-864-8341) saved is an important part of any family plan.
Call your attorney or the Colorado Rapid Response Network immediately to assess your options if your family was in proceedings together and missed a court date for any reason. Call the Rapid Response Network immediately if there is ICE activity so legal observers and confirmers can respond on site quickly. Calling the hotline is better than posting on social media because it prevents undue heightened alarm or confusion. The hotline is open 7 days a week, 24 hours a day to respond.