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How is Fort Wayne affected by Trump's immigration crackdown?

We break down what's happening locally (so far) – and what's needed – with Raquel Kline, Director of Language Services Network (LSN).
How is Fort Wayne affected by Trump's immigration crackdown?

Since President Donald Trump resumed office last week, his administration's rhetoric and proposed policy changes on immigration have already triggered fear, confusion and chaos in Allen County – not to mention looming questions about the economy.

We break down what's happening locally (so far) – and what's needed – with Raquel Kline, Director of Language Services Network (LSN).

First, we’ve heard mixed messaging on who exactly President Trump’s reforms are intended to affect: all immigrants and refugees, or only those who are undocumented. How have you understood the new administration’s rhetoric and policies thus far?

RK: It is my understanding that the focus is primarily on undocumented individuals who have an arrest order or have committed crimes, with ICE targeting them rather than randomly stopping people. However, there's fear that people of color or those with accents could be unfairly singled out for questioning, while white immigrants or those who speak English fluently might not face the same scrutiny. Ultimately, enforcement could vary depending on individual ICE agents' actions, leaving uncertainty about how the law will be applied. I would pray that the worst doesn’t happen. But these days, you just don’t know.

What could be helpful to immigrants and refugees trying to navigate the uncertainty of the Trump administration?

RK: I think the part that is most frustrating right now is that multiple changes are happening all at once; it's unclear how these plans will be implemented or modified, causing confusion and anxiety. The spread of misinformation online adds to this, leaving immigrants, refugees, and even citizens unsure about their status or the status of their immigration applications. The situation is causing widespread frustration for those directly affected and the organizations supporting them. 

Many people are trying to find ways to stay up-to-date on resources that are reliable, but even that can be complicated. Recently, the Editor of El Mexicano Newspaper, Fernando Zapari, went on Facebook live to remind Hispanic and Latino residents specifically to not to believe everything they’re seeing on social media and to check information with a reliable source before acting on it. Because there have been instances where immigrants might see something online and then aren’t showing up to work or meetings as a result.

El Mexicano is a good example of a reliable source of information for immigrants and refugees. What other sources do you recommend as reliable?

RK: The ACLU is one resource. For many years, they have been providing information regarding ICE. There is also a resource by the Immigration Legal Resource Center called Red Cards that can help all people (immigrant or not) know what to do (and not do) if they encounter ICE. The National Immigration Law Center also recently shared a resource on some of President Trump’s changes so far. The National Immigration Forum is a great resource on policies.

Have you noticed any changes so far in LSN’s programming or attendance since Trump was elected president last fall?

RK: The new administration has had a noticeable impact on direct services, particularly for adult ESL students. In December, many students stopped attending classes out of fear that attending might result in them or their families being targeted due to the new president-elect. When we reached out, students expressed concern that something bad could happen to them. Despite reassurances that the classes were a safe space, fear and anxiety remain a significant issue.

The demand for translation and interpretation services has risen, doubling the number of people seeking document translations. Many individuals are navigating the complex process of adjusting their immigration status, which varies from person to person. For example, a family from Haiti recently came to Fort Wayne through the humanitarian parole program and is now applying for asylum, requiring the translation of around 10 documents (passports, birth and marriage certificates, and driver’s licenses, etc.) from French to English and assistance gathering other necessary paperwork. The rapidly changing immigration process makes it uncertain what will happen, but the office continues to encourage people to stay on top of updating their paperwork to be prepared for whatever comes next.

You’ve previously said Fort Wayne needs a Language Access Plan, similar to what’s available in Philadelphia, PA or Minneapolis, MN. What’s happening with that these days?

RK: In 2015, I developed the first Language Access Plan for Fort Wayne when LSN was founded. While LSN is often recognized for our ESL classes and translation services, the Language Access Plan has been a personal passion for me. This year marks 10 years of advocating for the Language Access Plan to become a citywide initiative. The goal is to improve clarity and efficiency in services for immigrants and refugees across the city.

So far, the city has taken baby steps toward developing an official Language Access Plan. That said, the city has improved on tapping into our interpretation services at public meetings. Specifically, within the last month, city leaders have requested interpreters in Burmese and Spanish to attend public input sessions they’ve hosted about projects being conducted on Bluffton Road Bridge and the Leesburg Road Extension. It used to be that the city would only have a sign language interpreter on hand for public meetings. Now, they have Burmese and Spanish interpreters, too, and I think that shows their commitment to being more welcoming and wanting to hear from more diverse voices.

Hopefully, as residents become more aware that interpreters are available at these meetings, they’ll feel more welcome to participate. From what we’ve experienced at LSN, many immigrants and refugees would like to be more involved in the community, so we’re letting them know these resources are available. We have also been helping the city translate more information on its Engage Fort Wayne website into multiple languages to help residents stay informed of local projects and public meetings. 

Based on what you’re seeing, what else could be helpful to immigrants and refugees concerned or confused about Trump’s rhetoric and policies?

RK: As an immigrant, I believe it would be helpful to have a central place in our city where people can go to get accurate, up-to-date information on immigration issues. Immigrants, especially those who are undocumented, are seeking trustworthy advice and workshops. One successful example was an event hosted at Amistad Church before President Trump took office, aimed at educating immigrants about their rights and how to handle encounters with ICE. While many people share information on social media, it is important to rely on verified sources to avoid spreading misinformation or fear. Local organizations working with immigrants are sharing helpful, accurate information, and verifying sources will be crucial moving forward.

So far, we’ve seen public statements regarding immigrant and refugees from Mayor Sharon Tucker and Fort Wayne Community Schools. At The Local, we also reached out to Downtown Fort Wayne, Greater Fort Wayne Inc. and Amani Family Services, and we've heard back from GFW Inc. and Downtown. Tell. us about the importance of the public statements you’ve seen so far?

RK: I think the statements from the mayor and Fort Wayne Community Schools show that schools and organizations are committed to protecting families. The fear that families have right now is real. A lot of children are worried about what’s going to happen to their parents. I think it will ease the stress families are already feeling to know that their school is on their side. Sometimes, with all of the national rhetoric, people forget the humanity of others.

Along with fear and family matters, the economy and growth are also at stake, according to the New Americans report. Tell us about the role immigrants and refugees play in the local economy?

RK: If it wasn’t for immigrant and refugee labor and for businesses that employ immigrants and refugees, I don’t think our economy would be doing nearly as well locally and nationally. From personal accounts and people coming to the office at LSN, a lot of people have come to Fort Wayne through the parole program, especially Venezuela, Haiti and Nicaragua who are the people working at our big, regional factories and doing the heavy-lifting or the higher risk jobs that employers have a hard time finding people to do. At LSN, we know because many of these companies have worked with us to ensure that their workers are well-trained and have a safe workplace, which speaks to how they care for their employees. But just knowing how many local businesses and industries rely on immigrant and refugee labor puts the value of a being a “welcoming community” and a “welcoming country” into perspective.

Read statements about immigrant and refugee support from Greater Fort Wayne Inc. and Downtown Fort Wayne here.