A previous AIRR “Know Your Rights” presentation. | File Photo
A previous AIRR “Know Your Rights” presentation. | File Photo

Julia Williams

Editor-in-Chief

On Jan. 24, a stop-work order was issued from the federal government to resettlement agencies around the Kansas City Metropolitan area and the nation, which ceased operations for organizations providing assistance to refugees who had already arrived in the U.S. and prevented additional refugees from arriving for up to 90 days — leading one immigrant empowerment organization to educate the community.

Two of these affected organizations include Della Lamb Community Services (500 Woodland Ave.) and Jewish Vocational Service (JVS) (4600 The Paseo) — both nonprofit organizations working toward educating and empowering individuals to succeed within their communities. 

The terms of the stop-work order prevents these organizations from providing support in forms of housing, case management, language interpretation, nourishment and youth education enrollment, among others, according to a Della Lamb social media post, Jan. 28. 

As these local nonprofits begin to navigate this new reality, Advocates for Immigrant Rights and Reconciliation (AIRR), a Kansas City Metro nonprofit, which works to empower, educate and advocate for families and the immigrant community year-round, has concentrated on just that. AIRR operates several initiatives including its “Know Your Rights” presentations. 

While not a new facet to this program, these presentations — hosted by AIRR-trained volunteers and led and coordinated overall by immigration support specialists, according to Northeast News archives — have previously highlighted immigration laws and PH Coffee’s “Meet Your Neighbor Night” Jan. 10, which included a “Know Your Rights” presentation for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). 

ICE — a federal law enforcement agency (separate from any Police department) works to enforce immigration laws and adhere to public safety, according to its website — holds a Kansas City location at the Kansas City International Airport (KCI). 

While ICE attributes within its mission that it targets undocumented and incarcerated immigrants, this has not remained the case within Jackson County. 

Instead, ICE has targeted any individual — including those of legal and documented status — and those with any ties to the criminal justice system — which includes speeding tickets and traffic infractions, Jackson County First District Legislator Manuel (Manny) Abarca IV shared in an interview, Friday. 

However, AIRR has shared several must-knows for any community member when approached by or bore witness to this government affiliate:

Know Your Rights — ICE: 

  1. Record the interaction — for witnesses, it is within your right to video record and question the ICE activity in spaces including public transit, public streets and outside federal buildings (airports). Video recording is NOT permitted inside courthouses or at airport security. 
  2. Don’t Interfere with the interaction. 
  3. Request to see a warrant — an official judge-signed warrant is required for any ICE  search and seizure or questioning including vehicles or homes. If the warrant is not signed by a district judge, it is not a valid warrant.
  4. Report the Activity — ICE activity should be reported to Local Rapid Response to verify the interaction. 
  5. Remain silent — the Fifth Amendment of the U.S. constitution protects citizens against self-incrimination. Anyone has the right to remain silent. 
  6. Do not sign anything without a lawyer — AIRR provides a list on its website of several Immigration attorney’s for those in need. A list can be found here: https://www.airrkc.org/uploads/1/2/3/0/123019354/attorney_list__-_oct.2024.pdf. 
  7. Do NOT post any unverified ICE activity — this instills additional fear and panic.

“The best defense is to know your rights,” said AIRR Know Your Rights program presenter, Trinidad Raj Molina. 

For additional information on “Know Your Rights” — including when AIRR’s next informational session will be, visit: https://www.airrkc.org/ and @airr_kc on social media. 

Disclaimer: Manny Abarca IV, Jackson County First District Legislator, is a board member for Historic Northeast Media, Inc.