National Catholic Reporter: Resist, resist, resist the deportation orders

[pnwmom]

https://www.ncronline.org/blogs/distinctly-catholic/three-ways-resist-trump-administrations-deportation-orders

SNIP

"The rhetoric and policies of the new administration create an environment which will lead to abuse, as some immigration agents will feel empowered to ignore due process and deny persons their basic rights," he said. "Indeed, in the past there have been reports of immigration agents coercing immigrants to sign away their rights or even deny them access to asylum procedures. Catholics should also expect to see more ICE agents waiting outside of Mass, or perhaps going into churches or church programs in search of immigrants. It is a new, and very dark, day."

Second, there are practical steps that can be taken to frustrate the enforcement agents when they conduct a raid. In Chicago, Mayor Rahm Emanuel has started a task force called "Chicago Is With You." Fliers being distributed in English, Spanish, Polish, Hindi, Arabic, and other languages provide websites and phone numbers for immigrants to call and make sure they know their rights. The city is partnering with a host of civil society actors like the Resurrection Project and the Heartland Alliance to provide services. The flyer promises "the Police Department will not ask about the immigration status of crime victims, witnesses, or other people who ask for help."

Business owners should know that ICE agents need a warrant to enter their property just as any other investigating officer does. Workers need to be trained to refuse to cooperate with agents during a raid: No one shows documents, no one answers questions. Every workplace should have emergency numbers for legal aid.

The Catholic Legal Immigration Network (CLINIC) have launched a website called "Defending Vulnerable Populations Project." It focuses on making sure there are trained lawyers ready to jump into the fray at short notice.

SNIP

We can speak with our neighbors, and make sure they know that you are willing to help if they need it. We, too, should have emergency numbers for CLINIC and other legal aid groups. We should speak with our pastors to see what resources are being made available through our parish and diocesan structures. In my hometown in Connecticut, there is a house on the Main Street that was a regular stop on the Underground Railroad before the Civil War, and there is no reason we cannot turn our homes into places of shelter again.

SNIP

Resist, resist, resist. The administration is laying the groundwork for mass deportations even if they claim they have no such intention. History is littered with people who couldn't believe the worst was happening until it was too late. We should not let ourselves be added to that tragic list.

[Docreed2003]

1. Excellent piece...thanks for sharing!

My grandfather'a grandfather was a Methodist minister who's house sat, well still does, near the TN/KY border. He converted the cellar into lodging and would house runaway slaves and then escort them into KY where I'm told a Quaker minister would then escort the runaways further north. They communicated with colored lanterns to indicated when it was safe to stop at his home.

I may be Catholic instead of Methodist, but I have no problem reinstating the family tradition, so to speak!

[tavernier]

2. Great story!

Please share more details if you can.

[Docreed2003]

4. Unfortunately, that's about all the details that I know...

As you can imagine, for obvious reasons, not a lot of that history was written down due to fears of prosecution. The only written history we have is a few vague references in a journal that he kept. His home is located outside of Lafayette, TN north and east of Nashville. It's my understanding that he would escort runaways Northeast of there to a Quaker community in eastern KY. When it was safe to stop, he would hang a green lantern outside of the cellar. He was able to excuse his horse and carriage whenever he was stopped by explaining he was an itenerant minister. Today, the home still stands and our family cemetery is located there in the middle of a tobacco field. I was a little boy the first time I visited there and first heard the stories. We've recently moved back to the Nashville area and last summer I took my kids up there for the first time. It was a pretty awesome feeling sharing that with them.

[pnwmom]

3. Wow. You must be very proud of your brave ancestor. What an inspiration

to have someone like that in your family tree.

[Docreed2003]

5. Very much so, thank you...

The real impact of that didn't hit me as a child. It was just this story my grandfather told me. My grandfather was born in 1901 and was already an old man whenever I was born in 1978, my mother was the baby of the family and was a surprise in 1956. What I wouldn't give to be able to go back and sit down with him and pick his brain just for a bit!

[pnwmom]

6. I know what you mean. I have questions I'd like to ask

my grandparents, too.

Maybe you'll be one of those people who decides to do some genealogy. It should be very interesting in your family!