The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Alaska has introduced an online tool aimed at gathering vital information regarding the increasing immigration enforcement actions by local and federal law enforcement agencies across the state.
This initiative comes as the Trump administration significantly ramps up the arrest quotas for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to an alarming 3,000 arrests each day and has even deployed military forces to Los Angeles to manage protests related to ICE tactics.
Cindy Woods, a senior immigration law and policy fellow with the ACLU of Alaska, is one of the key staff members overseeing the reporting tool and coordinating legal resources.
“There are troubling trends in relation to traffic stops and workplace raids happening in the Lower 48,” Woods stated. “We want to ensure that individuals in Alaska are not living in unnecessary fear while also understanding what enforcement looks like in the state so we can provide the most accurate and helpful information about individuals’ rights.”
The online reporting form is designed to be confidential and is currently available in both English and Spanish, with plans to expand to other languages in the future.
The form requests detailed information about immigration enforcement actions, including where they took place and what law enforcement agencies were involved.
Woods mentioned that the ACLU can assist in locating individuals who have been arrested, particularly for families who may not know the whereabouts of their loved ones.
While the ACLU does not represent immigration cases, the organization is equipped to connect individuals with immigration attorneys and other necessary legal resources.
There have already been reported instances of ICE arrests occurring in Alaska, specifically in places like Anchorage and Soldotna. Additionally, the Alaska Department of Corrections recently announced that the state is holding out-of-state ICE detainees.
Woods highlighted that, irrespective of immigration status or any civil or criminal charges, all individuals have equal rights to due process as their cases go through the judicial system.
“Noncitizens have equal due process rights to citizens,” Woods affirmed, reiterating that the due process clause of the U.S. Constitution applies to noncitizens as well, regardless of their immigration status.
ICE has not yet responded to multiple inquiries regarding the reasons behind transferring ICE detainees to Alaska or the civil and criminal charges being brought against those currently held at the Anchorage Correctional Complex.
Woods stated that the ACLU has already spoken with several ICE detainees held by the Department of Corrections and their attorneys, finding that some detainees have no criminal charges against them and some have previously been granted asylum.
“While the specifics of each individual’s criminal history may not be crystal clear, I can confidently say that some do not have any criminal histories, and some have been granted immigration relief,” she explained, noting that these individuals are still facing detention.
The ACLU has raised concerns regarding the state’s standards for the detention of ICE detainees, particularly regarding access to communication with attorneys and family, translation services, and medical care.
Woods pointed out that the ACLU filed a class action lawsuit against the Department of Corrections in May due to claims of “inadequate, dangerous and inhumane” healthcare provided to incarcerated Alaskans, citing issues of medical neglect and the substandard medical treatment received by individuals in DOC custody.
“We are genuinely concerned about this situation,” Woods added.
As of now, the Department of Law has not filed a response to the ongoing lawsuit.
To further investigate these pressing issues, the Alaska House Judiciary Committee is scheduled to hold a fact-finding hearing on June 20 in Anchorage. This session will be streamed online via the Legislature’s website and Gavel Alaska, aiming to address various concerns surrounding immigration enforcement and the treatment of detainees.
image source from：alaskapublic
