Matthew 25: Feed the hungry, clothe the naked, welcome the stranger

“Many of the immigrants, even if they have legal status, are feeling immense stress, and this is taking a toll on mental health.”

— Taris Karantonis, Chairman of the Arlington County Board

Upon taking office Jan. 20, President Donald Trump immediately issued a number of complicated and extensive Executive Orders related to immigrants. Some of the orders such as expedited removal authority became effective immediately on Jan. 21. Other orders — such provisions as denying public benefits to immigrants, increased use of detention and eviscerating the asylum program were not so straightforward and will roll out over time. 

The provision to revoke birthright citizenship reinterprets the Fourteenth Amendment of the Constitution to deny citizenship to children born in the U.S. to undocumented or temporarily present parents has been challenged in court as unconstitutional and temporarily halted by a judge's order. 

Understanding the extensive orders and what each means for individual lives and family situations has overwhelmed immigrants and instilled fear.

Immigrants who are legal citizens in this country are still afraid despite their legal status that they will be rounded up indiscriminately without due process and sent back to their countries. Immigrants who are here legally waiting processing of paperwork but not yet citizens are in limbo about how the new rules affect them. Immigrants who had been approved but are still in their countries waiting to get on planes suddenly had their bookings cancelled.

Arlington is a diverse community whose population according to 2022 Census data is composed of 41.5 percent people of color with 1 in 4 born outside the USA. The student body of Arlington Public Schools speaks a total of 115 languages according to the 2021 Arlington profile. Arlington Public Schools offer 8 languages including American Sign Language, Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Japanese, Latin and Spanish to 7,568 students in grades 6-12.

What does all of this mean for the immigrant community in Arlington? Despite the uncertainties surrounding interpretations of the executive orders and accompanying legal nuances, reactions have been swift from the Arlington Public School system as well as local groups representing immigrants, faith-based and non-profit organizations providing information and action plans in case of possible ICE arrests. 

The Arlington County Board has issued the following statement: “Arlington County has not, and does not plan to, define itself as a ‘sanctuary jurisdiction’ a term which we believe could potentially mislead our residents and others to believe that Arlington County is able to, in some way, shield from immigration enforcement actions by the federal government. We do not have the authority to do so and will continue to comply with all legal requirements. The Arlington County Board is aware of the actions from the new administration and will (be) continuing to review these updates.”

Taris Karantonis, Chairman of the Arlington County Board, says the county employees know if they are challenged by any situation that they should seek support from their supervisor, and there are certain protocols in place. He says, “We haven’t had evidence of ICE in Arlington but we do know they are around here in Northern Virginia.”

Karantonis says Arlington is a place of respect but, “We don’t want to create the illusion that if an ICE agent shows up with a warrant that we can stop them. The Bozman Center is a public space. But we want people not to be afraid to go to a counter for county services, and we want to provide resources to the members of our community who are impacted.” He explains the county adheres to their Trust Policy, passed in 2022 concerning Interactions with the Customs and Immigration Enforcement. It says that unless required by state or Federal law the county will not be involved in immigration law enforcement.

He adds, “We’re listening to the community. Many of the immigrants, even if they have legal status, are feeling immense stress, and this is taking a toll on mental health. This is early in a murky place with what’s happening around us. We’ll wait and see how this develops. We want everyone to get the services they need. That’s our job. We take this very seriously. We’ll respond as this is coming.”

One of the primary concerns comes from parents about the safety of sending their children to school. The Arlington School Board released a statement which they sent to families after the APS School Board Meeting Jan. 30. "We are committed to maintaining safe, supportive and welcoming school environments for all … Our school leaders and staff have received thorough training on how to respond if law enforcement or immigration officials request student information or access to students.” The letter states, “APS does not ask about immigration status. Under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act schools are prohibited, without parental consent, from providing student information to federal immigration agents without appropriate legal justification.

“APS is committed to protecting our students and families. Immigration officials will not be allowed to enter schools or remove students without following proper legal protocols. Prinicipals will contact our central office and our legal team immediately to review any warrant or legal documents that are presented.” 

ACPD's Questions and Answers also address immigrant children in public schools. "The U.S. Supreme Court has indicated that undocumented students have a right to attend public school … and Arlington Public Schools (APS) does not solicit or collect information on whether a student is undocumented.” However, “Federal authorities are not restricted by statute or regulation from taking immigration enforcement actions at any location, including schools.”

In practice, Department of Homeland Security policy indicates that ICE agents would not normally take enforcement actions at certain sensitive locations including schools, hospitals and churches. However, the recent Trump executive order has removed this protection of sensitive locations that had been practiced during the Biden Administration. 

The Arlington County Police Department indicates that regardless of immigration status all individuals have equal protection under the law. This means that undocumented immigrants should not fear requesting assistance from police if they need help. “Any ACPD involvement in ICE actions is limited to those actions where a criminal warrant exists for the apprehension of a specific individual.”

Michelle Swearingen, director of Arlington-based Restoration Immigration Legal Aid (RILA), offering free assistance to immigrants seeking asylum and special immigrant kids, says the immigrants are afraid to send their children to school. “We are inundated with questions from clients worried about their children. ‘Is this real — what will happen to them?’ There is so much confusion. They are terrified.”

