Category
Jan 31, 2025
They are our neighbors, friends, business owners, co-workers, spouses, and our children. Photo by: File:Wikimedia Foundation All Hands 2018 — Myleen Hollero 58.jpg — Wikimedia Commons
We are ten days into the second Trump Administration, and already its damaging impacts are being felt by our neighbors here in Northeast Ohio. Last weekend ICE agents raided the Cilantro Taqueria on Coventry in Cleveland Heights, arresting six employees, causing the restaurant to close for several days. ABC 17 News reports that ICE arrested 57 people across NE Ohio. 52 are being detained at the Geauga County Safety Center.
FaCT stands with the vulnerable and marginalized communities that these ICE raids are targeting. Neighbors who have immigrated to the US, with or without full documentation, are valuable members of our society. Keeping a watchful eye as an organization and as individuals will be imperative in the coming months and years. Too many have chosen to wave the white flag in the face of Trump’s threats, including previously resolute partners.
Trump's abrupt end to the U.S. Refugee Resettlement Program shortly after he took office has blocked thousands of Afghan allies who risked their lives fighting beside American soldiers and are now hiding from the Taliban in grave danger or living in limbo around the world. This cruel, arbitrary decision tells the world that no one should help American soldiers in future wars because America will betray them. Many thousands of other carefully screened refugees fleeing war, violence or persecution have also been blocked, and thousands more already here may lose the funds U.S. agencies provide for a short period to help them start new lives.
FaCT and Northeastern Ohio cannot bury their heads in the sand now, only to reemerge in 2028. If we ignore what is happening to our neighbors and to the planet under this administration we may not be able to repair the damage four years down the road. Our communities are being targeted, and we must show the courage to stand up and protest these injustices.
FaCT focuses on clean energy generation, environmental health, and sustainable living. A sustainable future cannot include mistreatment of people. The climate crisis is a large and ever-growing reason that many asylum-seekers are leaving their homes. Many countries are experiencing hurricanes, droughts, floods, and punishing heat. Crops are failing and children are going hungry. For decades, our country has been the leading contributor to carbon emissions that created this emergency and we continue to pump more greenhouse gas pollution into the atmosphere than any other country but China. Targeting asylum-seekers now is unconscionable.
FaCT prioritizes a just transition to a sustainable future. Truly empowered communities are communities that are free from fear, embrace diversity, and understand that we are only as strong and as resilient as the least among us are made to feel. Constant harassment and threats by the Trump Administration’s ICE teams are antithetical to our mission and vision.
FaCT Vice-President Margaret Mills has worked with refugees at the Keno Border initiative in Nogales, Arizona and has witnessed “people promised legal entry with appointments scheduled (who are) turned away questioning why they were told to enter legally when our government isn’t following our own laws…this tragedy will not be ending anytime soon.”
We have to remember that we are communities of faith and people of conscience. We must take a stand for social justice and human decency.
What can you do?
Set up social media filters and alerts that allow you to stay informed about raids or related activities happening in your area.
Call ICE field offices or detention centers like the one in Geauga County to ask questions. We need to let them know that we are watching.
Keep our elected officials in DC abreast of our position on these raids. Call your member of Congress and our Ohio senators, and let them know how you feel about these dangerous ICE actions. Many of our elected officials are unaware of the full impact of these tactics and need to hear what we know and what we expect them to do.
Voicing our opposition is crucial right now. Senator Husted and Senator Moreno may be on board with these ICE actions, but they still must hear from us and be made aware that we are watching how often and to what degree they bend the knee to Mr. Trump even when it means bullying and separating their fellow Ohioans from families and loved ones.
Tell Congress to solve the problems around immigration and the border by passing the Bipartisan Immigration Bill of 2024 with the addition of protections and a path to citizenship for DREAMERS. History shows us that people immigrating to our country have made America great.
Dr. Ted Auch, FaCT President
FaCT Board Of Trustees
Use the resources below to get involved and stay informed:
Cleveland Jobs With Justice (https://www.clevelandjwj.org/)
Cleveland Jobs With Justices Immigration Tracking Policy Project.
“Obama used ICE. Trump plans to use the military. Are we ready?” from Reckon
Immigration Tracking Policy Project
ITPP about section here
Trump 2.0 version here
Feedback to help keep entries complete and accurate is very welcome. Each policy
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developments. Please send any information or suggestions to:
Detention centers in Ohio processing ICE detainees
Geauga Detention Center, Geauga County Safety Center 440-279-2009, Extension #3
Seneca Detention Center, Seneca County Jail (216) 535-0368
ICE Field Office Location, 925 Keynote Circle, Brooklyn Heights, OH 44131, (216) 749-9200
Seneca County Sheriff's Office, (419) 447-3456
ICE’s Online Detainee Locator System (ODLS)
Laken Riley Act explainer
Ohio Is Home - Use the Stay Safe dropdown; you will see links to all types of resources.
