LOVE your IMMIGRANT Neighbor: Practical steps to support undocumented citizens and build community. 1st Blog of 4

FIRST OF FOUR BLOGS:
​Identify Yourself as an Advocate
"When a foreigner resides among you in your land, do not mistreat them. The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt. I am the LORD your God."  Leviticus 19:33-34

We have some clear choices before us: look away, hunker down and convince yourself and those you love that whatever the new administration is doing will not affect you. History tells us this is not a wise choice. An alternative choice is to build community wherever you are. In fact, I believe as a follower of Jesus, building community is our best choice as we boldly stand up to hate and fear.

Our undocumented neighbors need our protection. They are afraid. Those who once had protected status find their legal rights stripped. Recently documented citizens find themselves questioned because of their accents or brown skin. Undocumented migrants, desperately seeking work and fleeing unstable countries, have been categorized as dangerous criminals, even though they are less likely to commit crimes than native born citizens (according to the FBI). 

We can do something. We can build a protective community around immigrants now.
Over the next few weeks, I will be posting in this blog simple things you can do to protect your undocumented neighbors.

FIRST OF FOUR BLOGS: Identify Yourself as an Advocate

Do you know someone who might be undocumented? This could be anyone: a mother in the school pickup line, an across the hall neighbor, the barista at your local coffee shop, a fellow classmate, or a co-worker. If you know nothing about their immigration status, that is fine. Now is not the time to be concerned you might offend someone. Have a conversation with this person. Be careful to do it privately. If having a private word with someone is not possible, skip ahead to my second set of suggestions.

BEFORE you do anything, make sure to print off RED CARDS here. Red cards inform immigrants of their legal rights. Keep a few of these cards in your wallet, car, purse, back pack. Disseminating these cards is one of the most important things we can do to support our undocumented neighbors.

First: Clearly identify yourself as an advocate with any of the following statements:

• “I want you to know whatever your status as an immigrant, you are welcome here.”
• “I don’t know what you are facing right now, but please know if you need help, I am ready to support you.”

Remember: this person might be documented. It’s impossible to know who is and who isn’t. You would be surprised by the number of undocumented immigrants in our communities who are white and don’t look like the caricature “border-crossers” MAGA has demonized. Use whatever words feel comfortable to you; simply make it clear you are safe!

Second: If the individual responds with fear, verbally or physically, do not push. Quietly leave them a red card. If they do not have your contact information, leave that as well. Finally, before you leave, tell them again that you are grateful they are in your community.

Third: If the individual responds with hope and relief, hand them a red card and tell them their rights. The #1 most important thing we can tell undocumented immigrants is the following: You do not need to open your door for ICE ever. For now, (this could change quickly), ICE can only obtain warrants through a legal process. Tell them again: do not open your door. Instruct them only to open their door for people they know. If they do not have a way to identify who is on the other side of their door, tell them to have a code word for all their friends and family. Finally, tell them to keep their doors locked at all times.

Fourth: Make it clear that if for any reason ICE comes to their place of work or anywhere else, they do not have to speak with ICE. Encourage them to come up with plans for anywhere they frequent. For example, if they are at their workplace, where can they go to avoid ICE? If they are grocery shopping, do they know where the nearest bathroom is? Again, remind them that their constitutional rights protect them, even as undocumented citizens. They DO NOT have to speak with an ICE agent.

Fifth: Finish the conversation and ask if you can meet again. Acknowledge that everything you told them is a lot and you understand they might feel overwhelmed. Make sure they have your contact info.

Here is an ALTERNATIVE plan to identify yourself as an advocate to someone you can not have a private word with:
The last thing we want to do to an undocumented person is “out them” in a public setting. That said, we cannot let this fear keep us from getting them valuable information. Each situation will be different. Know your setting. The best thing you can do is make sure this individual receives a red card and your contact information. Perhaps hand them a card. Inside the card simply write that you are an advocate and concerned about their safety. Somehow, make contact. You might be the only advocate they know.

 Learn more 
 https://www.aclu.org/know-your-rights/immigrants-rights
https://watsonimmigrationlaw.com/2025/01/22/know-your-rights-if-ice-visits-a-home-employer-or-public-space-english-and-spanish/

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