ADRIAN — In the wake of a Supreme Court decision that allows federal immigration officers to use a person’s race as a factor in determining whether to detain and interrogate them, a local advocacy group is urging residents of Hispanic origin to obtain passport cards if they do not currently have them.
Hispanics of Lenawee Alliance (HOLA) said in a statement issued Sept. 10 that carrying a passport card is one way that people can easily demonstrate citizenship if they are targeted by racial profiling.
“We fear that any Hispanic individual, regardless of citizenship status, could be stopped and asked to produce documentation simply for speaking Spanish or appearing to work a low-wage job,” Ben Negron, executive director of HOLA, said in the statement.
“Let us be clear: this ruling undermines the Fourth Amendment protections against unlawful searches and seizures. It sends a chilling message to Hispanic communities nationwide — that our appearance, our language, and our labor can be used against us,” Negron stated. “Even those born in the United States, with birth certificates and legal status, are not immune. ICE agents are not required to accept state-issued driver’s licenses as proof of federal identity. Therefore, HOLA strongly urges all Hispanic residents of Lenawee County who do not currently possess a U.S. passport card to begin the application process immediately. While this may not prevent detention, it can significantly reduce the time spent verifying legal status.”
In a temporary decision in September, the Supreme Court voted 6-3 to pause an order from a district judge in California that would have forbidden immigration agents from detaining a person based on any of these factors: the person’s race, what language they are speaking, whether they speak English with an accent, being present at a location where federal agents claim that undocumented immigrants are known to gather, or working in specific jobs such as landscaping or construction.
The ruling means that federal agents can continue using those factors as justification for detaining people while the Trump administration’s appeal of the district judge’s ruling works its way through the court system.
There have been multiple documented incidents in recent months of U.S. citizens being arrested and held by immigration agents. In July, administration “border czar” Tom Homan admitted that citizens had been swept up in immigration raids.
Information about how to apply for a passport or passport card can be found at www.usps.com/international/passports.htm.
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