ap photo An Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent enters a restaurant to remove evidence in Cheektowaga, N.Y., on Wednesday April 16, 2008.

The focus on deportation of undocumented immigrants has not faded. On Sunday, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) posted on Twitter they had made 956 arrests and had 554 detainers lodged. On Saturday, the numbers they posted were 286 arrests and 521 detainers.

Iowa Migrant Movement for Justice (MMJ) Community Organizer Maria Gonzalez of Marshalltown said the organization has been particularly busy, addressing anxieties and educating. The goal of the organization is to ensure people understand they are not alone and what rights they have.

If ICE arrives in Marshalltown again, she urged residents to stay calm, call the MMJ hotline, 515-505-8805, and report it. That way, MMJ can know the location of the agents and share the information. In the event of a Marshalltown resident being detained, they do have the right to remain silent.

“They should ask, ‘Am I being detained,’ Gonzalez said. “If the answer is no, they can say, ‘Can I leave?’ If the answer is yes, they should then state, ‘I want to speak with a lawyer.’ Once they express that, they have the right to remain silent until you talk with a lawyer and do not sign anything until they have spoken with your immigration attorney.”

People in many communities, including Marshalltown, are feeling anxious because of the uncertainty of what to expect and when.

“I worry that families may stop sending their children to school and that some people will refrain from participating in community activities,” she said. “There’s a real concern about isolation.”

President Donald Trump has signed a slew of executive orders since his Jan. 20 inauguration, some focused on immigration and deportation. Some of the orders have included suspension of entry into the United States across the southern border, constructing a wall on the border, detaining and removing undocumented immigrants who have committed crimes and declaring a national emergency at the border. He also signed an order to end birthright citizenship, but federal Judge John Coughenour issued a temporary restraining order against it, stating the order is unconstitutional.

Gonzalez said all of the orders are a cause for concern, that it is not just an immigrant issue, but a community concern. After the 2006 ICE raid on Swift (now JBS) which resulted in the arrest and deportation of 90 employees, she said many families left Marshalltown, leading to a loss of essential workers. Residents began to avoid grocery shopping, dining out and attending school or work due to fear. That led to a 3 percent decline in retail sales and numerous foreclosures, causing significant harm to local businesses.

“Marshalltown thrives because of these workers,” Gonzalez said. “Our small businesses depend on consumers, and our schools and churches rely on the families here. With nearly 19 percent of our population born outside the United States, the absence of immigrants would mean no workers, no businesses, no taxpayers and ultimately, no Marshalltown. We must recognize and support the vital role immigrants play in our community.”

The loss of Marshalltown families would threaten the cohesion and vitality of the community.

“We cannot allow our community to face another crisis like this,” she said. “It jeopardizes both family stability and economic security. These individuals represent families whose contributions are vital to our community. We must come together and advocate for our values.”

Through the years, Gonzalez has seen residents of Marshalltown come together during difficult times – the tornado, derecho and the COVID-19 pandemic – and legal statuses were not asked for. If the undocumented immigrants could easily change their status, she said they would.

Gonzalez encouraged residents to call the MMJ main office number, 515-255-9809, for information or visit the website, iowammj.org, for resources.

“Now is the moment for us to stand together, to show that our shared ties are stronger than any division,” she said. “We are a community woven together by resilience, compassion, and a steadfast commitment to one another. We are Marshalltown strong, and this*this*–is our home. Together, we will protect it, uplift it, and cherish it.”

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Contact Lana Bradstream

at 641-753-6611 ext. 210 or

lbradstream@timesrepublican.com.