The Ethnic Studies department at Long Beach City College recently hosted a “Know Your Rights, Right Now!” community roundtable with a focus on Asian Pacific Islander Desi (APID) student needs.
The roundtable gave insight into resources offered to APID students and brought in a panel of APID non-profit workers who answered various questions and provided information for students.
The event had a large turnout of students, with the room at max capacity and many more students outside of the event hoping to hear the presentation.
Ethnic Studies Professor and organizer of the event, Steph Lira, opened the discussion with a land acknowledgement, recognizing the Gabrielino and Tongva people and their connection to the land that LBCC sits on.
Lira brought in three roundtable panelists, each working for various organizations focused on offering APID people support, to answer questions by students.
Before the training, panelists introduced their organizations and highlighted the resources and support they provide to both English and non-English speaking immigrant and APID communities
The panelists were Khmer Girls in Action field coordinator Somalie Chhay, Filipino Migrant Center Executive Director Romeo Hebron, and Asian Americans Advancing Justice Southern California policy advocate Jeff DeGuia.
When asked about the Trump administration and their deportation initiatives, Hebron began to speak on the Filipino-American experience.
“After Trump won, the Filipino ambassador told Filipinos to self-deport,” Hebron said.
Hebron described the advice as fear-mongering, causing unnecessary panic from many undocumented Filipino immigrants, which was made mostly to comply with the incoming Trump administration.
This advice led people to the Filipino Migrant Center where they were able to be informed about their rights, legal options, and the possibility of deportation.
With the increase of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers making advances towards deportation, it has become more important than ever for immigrants to know their rights.
The panelists spoke about how many undocumented people have been missing school and medical appointments out of fear of being approached by ICE.
“The goal is to make sure immigrants with status and without status are safe from ICE,” DeGuia said.
In 2018, Long Beach became a “sanctuary city” for immigrants, which prevents local law enforcement from inquiring about a person’s immigration status or from sharing personal information about them with ICE unless they are suspected of a serious crime.
Even though ICE doesn’t have the cooperation from the city and local law enforcement, it doesn’t stop ICE from carrying out its tasks.
“Don’t open the door, ask the officer for identification, calmly say ‘I don’t want to talk right now.’ Ask them to slip a warrant under the door, make sure it’s signed by a judge, take pictures of the documents they show and most importantly do not lie,” Hebron said.
Hebron also reminded the class to call the Filipino Migrant Center if someone is detained, regardless of race, as they can be reminded of their rights and be helped.
The center also provides cards in different languages that can remind people of their rights and offer resources.
“I recommend never carrying your important personal documents, instead carry a know your rights card,” Lira said.
The event ended in a group call and response chant led by Lira.
When Lira would shout “When immigrant rights are under attack,” the class would respond with “Stand up, fight back.”