LONG BEACH, Calif. – A group wants the Long Beach Office of the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement to be removed.
The cries or protesters could be heard throughout downtown Long Beach. The protest started at Harvey Milk Promenade Park on Saturday, July 6. They marched to the federal building on Ocean Boulevard, which is the site of a Homeland Security Investigation Principal Field Office, part of ICE.
Maribel Cruz participated with her 7-year-old goddaughter.
“I don’t want to be deported to Mexico. I’ve never like been there and I don’t know that country,” said Cruz.
Cruz is undocumented. She came to America with her parents when she was 2 years old. All of her memories are in long Beach.
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Cruz went to Long Beach public schools and California State University Long Beach. She is worried one day she’ll be forced to leave what she considers her hometown.
“The fact that my family or I could end up in those detention facilities is scary and it’s heartbreaking,” said Cruz.
Several organizations coordinated the rally including the Immigrants Rights Coalition and the Long Beach Chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America.
Some of their signs read: “Free the children,” “ICE kidnaps,” and “no ban no wall full citizenship rights for all.”
A spokeswoman for ICE, Lori Haley, sent a statement regarding the rally.
“ICE fully respects the rights of all people to voice their opinion without interference, and consistent with federal law and agency policy, continues to focus its enforcement resources on individuals who pose a threat to national security, public safety and border security,” said Haley.
Cruz has family members who are scared to leave their houses out of fear of deportation. She knows people who have been arrested just this month.
“If people don’t see other people on the border as humans they’re not going to care about their suffering,” said Cruz.
Recently, the City of Long Beach established the Long Beach Justice Fund. The funds can be used to pay legal fees for those facing deportation who also live or work in Long Beach.