By Richard L. Gaw
Staff Writer

Note: The names of those in attendance at this community meeting and their agencies have been rescinded from this news story in order to protect their identity and respect the confidentiality of their respective affiliations.

A Zoom meeting on Feb. 5 brought together 30 representatives from county and state non-profit agencies, educators, immigration attorneys, faith leaders and volunteers for a 90-minute session that discussed how the county will prepare for a likely intervention from Immigration and Custom Enforcement (ICE) officials as part of a nationwide mass deportation effort to remove undocumented citizens from the U.S.

Moderated by the head of a local non-profit organization, the meeting was intended to establish and strengthen the wall of support, service and information currently being implemented to assist the individuals and families who are at risk of being deported. 

“Given the potential for incidents that will affect our area, our agencies or our schools, we believe it is prudent to proactively organize a conversation addressing this possibility, and we hope that when we come together that this discussion will allow us to evaluate how such events could impact the community we serve, our customer bases and the overall services we provide to the community,” the community leader said. 

Know rights and make a plan

The key tenor of the meeting focused on informing undocumented residents of their personal and civic rights. A representative from a State Senator’s office shared immigration resources provided by the Pa. House of Representatives – in English and Spanish – that provided an extensive list of contact information for those seeking assistance, as well as a “Know Your Rights” package. 

She said that her office continues to be in contact with federal representatives as well as support local agencies whose clients may be subject to encounters with immigration authorities.

These documents, she said, help encourage families to know their rights and make a family plan, “to understand how we do and what we do as a family, what happens when we get separated from our children, and who will be that aunt or uncle who can be the legal guardian of that child.”

A community advocate and volunteer said that an immigration attorney informed her that it is crucial for at-risk families to collate their documents in the event of being detained, including passports, contact information for family members and friends and emergency information that can be shared with schools. 

The chief executive officer said that while many of the agencies currently have established crisis plans, the key conundrum that faces nearly all of them is finding ways to house the children of detained parents.  While it would require action by its board to do so, the superintendent of one school district said that the district can arrange an emergency shelter for the children of detained parents. She recommended, however, that these students would be safer if they could be connected to temporary guardians.

“If we do out them in a school where ICE now can go, then we could set up a situation where students would be picked up very quickly,” she said. “I want to make sure that we understand the risks associated with that.”

Although his consulate does not have the space to house these children, “We can look in our data base in our systems to find emergency contacts from those people and locate a family member so that they won’t go into the system,” said a spokesperson for protection and legal affairs for a Philadelphia-based agency. “In extreme cases, we have resources and can definitely help bring the minor back to [the nation of origin] if that is the parents’ wish, and if the child is very young, we will fly with them to assure that they arrive safe and sound to their families.”

He said that every undocumented citizen who is detained has the right to have the consulate notified of an individual’s detention. 

“Once we are notified, we immediately put all of our resources into action, whether it is legal, representation or if the family needs any type of assistance,” said the spokesperson, who shared that the consulate also has connective links to other resources and representation designed to assist every detainee. “Unfortunately, these [deportations] are moving very fast, so we need to move faster than the authorities to get [people] the help that they need.”

The spokesperson said that in cooperation with the American Mushroom Institute, the agency will be visiting local mushroom growing facilities to speak with the employees about their civic rights if they are approached by an ICE official. 

One local leader expressed concern for several members of the local community not attending school or going to work, out of fear of their being detained by ICE officials. She said that her agency has been encouraging students to attend school or face the risk of having to report to court. She said the agency recently hosted a non-violent protest in Kennett Square Borough to express support of the local Hispanic community that drew more than 200 concerned residents.

‘Ensuring community resilience’

Local houses of faith are anticipated to serve as sanctuary spaces for displaced residents in the area. One faith leader said her church is personally committed to help, as are other faith-based organizations throughout the county. Another faith leader said that members of his congregation are volunteering to do food shopping for local families who worship at the church.

“While there is a challenge, we’re trying to put together the corporate way to engage but also try to figure out how as individuals we can be of some help to some of these families,” he said.

One community leader expressed an interest in establishing a communications strategy that will connect these agencies together in an information pipeline, while an agency member told the group that she has received several inquiries from local residents who are interested in making donations to support agencies. She was informed that it will be crucial for the community to serve as volunteers to inform residents of their legal rights. 

“We think this conversation is an opportunity to think critically and creatively about our role in ensuring community resilience,” one leader said of the meeting’s intention. “It’s also a chance to reaffirm our commitment to the people we serve.”

A follow-up online meeting is scheduled to be held in the coming weeks.

To contact Staff Writer Richard L. Gaw, email [email protected].