Latest news with #ErickDiazVeliz
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Dozens protest outside Detroit ICE field office against Los Angeles immigration raids
Demonstrators gathered outside the ICE field office in Detroit to protest against ICE raids in Los Angeles. Jun 8, 2025 | Photo by Erick Diaz Veliz Dozens of people carrying immigrant support signs gathered outside the ICE field office in Detroit on Sunday afternoon to protest against ICE raids in Los Angeles, which sparked violent demonstrations. A raid by ICE agents this weekend at a Home Depot in Los Angeles sparked clashes between ICE agents, local police, and protesters, resulting in injuries and property damage across the city. The federal government deployed 2,000 of the California National Guard ear;ier Sunday to take control of the streets, as protests continue to erupt throughout Los Angeles. 'We're here because protests are happening in L.A against ICE. We stand with them. We wanted to hold an emergency protest here to show our support,' said Kasandra Rodrigues, 25, a member of the Detroit Community Action Committee. The protesters gathered on the sidewalks at the intersection, waving and holding up their signs with slogans in Spanish and English toward passing cars. While some drivers honked in support, the protesters chanted against ICE and Trump. At least four Detroit police vehicles monitored the area. Rodrigues emphasized his support for the Hispanic community living in Detroit, emphasizing that the protest was held in support of them. 'I think the Latino community in Southwest is very scared. However, they have a lot of strength and drive for this struggle. So, we're here supporting them,' Rodrigues said. Around 3 p.m., the protest dispersed without incident. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
The end of humanitarian parole and TPS is shaping Michigan communities
Anti-deportation protesters gather in Detroit, waving Mexican flags and signs in both Spanish and English, to show their opposition to border patrol activities in the area on January 26, 2025 | Photo by Erick Diaz Veliz. On Wednesday morning, community members reported Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents were making surprise arrests at an immigration check-in office in Grand Rapids where individuals were present for previously scheduled appointments, part of a larger nationwide effort by the Trump administration to restrict those with legal immigration status and deport them. Activist groups, including GR Rapid Response to ICE and Movimiento Cosecha GR, say they quickly mobilized through social media, with members showing up outside the Intensive Supervision Appearance Program office to let new arrivals who were showing up for appointments know about the ICE presence, while others entered the office to warn people waiting inside. 'People who show up for check-ins were being taken anyway. This is what we've come to. We need to do much more to help the affected community. Still, I'm hopeful that over time, the number of people helping will increase,' Ivan Diaz, a former Kent County commissioner and candidate for Michigan senate, said in a text statement. The arrests are just the latest by federal agents in Michigan that continue to spark concern among community members and activist groups of the increasing intensity and sweep of federal actions against the immigrant community. Restricting legal status Since the start of the current administration, the Temporary Protected Status, or TPS, protections for immigrants and humanitarian paroles are in danger of being removed from hundreds of thousands of foreign individuals. Christine Sauve, from the Michigan Immigrant Rights Center, told Michigan Advance that it is uncertain how many members of the community across Michigan currently live under either TPS or humanitarian parole. 'There are currently 31,500 cases pending in Detroit's immigration court, and the majority of those cases involve individuals with parole. These individuals deserve to have their case heard and their day in court, especially if they fear persecution in their country of origin,' Sauve said. On Monday, May 19, the U.S. Supreme Court cleared the way, at least for now, for the Trump administration to end Temporary Protected Status for 350,000 Venezuelans who arrived in the United States in 2023. That followed a February decision by the federal government to cut similar extensions for just over half a million Haitians, leaving them vulnerable to losing their jobs and facing deportation after August. Additionally, by the end of May, the U.S. Supreme Court dismissed a court order that had protected almost 500,000 Cuban, Haitian, Nicaraguan, and Venezuelans immigrants with temporary legal status through what is referred to as the CHNV program, from losing their humanitarian parole protections, exposing them to possible deportation. In an X post, White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson wrote that the decisions by the federal government are within their legal authority to revoke the temporary status granted to hundreds of thousands during the Biden Administration. 