Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids in Hawaii

[leilanidude]

HiloJulie  - that didn't take long. Anyone surprised?

[Punatang]

HiloJulie  - that didn't take long. Anyone surprised?

That was certainly quite an accomplicement.  It does seem like some people feel they have the right to enter Punaweb, and disregard the protocols and inclinations of our host. The reality is that we are all generally subject to Punaweb rules, norms, and moderator discretion.

[kalakoa]

the process someone would go through if they were accused of being an illegal alien in Hawaii

The problem is that there's no "process". People are simply arrested, detained, and deported without a chance to explain themselves. Because winning.

I've taken to wearing my passport card on a lanyard... as if it were a conference badge... just in case.

[ironyak]

Though the rapid-fire back and forth yesterday had various highlights worth reviewing (lots of informative links, went down swinging at least ;) this seems to sum most of it up with an important question:

round them up and who gives a hoot about their rights nonsense.. and ya know, you, with your false equivalency, seem to be cheering it on. Am I wrong?

Never a bad idea for everyone to consider which side of history they'll be on.

There are various immigrant support related efforts in Hawaii to consider contributing time, skills, and support towards:

The Japanese American Citizens League (JACL) has long worked to secure and safeguard the civil and human rights of communities who are affected by injustice and bigotry. The Honolulu chapter is calling on local and federal officials to provide more information and clarity as to immigration enforcement activities on the islands.
"Our communities deserve to live without fear of unjust targeting and to have their rights protected. We stand in solidarity with those affected and will continue to advocate for justice and equal protection under the law."

Can help support these requests by contacting your representatives - see attached image or Instgram link.

Also people coming together to provide legal support - can add the local immigration help hotline (808-204-5951) to the red cards (to put in your lanyards - papers please? FFS, did history not teach us anything, or did too many people skip those lessons...)

Hawaii lawyers launch deportation defense hotline amid stricter immigration enforcement
...
The service aims to provide relief to families who’ve been separated due to stricter immigration enforcement and advocates trying to help people like Tian and her 9-year-old son, who escaped religious persecution in China.

“Their English is limited, and their knowledge of the U.S. is also limited. And so I definitely think it’s very, very important to have more of a legal help,” said Hong Jiang, a human rights advocate who has helped many Chinese immigrants seek asylum in the U.S.
...
The service comes as advocates brace for the worst.

“I’ve been doing immigration law for the last 25-plus years. The mood lately is a lot of people are very concerned about traveling abroad, like, you know, if I were to travel and I’m not a U.S. citizen, I’m a visa holder or green card holder, upon my entry, would I be able to return?” Chang said.

To reach the immigration help hotline, call 808-204-5951." (more at link)

[HereOnThePrimalEdge]

“Their English is limited, and their knowledge of the U.S. is also limited.

Good for the Hawai’i lawyers.  It’s pretty clear not all English-as-a-first-language & born in USA citizens remember our rights and laws from 6th grade civics class.  Imagine being grabbed in Kahului, hog tied, and having those holding power over you not following the law (which presumably they learned in 6th grade civics class) and as their captive you don’t understand what is happening or even know what questions to ask about their actions?

[ironyak]

Along these lines, local rep Ilagan introduced legislation HB457 at the beginning of the year that would have "required state and local law enforcement agencies to notify an individual of their rights when in law enforcement agency custody before any interview with United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement on certain matters regarding immigration violations" which included providing handouts in multiple languages.

Unfortunately it got deferred in committee because of concerns over the potential threat of retaliation from the federal government such as funding cuts for Hawaii.

Shortly afterwards, Hirano signed on with several other democrats as the federal government attempted to cut funding that provides legal services for unaccompanied children in the immigration system, which has led to a rise in the number of kids, including even 4 years olds, having to "handle" their own legal defense.

Subsequently, Hirano, Schatz, and others have since reintroduced legislation to "ensure unaccompanied minors in our court system get the fair hearing" as the "Trump Administration continues its war on immigrants"

Not sure who all from the Aloha state, or on Punaweb, thinks forcing kids to defend themselves in legal proceedings is a sign of fairness and justice, but that's what is being done by the federal government they're supporting. At least several of the Hawaii representatives are taking a stand to help protect the rights of all individuals.

[HereOnThePrimalEdge]

a rise in the number of kids, including even 4 years olds, having to "handle" their own legal defense.

Weren’t we told ICE would go after “the worst of the worst?” That includes 4 year olds? What did they do anyway?

We don’t know. Worst of all, the 4 year olds don’t know.

[leilanidude]

a rise in the number of kids, including even 4 years olds, having to "handle" their own legal defense.

Weren’t we told ICE would go after “the worst of the worst?”  That includes 4 year olds?  What did they do anyway?

We don’t know. Worst of all, the 4 year olds don’t know.

From HOPTE's link:

Migrant children who arrive in the United States without parents or legal guardians are considered “unaccompanied children,” and are transferred to shelters run by the federal Office of Refugee Resettlement.

Most children are then transferred out of shelters and placed with adults called sponsors to take care of them. A sponsor can be a parent already living in the United States, an adult relative or a licensed program like another youth shelter, according to a report by the Vera Institute of Justice. In a last-resort scenario when when family reunification doesn’t appear possible, a sponsor could be another adult approved by the Office of Refugee Resettlement, the report notes.


In recent years, the number of unaccompanied children arriving in the United States reached record highs, peaking at nearly 129,904 in the fiscal year ending in 2022, according to Office of Refugee Resettlement data. Last fiscal year, 98,356 unaccompanied children entered the country, still tens of thousands higher than the numbers that came in 2020 and the years prior.
The vast majority of the unaccompanied children are Spanish speakers, hailing from Honduras, Guatemala, El Salvador or Mexico.
-----------------
My first thought is what sort of monster would do this to their child in the first place?
Is it not more cruel to have sent your child alone, across the border to begin with?

[HereOnThePrimalEdge]

The Is it not more cruel to have sent your child alone, across the border to begin with

This is a different issue. 

Don’t you think minor children who arrive in Hawaii are mostly accompanied by a parent or guardian, on a plane, when they “cross the border?”  Do you object to Hawaii reps protecting these minors with their legal rights?

There are no direct flights from Mexico to Hawaii.


Taking a recent example of ICE actions with teachers on Maui, let’s move it to a hypothetical on Big Island.  A person in Leilani rents his home, all of the tenant’s paperwork checks out. The tenant moves out, he’s been gone for a year.  You move back in.  One day multiple SUVs pull up into your driveway, a group of unidentified persons surround your home, beat your door down, tell you to get on the floor, they zip tie you.  You ask “what the” but you’re told to shut up as they ransack your home.  You can finish up the rest of the scenario.

Afterwards, do you thank the ICE agents for their diligence in finding non-citizens, even though they didn’t, and think to yourself it’s an honest mistake, no harm no foul?  Or do consider getting lawyered up?  

Might not a 4 year old in Hawaii need a lawyer if subjected to similar circumstances because they might be as innocent as you are?