What Should We Do About ICE?

Finding Justice for Immigrants in America

Liam Ramos Detained by ICE in Columbia Heights, Minnesota.
Credit: Courtesy of Columbia Heights Public Schools

After spending almost two weeks in a Texas detention facility, a 5-year-old boy, Liam Conejo Ramos, is finally free to return home to Minneapolis, Minnesota, with his father, Adrian Conejo Arias.

According to ABC News, Liam and his father were detained on Jan. 20 by immigration agents in their driveway shortly after arriving home from preschool.

The details of why the pair were detained in the first place are still unclear, as ABC reports that “while they had a pending asylum case, they had no order of deportation directing that they be removed from the United States.” Additionally, according to CBS News, “a lawyer for the family has said Liam’s father does not have a criminal record, and DHS officials have not argued otherwise.”

As a result, U.S. District Judge Fred Biery directed government officials to release Adrian Alexander Conejo Ramos and his son, stating that the detention of Liam and his father “has its genesis in the ill-conceived and incompetently-implemented government pursuit of daily deportation quotas, apparently even if it requires traumatizing children.”

Liam is now reunited with his family, but his story still begs the question of how this happened and how, as a united people, we can ensure it doesn’t happen again.

People partake in a national shutdown protest against ICE in Minneapolis.
Photograph: Charly Triballeau/AFP/Getty Images.

Liam’s story sent shockwaves through the nation after a photo of him being detained by federal agents while wearing a bunny hat and a Spiderman bookbag went viral. This incident happened on the heels of Renee Nicole Good’s death on Jan. 7, when a 37-year-old American citizen and mother of three was fatally shot while in her vehicle by an ICE agent in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and just before Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old American citizen and an Intensive Care nurse at a Veterans Affairs hospital, was shot 10 times in the same city by ICE agents on Jan. 24.

These are just a few of the stories detailing the impact Trump’s immigration policies have had on our country and its inhabitants. From raids in Chicago, IL, and Portland, Oregon, to the death of Keith Porter Jr. in Los Angeles, to new sightings of ICE agents in Atlanta, Georgia, the country is in a perpetual state of mourning and protest. On this weekend alone, The Guardian writes that “more than 300 demonstrations are expected to take place across all 50 states and Washington DC,, in what organizers are calling ICE Out of Everywhere.”

According to a statement released by the White House, Trump believes that taking “action against all inadmissible and removable aliens” is a matter of national security. The White House states that under Biden’s administration, “millions of illegal aliens crossed our borders in violation of longstanding Federal laws, presenting significant threats to public safety, abusing the generosity of the American people, and costing taxpayers billions of dollars at the Federal, State, and local levels.” As a result, the White House is enforcing immigration policies to “protect the public safety and national security interests of the American people” by expanding detention facilities, accelerating removals, and withholding funds to those who would impede their plans.

Over half of Americans supported Trump’s policies in 2024. 55% supported reducing immigration. However, this number has since significantly dropped to 30%. Based on a Gallup poll, Americans across all political party lines are growing concerned over Trump’s immigration policies and enforcement tactics, with a record high of 78% of Americans stating that “immigration is a good thing for the country.”

Still, despite constituents’ concerns and Senate Democrats’ threats to shut down the government and with it, funding to ICE, Trump and his federal officials are not backing down. TRUTHOUT details that when asked by a reporter whether he would be drawing back his efforts in Minneapolis, Trump responded, “No, no, not at all.” Thereby renegging on his earlier pledge to “de-escalate.”

So, what can we do to address the situation ourselves?

Boycot

The Nation informs readers that “ICE relies heavily on the private sector to help carry out its crusade against immigrants and their allies,” and that “without the logistical, financial, and political support of business, its capacity to terrorize our communities would crumble.”

In addition to taking to the streets and protesting with our voices, we can also protest with our pocketbooks, boycotting the organizations that fund Trump’s agenda.

Here’s a list of corporations and mega-donors that financially support Trump and enable ICE’s detention, surveillance, and deportation machinery.

Understand Your Rights

The American Civil Liberties Union helps people understand their rights in every situation. Whether you’re stopped on the street, in your car, at home, or you know someone who has been arrested, this site gives you the tools to navigate encounters with law enforcement, protect yourself, and seek justice if those rights are violated.

Support Immigration Rights Organizations

Through donations, volunteerism, and awareness, organizations dedicated to supporting immigrants can save lives. The National Immigration Law Center (NILC) is a leading defender of low-income immigrants’ rights through litigation, policy, and public education. Organized Communities Against Deportations fights against deportation and the criminalization of immigrants in collaboration with attorneys and other community organizations. Immigration Equality is the nation’s leading LGBTQ and HIV-positive immigrant rights organization, advocating for safety and freedom for queer, trans, and HIV-positive people facing discrimination.

Get involved by spending time and putting your money where your mouth is to help those in need, especially during these unprecedented times.

Use Your Voice

You may feel helpless and hopeless about the world’s current state, but you have more power than you realize. You can effect change by using your voice and gifts to align with those on society’s margins and speak up for what’s right. Arm yourself with knowledge, share information, speak out against injustice, vote, call upon your elected officials, and be consistent until things begin to change.

Together, with the hope and strength of the Lord, we can fight for a better world, spread love to those facing persecution, and push back against those who seek to silence us and diminish our humanity.

Let’s do this!