Understanding the Impact on People and Families
“When a foreigner resides among you in your land, do not mistreat him. The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt.”
Imagine living in fear every day, not knowing if you’ll be taken away from your home, your loved ones, and the life you’ve built. This is the reality for many immigrants subjected to the actions of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). While immigration enforcement is a part of national policy, the way it’s often executed raises serious ethical and human rights concerns.
What’s Happening?
ICE has been criticized for treating immigrants as though they are dangerous criminals, rounding them up indiscriminately and placing them into detention centers that are overcrowded and poorly managed. These centers often lack basic resources, humane living conditions, and access to adequate healthcare. To make matters worse, many detainees are moved from one location to another without clear communication. Families are often left in the dark about where their loved ones are, and attorneys struggle to locate clients in order to provide legal assistance. For those being detained, this creates an immense amount of stress, fear, and confusion.
Why Is It Inhumane?
At its core, this issue is about how people are treated. The individuals affected by ICE enforcement actions are often seeking safety, fleeing violence, or searching for better opportunities for their families. To treat them as mere “numbers” or burdens ignores their humanity. Stripping people of their dignity by locking them away in poor conditions, isolating them from their loved ones, and rushing them through legal processes without proper representation violates basic human rights. This isn’t just a legal issue; it’s a moral one.
Impact on Families
When a parent is detained or deported, families are often torn apart. Imagine a child waking up one morning to find a parent suddenly gone, without explanation. The emotional and psychological toll on children can be devastating, leading to feelings of abandonment, anxiety, and trauma. Entire communities are affected, as friends, neighbors, and coworkers witness the disruption of lives for reasons that seem unnecessarily harsh.
Overcrowded Detention Centers
The detention centers themselves are a major concern. Many are overcrowded, with people crammed into small spaces. Reports have surfaced of poor sanitation, inadequate food, and limited access to medical care. These conditions make it hard for individuals to maintain their health and well-being, especially when they’re already vulnerable due to the stress of detention.
Why It’s a Human Rights Issue
The United Nations defines certain standards for how individuals should be treated, including freedom from cruel or degrading treatment and the right to family unity. Many actions carried out by ICE appear to violate these principles. People should not be treated as though they are less deserving of compassion or justice simply because of their immigration status. Everyone, regardless of where they come from, deserves to be treated with dignity and respect.
What Can Be Done?
Change starts with awareness. Understanding that immigration enforcement can be done in humane and fair ways is crucial. Policies need to be revised to prioritize family unity, better living conditions for detainees, and transparent communication about detention and deportation processes. Advocacy and activism can play a big role in pushing for these changes. Supporting organizations that work to protect immigrants’ rights and calling on elected officials to address these issues are steps anyone can take.
“Once, we lived in a place of hardship and struggle, a place where we felt confined and powerless—our own Egypt. But like those who have broken free from oppression, we hold onto hope and the belief that change and freedom are always possible.” – AFG
Prayer for Righteousness and Justice
Oh Divine Source of compassion and truth,
We lift our voices in fervent prayer for those affected by immigrant raids and detention. May righteousness guide every decision, and justice illuminate every action. Protect the vulnerable, comfort the afflicted, and inspire leaders to act with mercy and fairness. Let dignity and integrity prevail over fear and division, so that all may experience humanity’s unity and grace.
Amen.
Conclusion
At the heart of this issue are real people—parents, children, workers, and neighbors—who deserve better than to be treated like criminals for seeking a better future. ICE’s current methods not only harm individuals but also undermine the values of justice and humanity. We must push for change to ensure that compassion and dignity are prioritized in immigration enforcement. It’s not just a legal debate; it’s a matter of basic human decency.
Blessings,
Minister A. Francine Green
afrancinegreen.com 