The Land of the Free is No Place for Legalized Kidnapping

Imagine: You're a woman walking home one evening, following your usual routine. Suddenly, you're accosted by a stranger. You step back but there is nowhere to run. Within seconds, you are swarmed by half a dozen armed men with their faces covered. You don't dare guess what these guys plan to do with you. Despite your panic and terror, you're dragged away without explanation.

Or this: You've been working outside in the hot sun trying to earn a living to feed your family. Out of nowhere, screams erupt across the fields. Armed men give chase, running down feeble old ladies and healthy young men alike. Is this a terrorist attack? Some kind of cult? You don't know. You're thrown to the ground, roughed up, and handcuffed. No one will read you your rights or tell you what you've done.

These are the stories of real LEGAL immigrants in the land of the free.

As Americans, we're rightly proud of our heritage. We love liberty - for all. We say so when we pledge allegiance to the flag. Many of us turn up our noses when we hear about corrupt governments and petty tyrants elsewhere in the world. But increasingly, the present administration's orders are transforming the United States into a country we don't recognize.

American citizens handcuffed on their way home from vacation. Tourists threatened for jokes on their social media accounts. People locked in foreign prisons without ever being charged with a crime. Green card holders arrested when they show up for their routine appointments. Children dying of cancer torn from their hospital beds and deported. Is this your America? It isn't mine.

Newaygo County relies on immigrants every day. Legal residents operate the businesses we love and perform the services we need. Immigrant laborers make farming in our region possible. Although there are no clear statistics on how many migrant workers come here each year, estimates range in the thousands. Their work - intense, dirty, and typically low paid - has never attracted many American-born citizens. Like all other rural areas of this country, without migrants, our crops would rot in the fields.

Immigrants also bring vibrant music, culture and food to our hometowns. Lively conversation and shared stories enrich many of our lives. Local bands and tasty cuisine give us great memories to share with friends. Handicrafts and traditions passed down over generations keep old ways alive. Don't forget, nearly all of our families came to this country as immigrants. Who would we be without the languages, faiths and cultural values passed down by parents, grandparents and others who made the United States their home? We wouldn't allow our loved ones to be manhandled, locked away without a trial or deported without cause. We need to act with the same conviction when supporting the today's immigrants who call Newaygo County home.

What You Can Do

1. Speak up. Hundreds of people in Newaygo County have shown up for progressive activism and protests like No Kings Day. You'll be surprised how many people now agree with moderate to progressive viewpoints on issues such as immigration. Encourage friends and family to show empathy for the needs of immigrants. Your voice can change everything.

2. Educate yourself. Talk to others here and elsewhere to learn what's happening and why. It's easy to dismiss the problem. You'll hear people say only violent gang members are being deported, but that's not the truth. Ask why women and children are being herded like cattle. Demand to know why men with no affiliations or criminal records are being sent to foreign prisons. The more you know the better you can combat both ignorance and ICE overreach.

3. Demand that federal legislators rein in ICE. Urge state and local politicians to vote against measures that endanger immigrants. Apps like 5 Calls to help you reach the politicians who set our laws and can even give you a script to read. If you don't wish to call, write letters or use our postcards to send a message. Local Indivisible chapters are holding postcard writing gatherings. There are also petitions you can sign.

4. See something, say something. If you see ICE acting in bad faith, notify local police. If you can, warn potential targets or alert emergency response activists when you see ICE raids in progress. Never become aggressive, but observe and record what happens if possible. We offer training to help you hold ICE accountable and respond to the needs of those affected.

5. Offer support. When a breadwinner is taken away, families often struggle to afford essentials. Parents who are detained might need emergency childcare while other people may need pet-sitters or someone to keep an eye on their home. Even simple actions such as bringing over food or stopping by to check in can show our neighbors we care.

6. Vote! Vote for politicians who care about the plight of immigrants. Consider volunteering or donating for pro-immigrant campaigns.