Here in Mississippi, we have seen some highly publicized and controversial raids by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in recent months. If you are an immigrant living in Mississippi, then you face regular threats to your safety. While this can feel overwhelming, it is important to remember that you are not alone, and that legal guidance can help you protect yourself.
The dangers you face may come from many directions. Agents have recently rounded up and deported a number of individuals across the state, leaving their families in very serious danger. Earlier in the spring, several arrests garnered national attention because of suspicious circumstances surrounding them
Similarly, here in the Jackson area, there is a wide variety of public opinion about immigrants, representing both the best and some of the worst that America has to offer. If you worry that you may physical danger from people in your community as well as legal danger, it is always wise to meet with an attorney to examine all of your options for protecting yourself and your rights.
America is a beautiful, complicated and often dangerous place to create a life for yourself and your family. However, just because you are an immigrant does not mean you have no rights — you do have rights, and you should fight to protect them. It is also important to remember than when you stand up and fight for your rights, you are also fighting for the rights of thousands of other immigrants who experience the same dangers you do.
With proper guidance from an experienced attorney, you can explore all of your options for keeping your rights secure and your family safe in these difficult and frightening times.
Source: Southern Poverty Law Center, “ICE came for their fathers and husbands. Now these Mississippi families will live in poverty,” Will Tucker, June 27, 2017
