a day ago
OK response network helping immigrants afraid of public shopping
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) — An Oklahoma organization focusing on helping vulnerable communities says its volunteers will publicly shop for individuals who are afraid to do so due to immigration enforcement.
Community Response Network Oklahoma shared in a social media post Wednesday that anyone who is avoiding public spaces or immigration enforcement can contact the organization for help with groceries or essential drop-offs. Oklahomans have responded asking if they can donate money to the effort or volunteer themselves to help pick up and make deliveries for people.
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'There is a community here that is going to support them,' said Fernando Baquera with Community Response Network Oklahoma. 'Going to grocery stores for people, helping to pick up their medication, anything they may need in essentials. You know, they may be afraid to go out in public.
Baquera says his organization has seen an overwhelming amount of messages from people asking how they can help. He says the group is in the process of creating a volunteer sign-up form for individuals who would like to do so.
The Oklahoma Legislative Latino Caucus shared this week that immigration enforcement has increased in recent weeks. On June 10, News 4 confirmed through the Department of Homeland Security that an ICE operation was carried out in a Warr Acres church parking lot and that one person was arrested. The church was not affiliated with the operation, and ICE agents did not go inside of it. Baquera told News 4 on Thursday that he just wants anyone who feels uneasy to have options.
'Give them a helping hand when they need it the most,' said Baquera. 'In these times of, you know, of when they feel persecuted and attacked.'
News 4 asked Oklahoma immigration attorney, Lorena Rivas, if what the organization is offering to do is illegal.
'There is no law in the state of Oklahoma or nationally that says, you know, you'll be criminalized,' said Rivas. 'There's certainly criminal grounds for smuggling somebody, but just for providing them food or taking them a ride to their doctor's appointment or doing errands for them. There's no law against that. There's nothing criminalizing that.'
Baquera says volunteers do not plan on giving individuals rides, just run errands for them.
'We just plan to get groceries for them and help them out in whatever way that we can,' said Baquera.
A social media post for the initiative asks individuals who need the service to call or text (405) 240-5959.
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