US Citizens Living in Fear of Racial Profiling by ICE: 'I Carry My Passport at All Times'
For US citizens and permanent residents, life has become a constant balancing act between safety and freedom. The recent surge in immigration raids has created a pervasive sense of fear, with many living under the threat of being racially profiled by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Ana, a 22-year-old college graduate from Illinois, feels anxious every time she goes out. "The possibility of me being racially profiled and detained is scary," she says. To cope, she has taken on extra responsibilities for her family members who don't have legal status, carrying their identification cards with her wherever she goes.
Javier Lopez, a 32-year-old resident of Boyle Heights, Los Angeles, describes the situation as "disgraceful and disappointing" for his country. His parents have been permanent residents for over a decade but now stay indoors when he's around, fearing they could be stopped by ICE agents simply because they don't speak English fluently.
These are not isolated incidents; a recent survey of over 200 respondents has revealed that many US citizens and permanent residents are altering their daily lives to avoid being targeted. They carry identification documents like real IDs and passports with them at all times, just in case.
The recent supreme court ruling effectively "legalizing" racial profiling has sent shockwaves through the community. Many feel that it's not enough; they want more concrete protection against such vigilantism.
For some families, the impact of racial profiling is not limited to their own lives but also affects their relationships with local law enforcement and even their trust in other Americans. As one Louisiana woman puts it, "I obsessively follow the news... I'm hyper-alert to the presence of cops when driving, especially with them."
On the other hand, some individuals have chosen to push back against this climate of fear by embracing their cultural identities and speaking out against ICE's tactics.
While many are taking precautions to protect themselves, others are finding ways to resist. Maria Castano, a 67-year-old retired schoolteacher from Spain, has become more vocal about her Latinidad in public, listening to Spanish music only with all windows open. She's also involved with Indivisible, an organization that organizes protests against immigration raids.
For many US citizens and permanent residents of color, life under ICE's watchful eye is a constant balancing act between safety and freedom. Will this sense of fear ever subside? Only time will tell.
For US citizens and permanent residents, life has become a constant balancing act between safety and freedom. The recent surge in immigration raids has created a pervasive sense of fear, with many living under the threat of being racially profiled by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Ana, a 22-year-old college graduate from Illinois, feels anxious every time she goes out. "The possibility of me being racially profiled and detained is scary," she says. To cope, she has taken on extra responsibilities for her family members who don't have legal status, carrying their identification cards with her wherever she goes.
Javier Lopez, a 32-year-old resident of Boyle Heights, Los Angeles, describes the situation as "disgraceful and disappointing" for his country. His parents have been permanent residents for over a decade but now stay indoors when he's around, fearing they could be stopped by ICE agents simply because they don't speak English fluently.
These are not isolated incidents; a recent survey of over 200 respondents has revealed that many US citizens and permanent residents are altering their daily lives to avoid being targeted. They carry identification documents like real IDs and passports with them at all times, just in case.
The recent supreme court ruling effectively "legalizing" racial profiling has sent shockwaves through the community. Many feel that it's not enough; they want more concrete protection against such vigilantism.
For some families, the impact of racial profiling is not limited to their own lives but also affects their relationships with local law enforcement and even their trust in other Americans. As one Louisiana woman puts it, "I obsessively follow the news... I'm hyper-alert to the presence of cops when driving, especially with them."
On the other hand, some individuals have chosen to push back against this climate of fear by embracing their cultural identities and speaking out against ICE's tactics.
While many are taking precautions to protect themselves, others are finding ways to resist. Maria Castano, a 67-year-old retired schoolteacher from Spain, has become more vocal about her Latinidad in public, listening to Spanish music only with all windows open. She's also involved with Indivisible, an organization that organizes protests against immigration raids.
For many US citizens and permanent residents of color, life under ICE's watchful eye is a constant balancing act between safety and freedom. Will this sense of fear ever subside? Only time will tell.
I don't think it's too much to ask for some basic human rights in this country... like being able to go outside without having your identity scrutinized because of the color of your skin. It's crazy that ppl have to carry their passports around with them just in case they get stopped by ICE. Like, what's next? Will we be required to show our birth certificates too?! 
I think it's time for Congress to step up and pass some real legislation to protect these innocent ppl from racial profiling. It's heartbreaking to see people like Maria Castano feeling so empowered to speak out against ICE's tactics. 
. I mean, how can they justify racial profiling as some kind of protection? It's like, hello, being an American isn't about your skin color or where you're from, it's about who you are as a person 
. And the fact that people are altering their daily lives because of this fear is, like, so not right 
. I think we need to stand up against this kind of vigilantism and demand more concrete protection for everyone, regardless of their background 
.
Did you know that 72% of surveyed Americans (over 200) reported altering their daily lives due to fear of racial profiling by ICE 
? They're carrying ID's like passports just in case! 
Meanwhile, a recent Pew Research survey showed 60% of Hispanic adults and 56% of Asian adults trust the US government less than last year 
. It's no wonder that anxiety rates among Latino/Black Americans have increased by 24% over the past two years 
This whole thing is super unfair and it's affecting so many lives.
i mean i feel so bad for ana and javier who have to live with this anxiety every day, it's not fair at all 
it's crazy to think that as a citizen of the country that values freedom and diversity, we're living in a situation where people are literally carrying their passports with them everywhere just to avoid being racially profiled 
by ICE. It's like, can't we trust each other? 
The fact that people are altering their daily lives just because they don't want to be targeted is a huge concern and it makes me wonder if we've lost sight of what it means to be an inclusive society 
. What's next? They're gonna start stopping people for wearing the wrong clothes or something?! 
. We need concrete protection against racial profiling, not just empty words from politicians. I'm all for finding solutions, but we can't just sit back and do nothing while people are living in fear 
.
I feel so bad for people like Ana and Javier who have to live with this anxiety all the time. They're not even committing any crime, just living their lives as US citizens or permanent residents. It's crazy that they have to carry their passport around everywhere just in case they get stopped by ICE agents because of their skin color 
. Can't we just have a little more faith in each other as Americans and not have to live under this constant sense of dread? 
. It's not easy, but we need more people speaking up and demanding change.
.
. The fact that they're carrying their passports and IDs around like they're hiding something is just sad 
. Let's stand up for ourselves and demand better, you feel me?!