Plainfield Residents Meet to Build Immigration Support Network

More than a dozen residents gathered at a North Plainfield church on Sunday, October 11, to discuss how to respond to immigration enforcement and build a community support network. The meeting came one day after intensive ICE enforcement activity in the Plainfield area. Union County Life is reporting on the community organizing effort and resources being developed for local residents.

Heavy downpours on Sunday likely reduced attendance, organizers said. Attendees included residents of Plainfield and the surrounding area, as well as Carmen Salavarrieta of Angels for Action in Plainfield. The presentation and discussion were led by Carlos Castañeda of Movimiento Cosecha, a national immigrant rights organization.

The meeting was conducted primarily in Spanish and focused on building awareness and preparing community members for potential immigration enforcement encounters.

“Today I was afraid to come here,” one Plainfield resident said during introductions. Castañeda responded directly to the expressed fear. “It is valid to feel afraid, right? Yes, it is valid,” he said. “The fear here is collective, but the response and the solution also have to be collective, because the attack is not against just one person; it is against our whole community.”

Castañeda framed the meeting as a conversation, intending to hear from residents about their experiences with arrests and family separations. He began with historical context, discussing ICE’s origins in the post-9/11 era. The presentation then covered the structure of ICE, residents’ rights during encounters with immigration agents, how to find attorneys, and ways to connect with other resources.

Participants discussed practical preparation: developing emergency plans, setting aside money, and establishing communication channels to coordinate community support when enforcement actions occur.

The discussion also highlighted the role of rapid responders, community members who investigate reports of suspected ICE activity and document arrests through photos and video. These volunteers alert residents to avoid affected areas. Castañeda explained that rapid responders aim to document arrests rather than physically intervene, but said their presence can occupy agents’ time and potentially reduce the number of people arrested during an operation.

Salavarrieta discussed helping families prepare for possible detention, which includes identifying trusted caregivers for children and arranging powers of attorney. She also spoke about efforts to distribute information to local businesses and encourage them to prepare for immigration enforcement at their workplaces.

“I think we’re doing some work, a little,” Salavarrieta said about the organizing efforts so far. “We have much more ground to cover, but little by little, we’re getting there.”

Before leaving, attendees were invited to join a WhatsApp group to stay in contact with each other and with the broader movement, and to organize future meetings.

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Q: What was the purpose of Sunday’s community meeting?
A: The meeting was organized to discuss how residents can respond to immigration enforcement and build a community support network. It provided information on rights, resources, and strategies for community protection.

Q: Who organized the meeting?
A: The meeting was led by Carlos Castañeda of Movimiento Cosecha, with support from Carmen Salavarrieta of Angels for Action in Plainfield.

Q: What topics were discussed?
A: The presentation covered ICE’s structure and history, residents’ rights during immigration enforcement encounters, how to find attorneys, emergency planning, setting aside money for legal fees, and ways to establish community communication networks.

Q: What are rapid responders?
A: Rapid responders are community volunteers who investigate reports of suspected ICE activity and document arrests through photos and video. They alert residents to avoid affected areas and aim to occupy agents’ time to potentially reduce arrests during operations.

Q: How can families prepare for possible detention?
A: The presentation discussed identifying trusted caregivers for children, arranging powers of attorney, and preparing emergency plans. Resources are available through the organizing groups.

Q: How can residents stay involved?
A: Attendees were invited to join a WhatsApp group to stay in contact with each other and with the broader movement, and to organize future meetings and coordinated actions.

Q: Are there resources available to business owners?
A: Yes, organizers are distributing information to local businesses to help them prepare for immigration enforcement at their workplaces.