Becky, a UK citizen, has been residing in the US since 1976. Last week, she had an awful experience with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) as she attempted to depart the United States. After visiting family in the Philippines, she went back home to the Bay Area. ICE agents had stopped her, questioned her and finally arrested her, insisting that she was an undocumented immigrant. This incident profiles the often obscured layers of immigration enforcement. It makes clear the harm these laws do to people with the deepest, longest roots in the U.S.
Becky recently earned her medical laboratory science degree and now works at the UW hospital’s cancer center. She’s never been one to shy away from lighting a fire under her own community’s boilers. By day, her vivacity blossomed as a graphic artist and comic-book editor. During afternoons, she focused her attention on caring for underprivileged children in her neighborhood. She had established a healthy life in the U.S., but once she traveled abroad, that precipitated a series of unfortunate events. This series of events led to her eventual incarceration.
When Becky arrived at the airport, she was met by ICE agents who singled her out for further questioning. Despite her many years of legal residence and her prior 2008 immigration issue having been resolved, agents labeled her an illegal alien.
“She’d had a visa issue that had been resolved many years ago, but now it was flagging on the system again.” – Lewelyn, Becky’s friend
Becky knew little about being shackled until she found herself in shackles. Instead, she was loaded into a transport van en route to an ICE detention facility. She described the daunting experience of being moved, in chains, without access to any outside world or knowledge.
“She was so confused. She kept saying to me, ‘I’ve got a work permit.’” – Becky
Becky’s problems only deepened once she arrived at the detention center. She was incarcerated in a room resembling a college dormitory, filled with 103 other women. The grim reality of her predicament sunk in when she was given a transcript of her interview to sign.
“I had no idea where we were going. It was just bumping around in darkness with handcuffs on.” – Becky
She noted that she was allowed one free call to inform her family on how to deposit money into her inmate account—a crucial lifeline that left her anxious about communication.
Even though she had enough money to buy a ticket back home, Becky ended up being held for 19 days total. Her frustration grew as she endured the bureaucratic red tape that was keeping her from being released.
“I was seeing no money arrive, and I was getting really upset thinking I told them the wrong A number.” – Becky
Contemplating the wider implications of her ordeal, Becky wondered what prompted law enforcement to detain her in the first place.
“I was naive to think that what was going on in the world, or at the border, wouldn’t affect me,” – Becky
While the personal toll of this ordeal was heavy, Becky understood the privilege that went with her story. Editorially, she considered herself lucky that she had contacts in the press. With a newfound platform to share her story, she was acutely aware that many didn’t have access to these resources.
“Maybe border security have been pressured to prove they’re stepping up.” – Becky
As Becky took make sense of this world of complications and her own impending detention, she revealed the pain over choices made in crisis mode.
“I was aware that it was from a major position of privilege that the press listened to this story. I was a British tourist, I had these images of my trip on Instagram, and I had contacts with journalists, so I was very lucky.” – Becky
Becky’s case demonstrates the harsh realities that people encounter in enforcement immigration apparatuses. This is particularly so for those who’ve resided legally in the U.S. for many decades. Her story illustrates how the whim of the immigration policy can affect daily lives in the most unexpected ways.
“If I’d lied, I’d be on holiday in Canada right now.” – Becky
Ultimately, Becky’s case sheds light on the challenges facing individuals who find themselves ensnared in immigration enforcement systems, even when they have lived lawfully in the U.S. for decades. Her story highlights the unpredictable nature of immigration policies and their potential impact on everyday lives.