Last month, a select group of Black immigrants residing in Atlanta paid close attention as Uzo Akpele, a Nigerian immigration attorney, provided them with crucial strategies on how to best deal with the rising risk of apprehension and expulsion. The lawyer advised those who lack legal documentation on what to prepare for a possible arrest, particularly if they have underage offspring.
In her talk to mostly West African immigrants, both in person and online, Akpele emphasized the importance of preparedness. She advised attendees to reject illicit searches by officers who fail to present a judge-signed warrant and encouraged undocumented parents with young children to identify a short-term guardian, a family attorney, and an individual who can reach their monetary resources.
This enlightening gathering was convened by the African Immigrant Collective (AIM), a locally-based entity in Atlanta. Amidst the ever-increasing fear amongst immigrants, AIM’s role has become significantly vital. Early this year, Immigration and Customs Enforcement personnel began carrying out operations, resulting in arrests throughout the nation.
This includes the metropolitan area of Atlanta, a residential area for approximately 190,000 Black immigrants, making it the fourth largest architectural region with such demographics in the United States, according to the Pew Research Center’s 2019 findings. In the same month, a novel regulation was enacted necessitating the Department of Homeland Security to confine any undocumented immigrant who confesses, or has been apprehended, indicted, or convicted for specific offenses.
The legislation has been lambasted by attorneys and advocates for immigrants as a calculated tactic to victimize undocumented migrants which would not substantively contribute to community safety. Activists and legal professionals have vehemently criticized this law for disproportionately targeting undocumented individuals whilst not genuinely promoting safety of communities.
Following these developments, Black immigrants residing in Atlanta have been spurred towards a united course of action, as observed by Osei Kweku. According to him, numerous groups are making collective efforts to disseminate necessary information about their legal rights and proactive measures that individuals can put in place.
Kweku also noted that lawyers practicing in immigration law were gaining prominence owing to their intensified activism. The African Immigrant Collective’s community meet-up in February provided a platform for immigrants to engage in candid discussions about urgent queries and potential defensive strategies.
Although a significant proportion of the Black immigrants in Atlanta have ancestral connections to the Caribbean, there has been an influx of newcomers chiefly from Nigeria, Ethiopia, and Ghana in the recent past. These African immigrants have come to constitute a larger percentage of the arrivals in the current timeframe.
Akpele expresses a prediction of an extended application period for those seeking green card status, irrespective of their home countries. She projects a longer processing duration due to a resource shift within the immigration framework which is leading to a reduction of personnel available for handling existing cases.
She pointed out to the attendees of the gathering that regardless of legal status, every immigrant still possesses certain basic rights. For instance, immigrants can maintain confidentiality about their immigration status barring their names, if queried by police. She reiterated that every person is entitled to due process under the American judicial system.
Moreover, she clarified that immigrants who have lived on American soil for less than a couple of years can fall into the category of expedited removal. Asserting the rights of immigrants, Akpele reminded the audience that every individual, irrespective of their immigration status, is entitled to due process.
However, despite the surge in solidarity and access to vital information among the immigrants, Kweku perceives an observable wave of concern that the situation could flip unexpectedly. He stressed on the apprehension that changes in policies could occur at any time, heightening the level of uncertainty for immigrants living in the United States.
In line with Kweku’s concern, he noted that job stability, once considered a given especially for certain roles like federal employees, is now uncertain. For Kweku, this unpredictability reflects the broader state of unsettledness and anxiety that is part and parcel of living in the current American socio-political climate.
The sense of insecurity amongst immigrants extends beyond their own personal safety. Kweku highlighted the reality of federal workers losing their jobs, a situation paradoxically occurring in what was previously believed to be one of the most secure employment sectors.
Still, amidst all the fear and uncertainty, there is an undeniable undercurrent of resilience and collective resolve within the immigrant community in Atlanta. They continue to rally together to share information, support each other, and remain vigilantly aware of their rights in the face of changing regulations.
These combined efforts of community gatherings, sustained information sharing, and the heightened advocacy work by immigration attorneys, serve as supportive pillars for the immigrant community in these challenging times. It is testament to human resilience and capacity to adapt, even in the face of fear and anxiety. The future is uncertain, but the spirit of unity is strong amongst the immigrant community in Atlanta, and it is this sense of solidarity that promises to see them through these turbulent times.