Immigration protest being coordinated in Goshen
GOSHEN — A local immigrant activist is coordinating a protest in Goshen for 3 p.m. Feb. 22.
Maria Banderas, the coordinator of the protest set for the Elkhart County Courthouse in Goshen, has been vigilant of immigration concerns. She is a human rights activist and has been working with friends to ensure accurate information about what's happening with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is being shared.
Banderas is coordinating the protest to bring awareness to human rights for immigrants and the fight against ICE detaining a mass of immigrants. Banderas said their main concern is the Latino community and the uneasiness the mass deportations have caused locally.
'Our people are scared and are in hiding nowadays,' she said. 'Our main concerns are for the elderly and the children being separated from their families. Overall, I am concerned that raids will happen without notice.'
She also noted that there have been speculations, but confirms that there has yet to be any local ICE presence in Elkhart County.
'Despite the rumors of ICE being in Elkhart County, there has been no actual confirmation of ICE raids happening in the area. Elkhart county is 20% Latino, so fear is lingering in everyone. However, Allen County (Fort Wayne area) has confirmed ICE raids.'
Banderas is hopeful that there will be solutions and changes to the current state of immigration. She encourages everyone to stay safe and vigilant and prepare for anything that might come their way by being accurately informed and having a form of identification.
'It is dire that folks carry U.S. authorized identification,' she said. 'If you or someone you know does not have any form of identification, Goshen does offer a form of identification called GRID.
'To any other young adults who are moved by these protests and the real news of things going on in our world today, my advice is to speak up for what you believe in. I have faith and trust in our community, we are the future of America,' she said.
Goshen city Director of Administration & Community Relations Michael Wanbaugh confirmed the city hasn't seen any evidence of ICE in the city, county or even the state.
'We've been keeping an ear out and talking with our community neighbors and people who are involved in helping with immigration issues both here and in South Bend, St. Joe County, and we're really in just a monitoring mode,' Wanbaugh said. 'And I think we're really being careful about what is reacting to rumors, responding to rumors, but really focusing on what is real, what reports we actually have had — which we haven't really had any.'
Wanbaugh said city officials are talking about the topic almost every day and haven't made an official statement yet because they don't want to overreact to rumors.
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