Jason Sandford
Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.
Jasmine Beach-Ferrara speaks at a downtown Asheville rally in April following an ICE enforcement action in Buncombe and Henderson counties.
Two Asheville politicians – Buncombe County Commissioner Jasmine Beach-Ferrara and N.C. Rep. Susan Fisher – have joined a national call to abolish U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in the wake of Trump administration immigration policies.
The Durham Herald-Sun reports that Beach-Ferrara and Fisher have signed an open letter that has been signed by more than 100 elected officials from across the country. You can read the letter at electedstoabolishice.com. In part, it states:
We are outraged at the recent actions of the administration, which have separated over 2,000 families who came to this country fleeing violence and seeking asylum, only to be detained and cruelly and capriciously separated. We fundamentally believe that our country can and should be a place where people seeking freedom and opportunity can find a home.
In the last two weeks, we have seen countless stories about babies and children being ripped from the arms of their mothers and fathers so that their parents can be funneled, without due process of law, through criminal prosecutions off of which private prison companies stand to make millions of dollars.
As leaders and elected officials, we are committed to ensuring that our communities have the opportunity to thrive – that means everything from keeping our infrastructure up-to-date and creating good jobs to ensure that our kids get a quality education. Above all else, we are responsible for the safety of people in our communities. Our government should encourage civic and community participation and increase the quality of lives of our residents. The presence of ICE in our neighborhoods, schools, workplaces, places of worship, and homes, makes this impossible.
The letter comes as the Trump administration enacted a policy that separated children from their families at the U.S. border with Mexico. The administration has reversed that policy and is now working to meet a court order to reunite hundreds of young children with their parents.
Earlier this year, ICE officials arrested about a dozen people in an enforcement action in Buncombe and Henderson counties. Beach-Ferrara was one of a handful of local officials who criticized the action and called for support of the families of those detained.
Stopping anyone on the road, sidewalk, neighborhood, school, workplace, place of worship, or home within the USA and asking for an “ID” is against our constitutional rights…why would it be any different if ICE or any member of our government entities or law enforcement asks you?
Is U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) being tipped off because of illegal criminal activity? Each and every article I’ve read about how these “raids” are conducted never discusses or mentions why or how these “TIPS” are obtained which to me sounds like a corrupt method to incarcerate more humans in the US and help make profit for our privatize prison system.
Remember all government, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and law enforcement employees took an oath as public servants to uphold and follow the constitution. We the tax payers allow them to have jobs through mandatory monetary contributions as citizens paying our taxes. Officers need to have probable cause that a crime has been committed to ask for an ID and you don’t need to answer any questions they may ask…just be polite and if they push back, simply ask if you are being detained…if they say YES, ask what crime are you being suspected of committing?
Remind them you know your rights as a citizen of this country and you really don’t need to prove anything to anyone about who you are or what you are doing if you are not being charged with a crime. Beyond that, they can only hold you for a reasonable amount of time(about 20 minutes) before they must charge you according to the constitution.
It is scary to think of how many people don’t know basic knowledge about our constitutional rights. If every citizen in this country would treat government and law enforcement employees in that manor they would not be so hard on everyone else who may or may not be a legal citizen.
To me, It makes sense why it happens, we are programmed from a very young age to be as helpful to police, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), or anyone in an authoritative role, as possible…and be downright submissive…this helps the powers at be keep and maintain the modern day slavery system where we the tax payers pay all government entities to exist and really see nothing as a benefit other than not being locked up or forced to pay more to avoid being imprisoned. Wake up you sheep!