Many of us are surprised to find ourselves in an America where masked, armed, federal paramilitary roam our streets and neighborhoods snatching residents and community members and deporting them, sometimes to prisons, with no due process. The issue at stake is not primarily about public safety since only 5% of ICE detainees have violent criminal records.
The question that may come to mind is, “What about the Fifth Amendment of the US Constitution?”
Fifth Amendment:
No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.
The Fifth Amendment provides that no person
shall be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law.
Generally, due process
guarantees to protect individual rights by limiting the exercise of government power.The Supreme Court has held that the Fifth Amendment, which applies to federal government action, provides persons with both procedural and substantive due process guarantees. If the federal government seeks to deprive a person of a protected life, liberty, or property interest, the Fifth Amendment’s Due Process Clause requires that the government first provide certain procedural protections. Procedural due process often requires the government to provide a person with notice and an opportunity for a hearing before such a deprivation. In addition, the Supreme Court has interpreted the Fifth Amendment’s Due Process Clause to include substantive due process guarantees that protect certain fundamental constitutional rights from federal government interference, regardless of the procedures that the government follows when enforcing the law.
Are there legitimate ways to deport people from the US if necessary? Yes! But the Fifth Amendment specifies that due process must be exercised. This is not happening.
There are ways for individual citizens to help:
1) Joining Migra Watch through PIRC
2) Showing up for resource provisions – e.g., driving food, providing food, helping individual families, raising funds.
3) Providing safe harbor and safe shelter – e.g., Homes with Hope. There is training for hosting families through Emerge
RESOURCES
Donate to support Oregon immigrant families being impacted every day through Oregon for All: http://workerrelief.org.
Outer East Portland Indivisible – https://www.mobilize.us/oepindivisible/
PIRC – Migra Watch Training – https://www.facebook.com/pdximmigrantrights
Direct financial support for families through fundraisers within the Deportation Defense Coalition on Instagram, all vetted and folks in real financial need. If you don’t have money, share fundraisers through socials
If you have other resources please sent us the link and we will add them to this article – West Linn Alliance
Migra Watch
“Migra Watch” in Clackamas County refers to community-based training and volunteer programs aimed at observing and documenting immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activity. These trainings provide information on immigrant rights and how to safely respond to potential ICE raids, including how to document activity and activate a rapid response network. The Portland Immigrant Rights Coalition (PIRC) is a key organizer of these trainings in the wider region, which are offered both virtually and in-person.