'Biden's program violated black letter immigration law, incentivized additional illegal immigration,' Jackson wrote. Sauve did not appear hopeful about the issue being resolved in a timely manner for those facing deportation. 'During this time, current CHNV parolees will not have a legal immigration status. Individuals utilized these legal immigration pathways in good faith, and overnight they have been rendered undocumented, unable to work, and subject to deportation.' Sauve said. Temporary Protected Status and humanitarian parole are two distinct immigration protection mechanisms. TPS allows qualified nationals already present in the U.S to live and work legally for a specific period, while humanitarian parole, granted on a case-by-case basis, allows certain individuals to enter or remain in the country temporarily. They are given to individuals from countries affected by armed conflict, natural disasters, or who might face persecution. 'Many individuals with parole status have fled dangerous situations in their country of origin and have pending applications for asylum or other immigration benefits that they may be eligible for,' Sauve highlighted. 'They have built lives and become part of our Michigan communities. They are our neighbors and co-workers.' Economic consequences Another aspect of the mass deportations promised by the federal government is the impact to Michigan's agricultural economy in which a considerable portion of the working population is undocumented. In March, days after half a million Haitians found their TPS extension cut, a Michigan food corporation declared their operation would be significantly affected by losing such a large number of employees. Clemens Food Group in Coldwater employs around 400 Haitian TPS holders as its workforce. According to a report by the American Immigration Council, based on 2022 data and published in 2024, TPS holders have contributed positively to Michigan industries and paid a significant amount of taxes in the U.S. 'Forcing them to leave the country not only risks putting these individuals in danger, but also threatens to significantly disrupt local economies,' the report stated. The council says TPS holders across the state make significant contributions to both public coffers and the private economy, including earning $57.9 million in household income, which translates into $5.2 million in state and local taxes paid, $6.7 million in federal taxes paid. 'The end of TPS and parole designations is devastating for our clients and their families, but also for their families, workplaces, and communities across Michigan,' Sauve said. 'These programs are lifelines for vulnerable individuals and should not be cruelly ended prematurely, while immigration cases are still pending or conditions are still not safe for individuals to return.' SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
MSU international students are warned not to leave the country
Delia Koo International Academic Center at Michigan State University. June 4, 2025 | Photo by Erick Diaz Veliz The email raised concerns among members of Michigan State University's international community. On Thursday afternoon, international students at MSU received an email from the Office for International Students and Scholars, or OISS, 'strongly' recommending them not to leave the United States, among other recommendations. The email, signed by Krista McCallum, director of OISS, was delivered independently to foreign students, but with the same content: An important update in response to recent federal government actions affecting the international academic community, both those already legally in the country and those still in process to enter. By the end of May, a cable signed by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and obtained by The Associated Press stated that the U.S. government decided to halt new student visa interviews for foreign applicants to U.S. colleges, where they plan to use the review of social media activity as a filter to vet foreign applicants. Additionally, the U.S. Department of State released a press statement in which Rubio specified that 'under President Trump's leadership,' Chinese students' visas will be 'aggressively' revoked, including those 'with connections to the Chinese Communist Party or studying in critical fields.' 'Our current understanding is that previously scheduled visa interview appointments will proceed as planned. However, most embassies and consulates have suspended scheduling new appointments,' the message said. McCallum advised those students who are still in the U.S. not to leave the country. 