One of the worst things this writer has ever seen is the spectacle of a Salvadoran teacher saying goodbye to her twin 9-year-old daughters in the freezing cold outside of the Milwaukee ICE office last Friday. Standing with them, shivering, were over a hundred immigrant rights advocates, most of us citizens, as we had been advised that ICE might take anyone on the premises.
At 8 am, Yessenia Ruano disappeared into the building, flanked by her daughters, her lawyer and community faith leaders. Most of the crowd remained, marching and chanting outside, trying to feel our toes. Within 45 minutes, community leader Christine Neumann-Ortiz of Voces de la Frontera received a text: ICE would not take Yessinia today. She was given more time to work on her visa application.
In this case, the people united won the day, through the organizing of Voces de la Frontera members and allies. As a quote attributed to Margaret Mead reminds us: "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world: indeed, it's the only thing that ever has." — Rachel Ida Buff, NAA member, TL;DR writer, and participant in the Milwaukee protest