“Fear is a basic survival mechanism that signals our bodies to respond, however, when people live in constant fear, whether from physical dangers in their environment or threats they perceive, they can become incapacitated,” according to the University of Minnesota’s Taking Charge of Your Health and Wellbeing website.
Oakland Voices’ Patricia Contreras, Ryan Barba and Hannah Moore have written about this type of fear experienced by residents of East Oakland, including themselves. In Strengthened By Ice, Barba shared his memory of the effect of deportation on his high school friend. His father “was an undocumented immigrant who had been deported three times, resulting in damaged relationships within his family due to stress over financial struggles and daily concerns over his father’s well being. My friend’s direction was lost and his grades suffered.
In We All Belong, Contreras wrote:
“ I talked to a mom who had dropped off her kid at school and was too frightened to go grocery shopping. I talked to many about a picture of heavily armed militarized officials in front of a liquor store not too far from my house that went viral scaring the mess out of folks. I talked to a father too scared to pick up his kid after school because he heard ICE was nearby, another dad who did pick up his kid but didn’t want to leave the school, too scared to walk his streets back home. The terror, panic and trauma made me sick literally.”
Moore describes an incident in A Dream Deferred? when one of her students received a Snapchat message – “ICE RAIDS hitting the Fruitvale, tell all your friends and family to be safe out there.” Moore was concerned and nervous, her colleague responded calmly. “Before we make an announcement or alarm the students, let’s get some facts,” she said.
Other examples of fear: Ray Sanchez of CNN reported that some families don’t answer knocks on their doors. They’re taping bedsheets over windows and staying off social media. Nervous parents and their children constantly exchange text messages and phone calls. Families often are blended, with many families including both U.S. citizens and undocumented immigrants.
“People are crying and nothing’s happened to them yet. It’s just the thought of what could happen,” reported Ivey DeJesus , PA Real Time News.
At the beginning of the year, Oakland’s Mayor Libby Schaaf received official word that ICE was going to raid sanctuary cities and warned the community. Since then, she has been scrutinized to determine if her action was illegal and whether she “could be imprisoned,” reported Kimberly Veklerov, a San Francisco Chronicle Writer.
Adamant about her decision, Schaaf said she’d be incarcerated to defend the policy, according to Bay City News. Congressman Steve King (R-IW 4th District) proposed a bill called the Mayor Libby Schaaf Act that states “tip off illegals, go to prison” for up to five years. Schaaf supports her stand by saying county, city, state and federal government are separate entities that can create and enforce their own laws.
What are undocumented immigrants to do? Apply online for citizenship and green cards, etc. including extensions and renewals immediately upon arrival or before one’s time runs out. Know your rights, one won’t just be sent home, there’s a process. Seek legal advice, some excellent resources are Centro Legal De La Raza, 3022 International Boulevard, Suite #410, Oakland 94601, Bay Area Legal Aid, 1735 Telegraph Avenue, Oakland 94612, 1-888-330-1940, Asian Pacific Islander Legal Outreach, 1305 Franklin Street, Oakland 94612, 510-251-2846 and East Bay Law Center, 2921 Adeline St, Berkeley 94703, 510-548-4040.
Tonya Shipp is a mother of two and avid supporter of education and development. For the past ten years, she has been freelancing and working through staffing agencies in the San Francisco Bay Area. She obtained an associate’s degree in the social sciences from Laney College and is one class shy of receiving a bachelor’s degree in Business Management. She also served eight years in the Army Reserves before being honorably discharged. She volunteers regularly at the events and offices of nonprofits. Having experienced extensive periods of homelessness, unemployment and being without dental coverage is a strong advocate for the poor.
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