No reprieve for these Iowa students

Anyone who has attended a meet-the-teacher day or walked the halls during the first day of school can feel the air filled with student apprehension, fear, and uncertainty. New teachers, new routines. Will friendships survive summer vacation? Will I do well in my classes?

Additional anxiety about a family member’s welfare is not as universal, but a reality for many in Iowa. “Families right now are experiencing high levels of stress,” Elizabeth Balarcal, Rapid Response Community Organizer for Iowa Migrant Movement for Justice told me. Her colleague, Elena Casillas-Hoffman adds “Having to plan who is going to pick up my child from school, where are they going to go?”

Immigrant families have to navigate more than schedules, bullying, and resources. “Having to think of the very, very real possibility that Mom and Dad might not be home when a child comes home from school because they've been picked up and detained by ICE.”

Fear and submission are primary motives of this administration. Look no further than the Maryland father, Kilmar Abrego Garcia. At just 30 years of age, his journey has been epically traumatic. He escaped from gangs by illegally immigrating to the U.S. as a teenager. Since 2019, after he was granted status by a U.S. court to stay, he has complied with all ICE-imposed procedures. What he learned from doing things “the right way” is that you can be sent to a torture prison, returned to the U.S., and then be threatened with deportation to a country in Africa you have zero connection to.

In Iowa, sleeping in a park as an immigrant can end up being a death sentence.

Lupe is a central Iowan who worries about his kids. His family has to overcome intense fear so his kids can receive a good education. “I ask God to protect us and take care of my children at all times.” Furthermore, the family prepares the children, “always giving them recommendations on what to do if they are captured by ICE.”

Nela Blanco is a Bilingual Family Liaison at a central Iowa public school, with a deep understanding of what immigrant families face. On International Workers Day, Blanco determinedly addressed a crowd at a teacher union event. “In the past month the new administration and the latest immigration policy geared toward mass deportation have created widespread family separation. This has created fear, anxiety, and psychological burden on our students and their families.”

Given the cheers from the audience, it is evident that there are many ready to surround these kids with the support they deserve. “I want them to know that we see them, we validate them that we will be here to support them and to help them succeed, whether or not ICE is in our community, knocking on our doors.”

Casillas-Hoffman stresses that immigrants’ contributions should not be taken for granted. “Communities across the state of Iowa depend on our immigrant communities. Iowa is revitalized and thrives through our immigrants and refugees. And all of us are deeply dedicated to working with the communities that are helping make Iowa strong.”

Lupe is one of these dedicated workers. “Unfortunately, this current government doesn't care about that nor sees that the U.S. depends economically on the labor of Hispanics. Many states are being affected because people don't want to go to work for fear of being deported. Americans don't want those jobs.”

Blanco stressed to the audience “If one chooses to leave the home of one’s birth, it is for a valid reason. To choose a path to a better life, to provide a better future for one's children, and to escape violence and discrimination.” The families she works with are hardworking and responsible. “I often speak with parents that are working at least two jobs and often work both days and evenings, including weekends. These people pay taxes, pave your roads, clean your offices, flip your burgers, pick up the fruits on the field, process our meat all while being paid in most cases lower than that, we will find acceptable.”

In the midst of the policy mayhem, IMMJ staff have rolled up their sleeves to help families in Iowa. Casillas-Hoffman explains “Working with communities and families on a day-to-day basis and specifically this year and in the Trump administration, a lot of the work that Elizabeth is doing is Know Your Rights training; preparing and supporting families and safety planning. In some way, planning for the worst and hoping for the best.”

Balarcal wishes all Iowans understood how complex the immigration legal system is. “Many people assume that it's an easy process and people just don't want to do the right way. They do not understand what the right way means and how hopeless it is the way it is.”

The previous administration offered more opportunities for a legal path to citizenship. These in part account for the greater number of President Biden’s executive actions related to immigration than Trump’s administration. Temporary humanitarian protections were provided for Afghans, Ukrainians and Venezuelans due to dangerous conditions back home. They have since been rolled back and former Iowan residents have been deported, while many Venezuelans have been wrongfully sent to El Salvador’s “Terrorist Confinement Center.”

I, for one, am curious about those whose go-to argument is that immigrants should “do it the right way.” If those opportunities existed, would they be supportive of people working hard and seeking a better life for their family here? Or would they seek out other covert racist policies in effort to keep the American dream limited to a certain demographic.

Lupe wants Iowans to know that “Most of us aren't criminals. On the contrary, we contribute to this country's economy by complying with the law. We only seek a better future and security for our children.”

Casillas-Hoffman urges solidarity for students. “We depend on our communities and especially our allies standing up in loud solidarity right now. This is the time to decide to work and support and work alongside and support organizations like ours to ensure that we can continue to do the work.”

We all can and should choose to offer these kids support and dignity. I would hope you would want others to do the same for the youth in your life.

There are many ways you can do this, one is to donate to IMMJ’s work on their website.

Chris Espersen is a Gazette editorial fellow. chris.espersen@thegazette.com