CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) – It’s now been almost a year since the Department of Homeland Security ramped up efforts to deport illegal immigrants, Iowa has since been home to high profile arrests by ICE.
Superintendent of the Des Moines School District, Ian Roberts, was arrested last October; video of Jorge Eliecer Gonzalez-Ochoa being dragged away by officers at his work place went viral as well.
Since President Donald Trump returned to office, more people have escorted immigrants to their regular check-ins with the Department of Homeland Security’s Cedar Rapids office. Tuesday, people were offering words of support and warm clothes to the immigrant families waiting in line.
Edward Ruiz had his meeting today. Ruiz is a former police officer from Colombia but came to the U.S. about a year ago.
“The situation became too violent, it was really dangerous there and I couldn’t stay there anymore,” Ruiz said, through an interpreter.
He was able to leave today’s meeting.
“I felt a lot of pressure and I was really scared and nervous,” Ruiz said.
These escorts have been happening for years now; however, since President Donald Trump returned to office and ramped up immigration efforts, more have been joining the crowd.
“It’s absolutely cruel what we’re doing to people that are coming to the U.S.,” Kelsey Legore said.
Legore started coming to demonstrations after a student she was tutoring was deported.
“It was really, really emotional and difficult to watch happen,” Legore said.
She has a big presence at demonstrations now as she uses her skills as a music teacher to rally in song.
“I strongly believe that music has the ability to bring us together, music has the ability to keep us calm, and music, historically, has been so important to social justice movements,” Legore said.
Messages of love and support in moments of fear and uncertainty.
While more immigrants were seen entering the office, the 11 escorted by Escucha Mi Voz were not detained.
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