This blog uses resources recommended by the National Partnership for New Americans.

Nearly 15% of people living in the United States are immigrants; if our nation’s story is a quilt, the immigrant community’s diverse stories are integral squares that hold it together. 

Yet immigrants have always been an easy target for bad actors, who use xenophobia to scapegoat foreign-born communities. This was true in the nineteenth century when legislation like the Page and Chinese Exclusion Acts discriminated against Asian communities, and in the twentieth century, when the Immigration Act of 1903 targeted sex workers and people with epilepsy. It’s true today, and it impacts a variety of communities — perhaps most notably, the Latine community. 

Attacks on the Latine community are nothing new; in the 1950s, “Operation Wetback” resulted in the largest mass deportation in US history. It specifically used military tactics to target Mexican immigrants, several of whom were legal US citizens. 

The legacy of Operation Wetback lives on. Recent actions by President Donald Trump threaten today’s immigrant community. To date, he has taken more than 10 presidential actions related to immigration. Among other things, his administration: 

• Paused the resettlement of tens of thousands of refugees;
• Ended humanitarian parole for people from Cuba, Haiti, Venezuela, and Nicaragua;
• Launched efforts to round up and remove millions of immigrants from their homes in the US;
• Instilled fear in countless Americans and their loved ones. 

In moments like this, we must stand against hate and for our neighbors. LWV and the National Partnership for New Americans have identified a few ways you can defend America’s immigrant communities.

Get Connected – Locally 

Threats to immigrants’ rights are already impacting your community. 

Use the map on our homepage to find immigrant rights organizations in your community.

If you’re already involved in a local pro-justice group, see how they can partner with and support pro-immigrant groups through co-hosted events, fundraising, information-sharing, and more. 

Know Your Rights 

Whether you’re worried about facing immigration officers directly or you may need to share information with a friend, become familiar with our constitutional rights under the 4th and 5th Amendments. These include the right to remain silent, keep your door closed if ICE doesn’t have a judge-signed warrant, and speak to a lawyer. 

Learn more with these English and Spanish flyers. 

Share Empowering Materials 

Share resources like the flyers above with your friends, families, and community. Post them to social media, or see if you can pin them up in local businesses, places of worship, or your workplace. Keep information in your wallet or hand out materials to friends. 

• Social Media Graphic (English)
• Social Media Graphic (Spanish)
• Wallet Cards (English and Spanish)

If you find this blog helpful, share it, too! 

If You Witness a Raid: Document, Verify, Share 

If you see ICE in public, follow these steps: 

1. Verify: Confirm they’re actually ICE. Notice if it says “ICE” or “US Customs and Border Protection” on their uniforms or vehicles.
2. Document: You have the right to take videos and pictures. Document the time, date, and exact location.
3. Share: Once you’ve done the above, share with your community. 

You can also refer to these graphics in English and Spanish. 

Provide Legal Support 

If you have legal skills, contact a local member of the National Partnership for New Americans’ Legal Services Collective to see how you can support them. We the Action is another group you can support. 

If you lack legal skills, that’s okay! Consider volunteering or donating to groups that provide those services. 

LWV believes that diverse voices enhance our democracy. We continue to support fair treatment under the law and immigration policies that stop the separation of families and provide paths to citizenship.