January 2025: How can immigrants prepare?

As January 2025 approaches, many of my latino parishioners have asked what they can do to better prepare. Even though there is much uncertainty as to exactly what will happen, this is a list of best practices complied by me based on personal past experience and a presentation by Adelina Nicholls of the Georgia Latino Alliance of Human Rights.  Please share this list with community leaders so undocumented immigrants will be prepared and know their rights. La lista está traducida al español más abajo.

The U.S. Bishops, at their most recent gathering in Baltimore, issued a document recognizing the inherent dignity of each person as a child of God, regardless of background or migratory status.  “We stand in firm solidarity with our immigrant brothers and sisters who live and labor in these United States.  They continue to provide food security, health services, and many other essential skills that support our prosperous nation.”  The bishops called for an immigration system that offers fair and generous pathways to full citizenship for immigrants living and working for many years within our borders, that provides permanent relief for childhood arrivals, and relief for asylum seekers.

Their document concludes calling for the meaningful reform of our current immigration system and for the need to “speak out on behalf of the huddled masses yearning to breathe free.”

Here are some concrete ways that immigrants can prepare for January 2025:

• If they have children born in the US, promote that the parents get their children’s US passports. This is difficult to do if one of the parents is out of the country.  It also facilitates getting the children abroad if parents are deported.
• Sign a notarized document stating their desires in regards to who will have custody of their children if they are deported.
• If they have property (car, house, business, bank account, etc), sign a power of attorney to a trustworthy relative or friend who will be able to sell property in one’s absence.
• Raise awareness about the laws in regards to opening the door to ICE if they knock at your door. Nobody has to open the door for an ICE agent unless that agent has either a search warrant or arrest warrant signed by a judge (una orden judicial).  ICE usually arrives with an administrative order to arrest a suspected undocumented immigrant, not a criminal warrant.
• If someone has a criminal history or an issued deportation order (perhaps due to not showing up to court), there will be little that can be done to fight the case. Deportation is almost inevitable.  Do not be fooled by lawyers who promise the impossible.
• Do not pay bail to the local police if ICE has already put a hold on a person. Even if the bail is paid, the person will not be released until ICE determines what to do.
• If arrested by ICE, it is important to request bail from the first agent who interviews the person. Never give false information or present false documents.
• Save money in case there is need to pay a hefty bail to ICE.
• Create a community network to provide information and updates to all.

• Si tienen hijos nacidos en USA, promover que los padres obtengan los pasaportes estadounidenses para sus hijos. Esto es difícil de hacer si uno de los padres está fuera del país. También facilita que los niños salgan al extranjero si los padres son deportados.
• Firmen un documento notarizado que exprese sus deseos con respecto a quién tendrá la custodia de sus hijos si son deportados.
• Si tienen propiedades (automóvil, casa, negocio, cuenta bancaria, etc.), firmar un poder notarial a nombre de un familiar o amigo de confianza que pueda vender las propiedades en su ausencia.
• ​​Aprendan sobre las leyes con respecto a abrir la puerta al ICE si tocan su puerta. Nadie tiene que abrirle la puerta a un agente de ICE a menos que ese agente tenga una orden judicial de arresto o búsqueda firmada por un juez (arrest warrant o search warrant). ICE generalmente llega con una orden administrativa para arrestar a un inmigrante indocumentado sospechoso, no una orden penal firmada por un juez.
• Si alguien tiene antecedentes penales o una orden de deportación emitida (quizás por no presentarse a la corte), habrá poco que se pueda hacer para luchar contra el caso. La deportación es casi inevitable. No dejarse engañar por abogados que prometen lo imposible.
• No pagar la fianza a la policía local si ICE ha sido notificado y ha intervenido en el caso. Incluso si se paga la fianza, la persona no será liberada hasta que ICE determine qué hacer.
• Si ICE lo arresta, es importante solicitar la libertad bajo fianza al primer agente que entreviste a la persona. Nunca dar información falsa ni presentar documentos falsos.
• Ahorrar dinero en caso de que sea necesario pagar una fianza considerable a ICE.
• Crear una red comunitaria para proporcionar información y actualizaciones a todos.

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