Did you know that 4.9% of the population of Holliston, or about 730 people, our neighbors and friends, are not U.S. citizens? That number does not include individuals who work in Holliston, but do not live here, or the people who pass through Holliston every day. 

If you are a member of our community with uncertain immigration status, this may be a very difficult time for you. Please know that you have rights under the U.S. Constitution and law, and that you can exercise those rights regardless of what an ICE officer may say or try to do. If you are a U.S. citizen who cares about your neighbors, this article will tell you how you can help.

Although the current federal administration often claims that people who immigrate to the United States are associated with criminal behavior, research overwhelmingly shows that immigrants have lower rates of both violent and non-violent crime than do U.S. citizens (Moore, et. al, 2021). Entering the U.S. without permission carries a civil, not a criminal, penalty. If a person is detained after entering the U.S. without permission within 100 miles of the border (or in all major U.S. cities), they can be deported without any judicial process. This is called expedited removal or expedited deportation. The current administration has extended expedited removal to anyone who has been in the U.S. for less than two years. This is regardless of whether they have applied for legal status. 

So far, in Metro West, the only people who have been detained by ICE are those who have a history of an arrest. A conviction is not required. ICE employees are making themselves more visible, a tactic of intimidation. There have been instances of children not going to school and people not going to work for fear of being approached by ICE employees. 

Sometime in the near future, ICE employees, in uniform or in plain clothes, may begin stopping people on the street, showing up at people’s homes, or doing “sweeps” at workplaces, requiring people to prove they have been in the U.S. for more than two years to avoid detention. It is necessary for all of us to be prepared for increased ICE activity in our community and surrounding communities.

Some town residents are forming a Holliston Immigration Justice Task Force. The Task Force will be a conduit for information about what is happening in Metro West as well as a place for immigrants to either get direct assistance or referrals to services to help them navigate these challenges. In addition, the Task Force will track relevant legislation, and educate Holliston residents about opportunities to weigh in. If you wish to connect with the Task Force, please email HollistonImmigrationJusitce@gmail.com. 

How You Can Help

Know Your Rights campaign

The most effective strategy for ensuring that people have the best possible outcome when they encounter an ICE employee is for them to Know Their Rights. Diverse Holliston has printed out posters that outline important rights that will be posted around town.  We have also printed business card sized Red Cards, with a message printed in English on one side and in one of six languages  (other languages will be available on the Diverse Holliston website) on the reverse side. A person who is stopped by ICE can give only their name and address and then say “I exercise my constitutional right to remain silent” and hand them the card (anything more they say can be used against them).  If ICE comes to a person’s home, they should refuse to open the door (which can be construed as consent to enter) and slip the card under the door.  These cards will be made available in Holliston businesses and offices. If you have ideas about places where these should be distributed, please let us know.  Diverse Holliston will be sponsoring “Know Your Rights Training for Allies.“ Please make your best effort to attend. In the meantime, everyone should watch these short videos. One of these videos will show you what you can do to support someone who is approached by ICE without violating any laws. 

Volunteering to Help Individuals

The information in this article is from an immigrant-run organization in Framingham called the Metro West Worker Center or Casa. They are a local organization that has provided support for immigrants for many years. They need volunteers to do the following

1. Accompaniment

This involves accompanying, witnessing and helping immigrants to navigate various systems. This includes the immigration process, the legal system, school system, healthcare and others. It usually involves driving people to appointments. You do not need to be bilingual and you do not need to know anything in particular. You are just there as a support person, to help them navigate the system, the same way you would if it were your appointment. Once you sign up, you receive a list of appointments for which you can volunteer to help. You can sign up here.

2. Document Preparation Assistance

Meet with people to help them think through and gather documents to show their presence in the U.S. prior to 2023. This is usually done at the CASA office in Framingham. Call CASA to volunteer.

3. Defend against family separation

One very difficult decision that families must make is who will take care of their children should the parents be detained or separated. CASA will help families understand that the best way for them to have some control in this situation is to have documents signed and notarized that specify this in advance. Once the decision is made, volunteers are needed to help decide who will care for the children and then help with the completion of documents and their notarization. Some training will be provided in doing this. 

Please keep your eye on the Diverse Holliston website for more information as things develop. We will do our best to keep you informed.  

Additional Resources

Metrowest Worker Center (Casa)
(508) 532-0575 | www.mwc-casa.org  | casa@mwc-casa.org 

Metrowest Legal Services
(508) 620-1830 | mwlegal.org

MIRA Coalition (Advocacy)
(617) 350-5480 | miracoalition.org

Mass Legal Services
www.masslegalservices.org

PAIR Project (Asylum & Legal Aid)
(617) 742-9296

National Immigration Detention Hotline
(209) 757-3733

United We Dream Deportation Defense
Text “WATCH ICE” to 877877

References

Moore KE, Iheanacho T, Pittman BP, McKee SA, Dike C. Immigration, Criminal Involvement, and Violence in the U.S.: Results from the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions-III. Deviant Behav. 2021;42(12):1525-1531. doi: 10.1080/01639625.2020.1758371. Epub 2020 May 6. PMID: 35001991; PMCID: PMC8734575.