February 11, 2025: Migrant Deportation

On 1/20/25, President Trump issued an executive order to identify, detain and deport all individuals in the USA without legal status.   Raids by the Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency began throughout the country, including in Savannah.  Laws at the federal and state level require local and state police to identify, arrest and detain undocumented persons and notify federal authorities.  

On this episode of Voices of Reason, hosts Two Westbrook and Barbara Humphrey and guest Vicki Weeks talked about these raids and the community response, including a rally and march from Forsyth Park to City Hall on Saturday, February 8 in protest of this order, as well as others regarding birthright, suspension of the refugee admission program and deployment of active duty military to the southern border.  

The Migrant Equity Southeast Agency (MESE) is holding meetings to raise awareness and train a Rapid Response Teams to observe and document ICE raids and provide humanitarian and other aid to affected families.  

We will continue this conversation next week and focus on the impact of detainment and deportation on the Savannah community.