'For students and scholars inside the U.S.: We strongly advise that you do not travel outside the United States,' McCallum said in the communication. For those currently outside the country who require a visa to return, McCallum recommended staying in close contact with the U.S. embassy or consulate in their area. Additionally, for those unsure about the validity of their visas, the email included a link where students could check their current visa stamp. MSU spokesperson Amber McCann reiterated one more time that the international community on campus is essential to the university's academic and professional development, adding that 'The university is closely monitoring recent federal policy changes and updates concerning international students and scholars.' Chinese college students in Michigan among those nationwide facing direct threats of visa revocation 'We will continue to advocate for policies that enable us to welcome international students and scholars from around the world and promote global engagement,' McCann concluded.' As it is happening across the country, within MSU's international community, concerns about not returning home over the summer due to the severity of recent policy changes had already become a recurring topic, while those who traveled expressed concerns about their return. Many students had already decided not to travel back to their home countries, fearing potential issues with immigration when attempting to re-enter the U.S. 'It's no longer just about having your paperwork in order; now it feels like crossing the border comes with a real risk of running into trouble,' said Diego Granados, an MSU PhD student in biochemistry who is from Mexico. 'The atmosphere has changed. Every time you see another international student, you ask them if they're traveling this summer, because of the political climate.' At the end of the email, McCallum expressed her support and concern for the international community and reiterated, as in previous communications stated by MSU, the university's commitment to international students, who have increasingly become targets of federal government policies nationwide. 'I understand that this news and the uncertainty surrounding it may be frustrating. Please know that MSU remains strongly committed to our international Spartan community. We will continue to welcome students and scholars from around the world, and we will advocate for policies that support your presence and success,' the email said. MSU students had already protested what they considered to be the lack of action by MSU officials regarding the protection of the international community. And after only receiving statements and emails, they considered the university to be taking an insufficient stance. 'I think they just want to play it safe and make sure we don't leave,' said Granados. 'Honestly, it just feels awful. It's like this message is formalizing that feeling we already had, that even if you have legal status and you're pursuing a degree, going back home is now something risky. It might go wrong. You might not be able to come back.' Luis Torres, an MSU PhD student in Kinesiology who is from Puerto Rico, highlighted the targeting of the immigrant community in general and how it escalated to academic fields. 'The pattern is evident: the criminalization of undocumented immigrants was amplified, university students who protested were stigmatized, and now the focus shifts to the entire international student community,' said Torres. 'A state that restricts access to education under current pretexts can justify future encroachments on fundamental rights, eroding democracy for the benefit of a privileged minority,' he finished. Additionally, among foreign students, the protection of their identity or hiding their opinions have increasingly become a concern, showing a decline in freedom of speech within the community. 'It makes you feel trapped. Like, I'm here, and I can't cross the border or talk openly about it because they check my phone, don't like something, and I'm not allowed to reenter to finish my studies. That's really how it feels,' finished Granados. A request for comment was sent via email to Krista McCallum, director of OISS, but has yet to be returned. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
May Day Detroit: Hundreds march calling for workers to unite against Trump administration
Demonstrators line Michigan Avenue during the Detroit May Day protest. May 1, 2025 | Photo by Erick Diaz Veliz After a rainy Thursday afternoon, hundreds of people, including workers, students, and retired community members, marched through the streets of downtown Detroit, rejecting and criticizing the Trump administration's actions during its first 100 days in office, which has featured an assault on diversity, equity and inclusion efforts, and a rollback of federal agencies and departments. The march took place as part of a demonstration organized by May Day Detroit, 50501 Michigan, and other local social movements. It began with a rally that brought together hundreds of people outside Michigan Central Station at Roosevelt Park in the Corktown neighborhood, commemorating International Workers' Day. This demonstration took place alongside others organized simultaneously in various cities across the country and throughout the state of Michigan. