City authorities and immigrant rights organizations have criticized Immigration Customs and Enforcement (ICE) agents for detaining a student at New Haven Public Schools, arguing that ICE raids do not increase public safety.
“Last week, while working at a car wash, ICE agents picked up Esdras R., a student at Wilbur Cross High School in New Haven,” said Tabitha Sookdeo, executive director of CT Students for a Dream, an organization that supports immigrant students. Esdras is a member of the group, according to Sookdeo.
In addition to being appalled, we believe that Esdra’s removal is utterly cruel, Sookdeo stated.
According to Sookdeo, she doesn’t think Esdras R. was singled out because he belonged to CT Students for a Dream.
The arrest is the most recent in a string of ICE operations that have taken place in New Haven and across the state. While criticizing the chilling effect the raids have had on the city’s immigrant populations, local authorities and organizations for immigrant rights say they are continuing to conduct know your rights-style initiatives to educate individuals about their rights. organizations have called for therapy for pupils.
According to Mayor Justin Elicker, the imprisonment was unnecessary.
Elicker stated, “We have not seen any arrests of people with any violent history, with the possible exception of one case in New Haven.” It goes without saying that we do not want anyone with a violent past in our neighborhood. However, that is just not the case with these ICE arrests at the moment.
As of Tuesday afternoon, ICE had not responded to Connecticut Public’s request for comment.
Based in New Haven, Integrated Refugee & Immigrant Services (IRIS) provides advocacy and services for immigrants. IRIS executive director Maggie Mitchell Salem also took issue with ICE.
New Haven schools provided advice on federal immigration enforcement efforts, she said. However, being detained can have negative emotional and psychological effects on the community as a whole, in addition to the student.
According to Mitchell Salem, schools ought to handle ICE apprehensions in a manner akin to how they handle other emergencies, such as gun violence.
“If those students are released from detention, I would like the school to have support services available for their friends, classmates, and the school community; counseling, other forms of support so that the community can come together and grieve,” Salem stated.
Family members and loved ones of those arrested by ICE in recent months have staged rallies and press conferences in response to the detention of other immigrants in the state.
Since Yale Law School has recently brought attention to human rights violations in immigrant detention centers, especially in Louisiana, Sookdeo claimed that many of these institutions are in bad shape.
Elicker said Esdras R. is being held at a detention center in Massachusetts.
As she voiced concern for his mental health, Sookdeo claimed that many migrants detained in these institutions receive subpar meals or endure other abuses.
A high school student may find that frightening as well, according to Sookdeo. Psychologically speaking, I hope that’s what people learn from this.
According to Sookdeo, her group is in communication with Esdras R. and will be hosting a rally on Wednesday at 3 p.m. at Wilbur Cross High School in his honor.
In a joint statement, Elicker and Madeline Negron, the superintendent of New Haven School, criticized the arrest.
According to Elicker, Esdra’s instructors are composing letters of support for Esdra. A request for comment was not answered by Negron’s office.
According to Sookdeo, although a lot of individuals have voiced their support, some have also claimed they agree with ICE raids since they believe criminals are being apprehended. “That’s not true,” she said.
“That isn’t true,” Sookdeo stated. He was working and attempting to provide for his family, but he was in the wrong place at the wrong time.
