Suddenly, a lot of American passport cooers are billeted. They feel they have to do this in part because of the heat stemming from the rising fear of immigration raids and detentions. A confluence of recent incidents has prompted this change. It is common practice for U.S. immigration officials to detain people solely on the basis of their appearance or language. The Supreme Court’s ruling allowing federal agents to stop people in Los Angeles for speaking Spanish or appearing Latino has heightened these fears, leading to a palpable sense of insecurity among the Latino community and other groups.
Ana, a middle-aged teacher from Southern California, expressed her deep concerns for safety. She was particularly afraid of the retaliation that might come from speaking out about these practices. Her unease intensified when immigration agents in full tactical gear forcibly detained Andrea Velez. When her lawyer, Andrea, a U.S. citizen, was wrongly detained, her fears were exacerbated. Velez faced charges for assaulting an officer, but those charges were later dismissed, highlighting the precarious reality many citizens now navigate daily.
The sense of vulnerability extends beyond Ana. Walter Cruz Perez, a 58-year-old former U.S. citizen who immigrated from Guatemala. Now, he keeps his passport in the cellphone case he now uses while working in his landscaping business. And like so many others, he doesn’t want to take these precautions—but he knows that in today’s climate, he has to.
Personal Experiences of Fear and Insecurity
Ana’s fears are common with many people in her community. She noted, “I know I am [a citizen]. But this is an administration that says ‘you don’t belong’.” This sentiment reflects a broader anxiety felt by U.S. citizens of Latino descent, who feel their citizenship is constantly questioned.
“I thought if that happened to her that could happen to me,” Ana continued, referring to Velez’s incident. “That could happen to anybody who looks like me or sounds like me.” This fear is compounded by everyday experiences. Ana recounted instances where people questioned her right to speak Spanish and whether she paid taxes, which further underscores the stigma many face.
For Munira Maalimisaq, a family nurse practitioner who immigrated from Somalia as a child, her decision to carry her passport became vital on December 2. She stated, “I never thought I’d feel like I have to prove where I’m from, … and that we are from the United States.” Maalimisaq’s experience is a microcosm of just how far the current immigration administration has reached, even affecting those who have been U.S. citizens for decades.
Community Responses to Immigration Policies
The community’s response has been one of resilience alongside the fear. Miguel Rios, a 49-year-old Los Angeles native, shared his family’s decision to start carrying copies of their passports once the immigration raids began. He reflected on the larger implications of such tactics: “You’re tearing families apart. The criminal numbers were released recently. It’s not as if they’re doing great work decanting criminals. You’re going into commercial spaces. That’s not where the bad guys are going to be.”
This sentiment is echoed by Ana when she asserts, “No one should have to carry a passport just to exist safely in their own city.” A lot of Americans are tired of policies that seem designed solely for urban, coastal elites. They argue that these specific policies ultimately distract from the greater plight in immigration law.
Walter Cruz Perez expressed a sense often felt by at-risk individuals. He continued, “You watch the news, and you know, see folks, they can’t even recognize who they are — so they do whatever it takes to stay out of the fight.” This statement reflects the awful truth that many Americans are starting to feel like they need to take additional steps to protect themselves.
The Impact of Immigration Policy on Daily Life
The need for passports among U.S. citizens signifies a troubling shift in how individuals perceive their security and belonging within their own country. For some, the burden of always having to carry ID has shifted from a special event formality to an everyday inconvenience.
Ana emphasized this necessity saying, “And because of that, I know that I may come in contact with (federal agents). And for that, I want to make sure that I go home safely to my kids and simply for my own safety.” Her remarks sum up the panic of every parent and loved one afflicted by this uncertainty. They want to protect their family members from the fear of potential ICE detainments.
The situation is urgent and complex. Many individuals are left questioning their status and safety in environments where they should feel secure. The trend towards carrying passports is symptomatic of a larger societal change in which people’s identity and citizenship are being questioned more and more.