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX International Workers' Day, also known as May Day, commemorates the historic fight for an eight-hour workday and the broader pursuit of fair labor conditions, stemming from events like the Haymarket affair in Chicago in 1886. As the sky began to clear and the rain subsided, dozens of people approached Roosevelt Park carrying signs and banners criticizing Elon Musk, Trump, and the current administration. Various groups gathered on the sidewalk along Michigan Avenue holding their signs to begin their demonstration, receiving both support and, in some cases, rejection from passing drivers. At the same time, other groups were gathering in the park as the speakers were about to begin 'Long live international workers' solidarity,' said Frank Hammer, 82, labor activist and former president of the United Auto Workers Local 909. 'We are embracing May Day and putting the ruling class on notice that we are here to fight as one united working class,' Hammer added. Several speakers addressed the crowd during the rally, touching on topics such as the deportation of immigrant workers, police violence, worker layoffs, funding cuts, and the rising death toll of Palestinian civilians in Gaza. 'While our essential services are being cut, law enforcement remains well-funded and well-protected.' said Victoria Camille, a member of the Coalition for Police Transparency and Accountability. 'Instead, our basic needs are being stripped, while law enforcement stands by to uphold so-called 'law and order.' What's happening in our country is neither lawful nor orderly in any way.' Amid federal funding cuts that have affected Michigan communities in food, education, health, and research, a bipartisan plan supported by Michigan House Republicans proposes creating a $115 million annual Public Safety and Violence Prevention Trust Fund to support local law enforcement. Although there was a great sense of optimism regarding the social actions against the Trump administration during the demonstration, some community members expressed concern about the effectiveness of these actions since the beginning of the current government. 'We (workers) are gonna get hit hard, we're gonna have tariffs by the middle of the summer, and when that happens, there will be a lot of layoffs. We're gonna have people very desperate,' said George Lutz, 29, a Detroit resident. 'People are happy to go and make funny signs about Elon Musk and Trump, but when the police start shutting down factories, or when people really have to face the authorities of this country, when they are desperate, they will be forced to take it more seriously than now,' Lutz highlighted. A few minutes past 5 p.m., the protesters began to march along Michigan Avenue toward downtown Detroit, carrying their signs and chanting slogans in support of workers, such as 'May Day every day across the USA' and 'Sí se puede,' which means 'Yes, we can' in Spanish. The protesters made a stop at the Patrick V. McNamara Federal Building, where more speakers took the microphone to express their concerns to the audience. 'Our postal office is under attack; they (the government) want to privatize it, just turn it into a profit-making corporation, and we don't work for profit. Sending letters will become more expensive,' said Gina Favors, 75, a retired member of the postal workers' union. 'Help us keep the postal office public; it was made for the people, let's keep it that way.' Trump, who referred to the constitutionally-mandated institution as a money-losing entity, has floated the idea of transferring the postal service to the Department of Commerce. The protesters marched through some streets in downtown Detroit, escorted by police cars at the front and rear of the march, until they returned to Michigan Avenue, where more protesters joined them while others observed from their windows. They arrived back at Roosevelt Park, where the protest ended around 7:30 p.m. without any incidents.
Yahoo
20-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Hundreds march at the Michigan Capitol against Trump policies, part of nationwide protests
Attendees of the Protect Democracy rally at the Michigan Capitol in Lansing, Michigan, on April 19, 2025. Photo by Erick Diaz Veliz On the 250th anniversary of the Battles of Lexington and Concord, which kicked off the American Revolution, hundreds of Michiganders gathered outside the Michigan State Capitol Saturday to protest against the Trump administration and its actions, especially as they pertained to immigration. They also marched along the sidewalks surrounding the Capitol, joining protests taking place in cities across the country. The sound of church bells around downtown Lansing coincided with the start of the rally organized by Stand Against Extremism, or SAGE, and promoted on social media, highlighting their call for freedom, equality, and justice, and their solidarity with nationwide protests organized by grassroots protest group 50501. Protests were also held across Michigan, including in Coldwater, Detroit, Flint, Grand Rapids, Livonia, Port Huron, and Portage. As the first speakers took their positions at the entrance to the Capitol, hundreds more people approached the Capitol grounds with anti-Trump, anti-authoritarianism, and anti-Nazi signs and banners. 