The immigrant community in Mississippi has suffered greatly in the past several months. Last August’s massive immigration raid left hundreds without work, and now the coronavirus pandemic compounds those losses. With heavy hearts, we share that at least three immigrant workers have died as a result of COVID-19 in the cities of Forest, MS, and … Continue reading MIRA Supports Immigrants as COVID-19 Wreaks Havoc
Community and Political Impact of the Raids
The raids have been covered extensively in local, national and international media. These are a few of the most compelling stories we’ve seen. Community: Loss and Devastation I need my Mom and Dad: Children cautiously march in Canton after ICE raids ICE Raid Separates 4-month-old baby from breastfeeding mom ‘The store depends on them’: What … Continue reading Community and Political Impact of the Raids
Update: MIRA Legal Project Work During Raid Aftermath
MIRA Legal Project Director Attorney Patricia Ice is providing support to raid victims in a variety of ways. She is part of a legal coalition led by attorney Amelia McGowan, of the Mississippi Center for Justice, Cliff Johnson from the MacArthur Justice Center at the University of Mississippi Law School, and Mary Townsend from El Pueblo. … Continue reading Update: MIRA Legal Project Work During Raid Aftermath
Financial Aid for Raid Victims’ Families
MIRA thanks all of you for your continuous support in this crisis. For more photos and a Spanish-language update on MIRA’s work during the raids and throughout 2019, please visit this post created by MIRA Organizer Luis Espinoza. Immediately following the August 7th immigration raids, MIRA mobilized to provide relief. Just as we did after the 2008 Howard Industries … Continue reading Financial Aid for Raid Victims’ Families
Relief work continues in hurting immigrant communities
The immigration raids did lasting damage to vibrant communities in Mississippi, including Canton, Forest, Morton, Pelahatchie, Carthage, and Laurel / Bay Springs (which was the site of a similar raid in 2008). Hundreds of families and children are traumatized, hundreds of people are in detention, and hundreds face complex legal battles. Beyond the local impact, … Continue reading Relief work continues in hurting immigrant communities
The worst ICE raid in our history
To say that this is an emergency of unprecedented proportions would be putting it lightly. Last Wednesday, August 7th, about 600 Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Homeland Security Officers descended on Mississippi to carry out the largest single-state immigration raid in our country’s history. They swept up 680 immigrants at 7 food processing plants … Continue reading The worst ICE raid in our history