Undocumented immigrants living in Trenton and their supporters should celebrate winter storm Fern. The wall of snow, ice, sleet, rain, and freezing temperatures in late January offered a respite of sorts as inclement weather slowed Immigration and Law Enforcement (ICE) agents efforts here. The most recent days immigrants had less worry about being stopped on Trenton streets, taken down with their faces pressed against sidewalks, handcuffed, and thrown into the back seats of government vehicles. Chambersburg, home to many immigrants, received an abundance of ass kickings as videos play on social media sites. Sightings of ICE agents or bounty hunters cause agitation and fear as the designation of being a sanctuary city ramps ICE initiatives in Trenton as masked men and women stop cars and pedestrians. A cottage industry has developed as persons with papers will do grocery shopping ($20) for undocumented persons afraid of being swept up by ICE agents as they leave Food Bazaar or any Compare Supermarkets. “I hear that (ICE) is around,” said a person inside Italian People’s Bakery. A recent arrest occurred near the corner of Hudson and Butler streets. ICE being around lists as the year’s understatement as Trenton, a sanctuary city, registers on the hit-list because it shelters an alleged 10,000 undocumented residents. While phone calls, text messages, and hastily uploaded videos alert that ICE lurks on Hamilton Ave., Anderson St., or cruises South Clinton Ave., whatever operation in play wraps up quickly. “They get the person on the ground. Handcuff him. Then put him in the back of a vehicle. It’s pretty fast,” an observer offered. The rapid actions leave no opportunity for resistance. In fact, numerous Trenton community activists have no significant idea regarding how to push back against ICE invaders. Thoughts of building a grass roots pushback have not materialized into real action. In Minneapolis, protests are primarily around the Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building. In Trenton, Clarkson S. Fisher Federal Building could attract similar rallies although without an organized and dedicated effort, ICE will continue to take people off capital city streets. A positive pushback against ICE initiatives involves Resistencia en Acción New Jersey (REA NJ), is a grassroots, volunteer-led organization founded in 2009 at the first International Workers’ Rights Day protest in Hightstown. Resistencia en Acción New Jersey missions to advance and protect the rights of immigrants and working-class communities in New Jersey. The organization considers its more urgent because migrants are being criminalized with the collaboration between local police and immigration. Incredibly, Trenton officials say almost nothing regarding about the legal aspects of these human heists nor do they address the fear that envelops residents in Trenton’s South and East Ward, heavily populated by Hispanics. Plus, once pressed into backseats of vehicles, no information exists about the destination of numerous apprehended individuals. Many arrestees end up at Elizabeth Detention Center while others simply disappear, leaving loved ones clueless about their whereabouts. Understand that while alleged patriotism drives anti-immigration initiatives, an obscene amount of money impacts action. The “One Big Beautiful Act” passed by Congress in July allocated a record $170 billion to immigration enforcement agencies. ICE received $75 billion over four years to ramp up efforts to catch, detain, and deport undocumented residents. Of the $75 billion allocated to ICE, more than half, approximately $40 million is dedicated to establishing private detention centers. With immigration becoming big business and with winter leaving, expect more appearances by ICE and more arrests on Trenton streets. L.A. Parker is a Trentonian columnist. Find him on Twitter @LAParker6 or email him at [email protected]. ...read more read less