'This is the anniversary of the beginning of the American Revolution, and the democratic rights that were established during that revolution, and later confirmed and developed in the American Civil War, are now under attack,' said Tim Rivers, 65, a member of the socialist movement, during his speech. 'Hundreds have already been sent [to the El Salvodoran prison known as CECOT], and now Trump is threatening to take American citizens and deport them to El Salvador,' Rivers added. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX On April 17, Juan Carlos López-Gómez, 20, was released after being arrested in Florida by federal immigration agents, despite being a natural-born American citizen. However, Lopez-Gomez was not the only U.S citizen who had an encounter with Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE. Ramiro Martinez, a Mexican immigrant and U.S. citizen, was surrounded and detained by ICE in Michigan earlier this month. Additionally, concerns about border patrol agents' actions under Trump's policies have been fueled by emails sent on April 11, around the country, by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to immigrants who entered the country using CBP One, a mobile app developed by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, with an American citizen in Michigan also receiving those messages. Around 12:30, the march began on W. Allegan Street and marched once around the Capitol, as protesters chanted against the current administration. 'The purpose of our march was basically to defend our democracy. We wanted people to come out and express their discomfort with what is going on a national scale,' said Daniel Pfau, 37, a volunteer with SAGE. 'I hope that people see this event is by the people, for the people. We didn't need a national organization in charge. We showed up, and we took care.' After the march, a series of speakers took the microphone to express their concerns to the audience. Among the speakers were community members, social activists, and elected officials who primarily spoke out against the federal government's targeting of immigrants across the country. 'They are trying to distract us. They want people divided. They want to bring out the worst impulses in many people's hearts,' said State Rep. Jasper Martus (D-Flushing) during his speech. 'We need to think about all those folks who are going to church tomorrow morning and saying they're okay with deporting people who are here illegally. I'm a believer, but that's not what I believe in.' During the speeches, support was given for Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Maryland resident the Trump administration erroneously deported to his native El Salvador, which was echoed and chanted by the audience in favor of his release and return to the US. Abrego Garcia was arrested March 12 as he drove his 5-year-old son home, and was informed by ICE agents that his status had changed, despite an order that determined it was more 'likely than not that he would be persecuted by gangs in El Salvador' if he were returned there, according to court documents. Although ICE accepted his deportation was due to an administrative error, and the Supreme Court of the United States later ordered his return, on April 14, U.S. President Trump and El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele announced in the Oval Office that they would not release Abrego Garcia. Toward the end of the demonstration, near the Capitol, on the side of North Capitol Avenue, a Trump supporter counter-protested, giving speeches and holding a sign that read 'God, put Trump in.' This situation generated tense moments among the protesters, who approached to confront and argue with the lone counter-protestor. By the end of the day, no acts of violence or physical confrontations had been reported. Attendee of the Protect Democracy rally at the Michigan Capitol in Lansing, Michigan, on April 19, 2025. Photo by Erick Diaz Veliz Attendees of the Protect Democracy rally at the Michigan Capitol in Lansing, Michigan, on April 19, 2025. Photo by Erick Diaz Veliz Attendees of the Protect Democracy rally at the Michigan Capitol in Lansing, Michigan, on April 19, 2025. Photo by Erick Diaz Veliz Attendees of the Protect Democracy rally at the Michigan Capitol in Lansing, Michigan, on April 19, 2025. Photo by Erick Diaz Veliz Attendees of the Protect Democracy rally at the Michigan Capitol in Lansing, Michigan, on April 19, 2025. Photo by Erick Diaz Veliz Attendees of the Protect Democracy rally at the Michigan Capitol in Lansing, Michigan, on April 19, 2025. Photo by Erick Diaz Veliz State Representative Jasper Martus (D-Flushing) during his speech at the Protect Democracy rally at the Michigan Capitol in Lansing, Michigan, on April 19, 2025. Photo by Erick Diaz Veliz Tim Rivers during his speech at the Protect Democracy rally at the Michigan Capitol in Lansing, Michigan, on April 19, 2025. Photo by Erick Diaz Veliz
