Berks County in Pennsylvania, known for its significant Latino demographics, hasn’t experienced any extensive immigration raids. However, with enforcement activities intensifying nationwide, the atmosphere within the community, amongst employers and advocacy groups, is largely apprehensive. An estimation depicts that Pennsylvania is home to over 1 million immigrants, out of which, close to 200,000 are undocumented, using the data derived from the 2023 census analysis.
In Berks County specifically, unauthorized immigrants totalled 7,000 in 2019. Still, it’s noteworthy that there are also thousands of U.S. citizens who either have Puerto Rican roots or were naturalized after being born in the Dominican Republic, Mexico, or various other countries. Previous incidents of wrongful detention of Latino citizens by ICE in different states further contribute to the tension.
Those who work closely with the immigrant population report an almost palpable sense of disquiet. As ICE detains people in the vicinity of the county courthouse, various adverse effects are seen. Adults are hesitating to attend English language classes, and people with uncertain immigration statuses lose their jobs as employers grapple with the volatile situation.
Political changes have contributed to the current environment. After President Trump’s arrival in office, there’s been a significant uptake in ICE’s administrative arrests and detentions. The administration has also either discontinued or drastically curtailed initiatives that previously facilitated legal residence for immigrants within the country.
Programs like Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and other humanitarian parole initiatives are set to terminate later this year. The once-productive U.S. Refugee Admissions Program has been placed on an indefinite hold. Consequently, increased ICE arrests have been observed nationally.
Statistics reveal a 249% surge in daily arrests since President Trump’s inauguration, with 13 daily arrests being the new average. Specific incidence of law enforcement actions are also noticeable. 17 people were apprehended by ICE while working on a vacant property in Lehigh Valley citing ‘immigration violations’.
In the same period, 14 individuals in Pittsburgh and three in northeast Pennsylvania were apprehended during concurrent raids. Norristown, located in Montgomery County, also suffered notably from the impacts of these arrests and raids.
Even though large-scale operations haven’t been witnessed in Berks, alternative strategies reflecting Trump’s stringent immigration policies are subtly at play. A recurring example is the detention of individuals at the Berks County Courthouse following their hearing on a wide array of offenses, ranging from petty wrongdoings like traffic violations and disorderly conduct to more serious crimes.
Some individuals, even after having their criminal cases dismissed, were still captured by ICE due to the lack of permanent residency status. The community shares numerous such concerns about ICE’s enforcement actions and the immigration policies during regular meetings.
One community member even shared her encounter with ICE at a bodega in Reading. The feeling of ‘powerlessness’ resonated after an inspection by an ICE agent in search of a former employee. These incidents highlight different law enforcement approaches employed within various cities.
Contrasted against this background, cities like Reading have adopted a careful stance. Reading’s stance is evident from the Mayor Eddie Moran’s declaration that the city police would not enforce federal immigration laws in the wake of President Trump taking office. The belief that public safety in Reading is heavily dependent on the relationship between residents and law enforcement was a key factor in shaping this stance.
Reading’s law enforcement department made the assurance that private properties won’t be accessible to ICE without the necessary permissions. While Berks county municipalities have voiced willingness to work with federal law enforcement authorities, no formal pact exists between any Berks County municipality and ICE pertaining to assisting in apprehensions.
However, these municipalities are open to supplying ‘logistical support’ to ICE amidst a raid when requested. They emphasize that immigration enforcement remains at the discretion of ICE. Local law enforcement agencies also state that they aren’t actively seeking undocumented individuals.
The potential impacts of recent policy changes are vast. For instance, the Trump administration targeting the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) program could lead to significant implications for immigrants from Afghanistan, Haiti, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Venezuela. The community fears potentially reduced enrolment and participation in adult ESL classes. In response, the program moved to offer an online option earlier this year, which gradually gained acceptance as the semester progressed.
The post Under Trump, Stricter Immigration Policies Cause Worry in Pennsylvania’s Latino Community appeared first on Real News Now.
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