Swearingen says, “It is heart wrenching to be here at this time. We are currently educating immigrants about their rights. They have the right to remain silent; don’t have to answer the door to ICE officers or answer questions. They can ask to see a warrant, and we show them what an authentic warrant looks like. This is difficult for them because they want to do the right thing and it feels wrong not to cooperate.”

Congregation Action Network has issued Know Your Rights cards that are being distributed at apartment complexes in S. Arlington by local Arlington volunteers. They state in both English and Spanish:

Do Not Open Doors

Remain Silent

Do Not Sign Anything

Report and Record

Make a Plan for an Emergency

Know Your Right cards were also distributed by Our Lady Queen of Peace church to 800 families at their weekly food distribution on Wednesday, Janu. 29. 

Many churches are issuing statements of support for immigrants citing the Bible, Quran and Torah which all explicitly refer to support for immigrants. Many are confronting the possibility of an attempted arrest on church grounds by establishing a private space in the church. While the church sanctuary is a public space, a private space can be created somewhere else in the church which would require a warrant signed by a judge with someone’s name on it for an ICE agent to enter. The first step would be to deny entrance to an ICE officer while calling for legal assistance. 

Bishop Michael F. Burbidge, Diocese of Arlington, issued his gratitude for all those immigrants in the Diocese of Arlington who, through their goodness and faithfulness, contribute to our Church and to our country citing immigrants from as many as 20 countries who have settled here in the past generation. “We are also recognizing all of those law enforcement officers who work diligently to uphold our laws and protect our communities. Catholic teaching does not support an open border policy but rather emphasizes a common sense approach where the day to care for the stranger is practiced in harmony with the duty to care for the nation."

The Episcopal Migration Ministries holds a biweekly 30 minute update on immigration policy and hosts an Episcopal Migration Response Network that meets virtually on the fourth Wednesday of every month. Their session on Monday, Feb. 3 focuses on “Immigration Basics and Know Your Rights for Churches and Individuals.”

The United Church of Christ Justice & Peace Action Network released an set of talking points focusing on opposition to the new executive orders. Rev. Kathy Dwyer, a local UCC pastor at Rock Spring UCC says, “As a pastor, my faith compels me to speak with clarity and conviction in response to the recent Executive Orders and their impact on immigrants in our community and across the nation. At Rock Spring Congregational United Church of Christ, we affirm the dignity and worth of all people, regardless of their immigration status. For anyone our community who is feeling vulnerable in this moment, please know that Rock Spring continues to be a place of welcome and solidarity.” 

Doorways, a community-based nonprofit providing services, shelter, and supportive housing for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault and their families has indicated their programs and services are running without interruption. “As always, the safety of Doorways' clients, staff, and volunteers is our top priority, and we have security measures and protocols in place for all of our facilities. We remain committed to serving all survivors who need us.”

Samuel Gutierrez McTyre, an immigration lawyer in Arlington for nearly 40 years says, “The statements from the White House and ICE are that they are looking for criminal aliens but the problem is that there are few out and about in the immigrant community. They are not a community given to commit crime. They are looking for safety, after all in America, because the countries they came from are not safe. …

“A lot of U.S. citizens are being taken into custody because they don’t have a passport on them. They leave home thinking things will go the way they always have and suddenly they are picked up. The Administration isn’t interested in the legal system. If you’re not a red-blooded American, Trump isn’t interested. If the person looks foreign, the skin is brown, he is picked up; it is at base a racist police action.”

McIntyre says immigrants are being arrested and put on planes, thus circumventing the legal system which requires them to be able to come before a judge and have their case heard.”

Clare Cherkasky, an Arlington immigration lawyer for 41 years says, “I’m glad I’m retiring.” But she says she wouldn’t expect ICE to be rounding up immigrants around here. “If immigrants have been here less than 2 years, they can be rounded up but I was surprised in a clinic I held last weekend that I didn’t see a lot of panicked people. Maybe they don’t know yet.”

Rev. DeLIshia Davis, Senior Pastor of the Calloway United Methodist Church in Arlington and newly elected head of the NAACP released a statement echoing this position. "This is not just an immigration issue; it is a human rights issue. U.S. citizens of color are feeling the weight of these policies, as racial profiling and discrimination escalate under the guise of law and order. These orders do not make us safer; they make us more divided."

Kenn Speicher, co-founder of the Arlington based NOVA Friends of Refugees says, "The overall feeling among immigrants and refugees isn't just worry. There is fear, terror, and anger that they may be deported and their families separated. They are also afraid that even if they are here legally, they could be arrested and deported without ever seeing a judge. It is clear that the new actions are an assault on both legal and illegal immigrants. "

Speicher cites a number of examples of human stories including an Arlington friend whose housekeeper was having her citizenship ceremony in Manasses last Wednesday, a day that should have been full of hope and joy but instead was marred by ICE knocking on her door looking for a relative. Speicher says since she knew her rights, she didn’t open the door. Another Afghan couple who have been here a couple of years and helped family members get approved to come here were just waiting for their plane to America and then all was cancelled.