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Saturday May 16, 2020
AUTHOR:
Virginia Harness
FACULTY: Dr. Jen Wallin-Ruschman
DEPARTMENT: Psychology
After the election of Donald Trump, immigration raids by agencies such as Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) have steadily risen in the United States, leading to mass deportations, inhumane incarceration, and increased levels of family separation. One of the most effective ways to respond to immigration raids is through training allies to rapidly respond to community threats, acting as legal observers to document and de-escalate ICE activity. However, these trainings have primarily been designed for large, urban centers, such as Santa Cruz. In rural areas, the powers of ICE agents are often extended to local police forces, where officers can detain undocumented individuals at their homes or places of work. In order to develop an effective response to state violence in rural communities, these trainings must be adapted with the needs of rural communities prioritized. Through the analysis of several rapid response trainings from urban universities and nonprofits, this research aims to evaluate the potential effectiveness of these programs in rural communities and identify the elements which will be most beneficial in training legal responders in Southern Idaho. Findings from this research will be developed into a training for local activists.
The College of Idaho 2112 Cleveland Blvd Caldwell, ID 8360 USA 208-459-5011 800-2C-IDAHO