Dear Editor:
The story of a Brooklyn student ending up in ICE detention after showing up for a routine court date should stop all of us in our tracks. This is what people mean when they talk about fear in immigrant communities. To be clear, it’s not abstract; it’s lived.
In my work organizing in east Brooklyn, I’ve spoken with families who are afraid to go to court, afraid to go to school, afraid to be seen. When showing up and doing the “right thing” can still lead to detention, trust in the system collapses.
That’s why this moment calls for more than outrage. Congress is actively deciding how much money goes into detention and deportation versus legal support, community programs, and refugee protection. Right now, the balance is clear, and it’s not in favor of families like the one in this story.
We can’t call ourselves a sanctuary city if people are still being taken from the very places meant to offer due process. We need policies that protect people trying to navigate the system, not punish them for it.
If we’re serious about safety, it must include everyone. Everyone must feel safe.
Jimmy Guity is a Brooklyn resident.
