Police officers speak with a protester during a rally against racial inequality and the police shooting death of Rayshard Brooks, in Atlanta, Georgia, US.
REUTERS/Elijah Nouvelage

Immigrants and their advocates fear the threat of "inadvertently winding up in immigration custody" if they continue to support Black Lives Matter in active street protests, NBC Los Angeles reported recently.

All over the United States, immigrants have expressed unity with the movement that has been active since George Floyd's killing in Minneapolis.

The same groups advocating for migrant rights are showing their support to BLM, and feel the necessity of marching, frequently saying, "They relate to the hardship black people" are experiencing with racial discrimination and punitive policing.

However, with the federal immigration officers' deployment to demonstrations across the nation, not to mention the existing relationships a lot of local jails have with them, even peaceful marches in some cases can overturn a person's life as it's known in the US.

Immigration Authorities Mum about their Activities in Protests

The immigration authorities deployed to recent protests of BLM which include the Customs, and Border Protection have been silent about their activities and where there are going.

They are mum about it because, they said, if they do so, they "could jeopardize operational security." News reports said, democratic legislators, have been critical and necessitated they give more details.

However, authorities have claimed they are not at demonstrations and marches to impose immigration laws. The agency added the deployment has something to do with backing the initiatives of the national, state and local partners, and not about carrying out the immigration enactment mission of CBP.

This, it added, is about "preserving life and safety." At present, according to CBP, they presently have resources assigned in several states that undertake different "operational support roles" at their fellow "law enforcement agencies' request."

Growing Concern about Protests

A supervising lawyer with the Immigration Defense Practice for Neighborhood Defender Service of Harlem, Scott Foletta said, his organization has been giving people advice, specifically of being vigilant of their surroundings.

In addition, the organization has distributed online flyers recommending that people write the phone number of their lawyer on their arm and turn off their finger and facial ID on their mobile device.

The said supervising lawyer added that there is a growing concern in the community if the members go out and join the protests.

Define American founder, said he Jose Antonio Vargas, he feels safe at the demonstrations he has joined in Berkeley California. Also a recognized immigration activist, Vargas added, he would not be so certain about going to protests in places like Phoenix, where the local prison there is in partnership with Immigrations and Customs Enforcement or ICE.

In connection to the issue, Vargas shared, he has been receiving so many private messages from immigrants who are undocumented or under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals or DACA program, asking him if it is safe for them to protest.

Vargas, in turn, replies to them saying, he is glad they want to take part in such activities. However, he also said they should know about the risks.

Reports also indicated that the issue of police brutality against people of color resounds with immigrants as they are frequently subject to, or afraid of violent schemes by immigration authorities.

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