Community leaders and local officials in the Fredericksburg area are grappling with how to protect undocumented immigrants, in the context of mass deportation efforts directed by President Trump and enforced by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
One aspect of the president’s new border policy is particularly troubling to some in the Fredericksburg area — the removal of the protection of migrants at schools, churches and hospitals.
Spotsylvania County Public School Superintendent Clint Mitchell sent a letter to the “SCPS community” stating that school officials and administrators will not inquire about the immigration status of students, or their families and that confidential student information will only be disclosed to authorities “in strict compliance with state and federal laws.”
Mitchell noted that there have not been any requests or visits from ICE agents at any school in the county. He said the division is compiling a list of resources to support parents who have concerns about the changes to the federal policy. The resource list will be posted on the SCPS website.
“We will maintain our close collaboration with the Spotsylvania County Sheriff’s [Office] to ensure our schools remain a safe place for students and families,” Mitchell wrote. “All school principals have received clear guidance and protocols to follow if any law enforcement agency, other than the Spotsylvania County Sheriff’s [Office], seeks entry into our school buildings.”
Mitchell went on to state that, if ICE officials attempt to gain access to a school, they must present “appropriate legal justification and await approval from SCPS to protect the rights of our students and staff.”
The policy is akin to what Bill Botts, a volunteer attorney for LUCHA Ministries Immigration Legal Services, is suggesting to churches across the region.
Botts, who is a member of Fredericksburg United Methodist Church, said that if an ICE agent comes into a church without a warrant, he is advising congregants not to provide access. Botts also reached out to Mary Washington Healthcare officials to determine their plan if a raid is conducted.
“If they have a warrant for searching or arresting that’s been issued by a legal authority like a judge, then they can enter,” Botts said. “Even then, [in churches] it would be limited to public spaces. For example, they could go into a meeting room, but they couldn’t go into the church offices. That’s what we’re advising.”
One local Hispanic pastor said there is considerable angst among his flock. The pastor, who asked that he and his church not be identified for fear of being targeted, said more than 120 people regularly attend services. But he’s concerned that attendance may drop now that the protection on so-called safe spaces has been lifted.
“I’ve tried to comfort the congregants and tell them, ‘We have to trust in God, and also be vigilant,” the pastor said. “If someone sees a roadblock, I expect somebody to let us know and we’ll put it out. We’re not against the government at all, but it’s going to be unfortunate to get somebody arrested and possibly deported when maybe they have a family here.”
Botts said LUCHA is preparing “know your rights” cards to be distributed to immigrants in the area. They will be the size of a business card and include information about what individuals should do if contacted by law enforcement, particularly ICE.
“That’s what we’re doing at this point, but it’s such a fast-moving target and it’s largely unknown what’s actually going to happen as opposed to what’s threatened to happen,” Botts said. “So, there’s a lot of concern.”
Botts advised that if anyone witnesses an ICE raid or detainment, they should report it to advocacy groups or to the press, so that the incidents do not occur “in the dark.”
He said that he’s received reports of ICE agents in the Fredericksburg area but said there is no way to know for sure as any incidents could happen out of the public eye.
Fredericksburg Police Department Public Information Officer Caitlyn McGhee said that there have been no reports of any operations or detainments by ICE in the city.
McGhee referenced the FPD’s policy on immigration status which states that “members of the Fredericksburg Police Department shall treat all individuals equally and without regard to immigration status.”
The policy also dictates that officers do not initiate investigations or act based on actual or perceived immigration status, including initiating stops, apprehensions and arrests.
If the immigration status of a victim or witness is discovered during an investigation, FPD personnel will not forward that information to ICE. When someone is incarcerated, it is the responsibility of the Rappahannock Regional Jail to notify ICE if their immigration status is in question.
“To encourage crime reporting and cooperation in the investigation of criminal activity, all individuals, regardless of their immigration status, must feel secure that contacting or being addressed by members of the Fredericksburg Police Department will not lead to an immigration inquiry and/or deportation,” the policy states.
The apprehension felt by undocumented immigrants in the area is not uncommon. There are 11 million undocumented immigrants in the U.S., and Botts said he was on multiple webinars this week involving more than 500 immigration attorneys and advocates across the country.
The pastor, who asked not to be named, said there is a mix of documented and undocumented statuses among the immigrants at his church.
“Most of my people that I pastor are hard-working people,” he said. “They live their lives and work 9 to 5. They have a family. Some of the kids were born here, so I don’t know how bad it’s going to get … But it’s concerning because if they start targeting people and they want to come to the churches, I don’t know how that’s going to be played out.”
