Senators weigh in on 2nd day of federal crackdown
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In light of the recent announcements by President Donald Trump regarding more restrictive immigration policies, Venezuelan lawyer and immigration adviser Maritza Varón has called for calm and urged immigrants in Puerto Rico to seek guidance on the legal alternatives available to regularize their status.
“There are lesser-known but viable legal options for those who wish to establish themselves and build a life in Puerto Rico or other U.S. territories,” Varón said Monday in a written statement. “It is important for immigrants to know their rights and to refrain from signing any documents without a lawyer present, particularly if they are confronted by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
On Sunday, more than 12 individuals were taken into custody as part of an ICE sweep of illegal migrants in San Juan’s Barrio Obrero.
According to reports that had not been confirmed as of press time, sweeps were taking place Monday in the small San Juan barrio Buen Consejo, and in Carolina.
The new measures decreed by Trump include the militarization of the southern border, restrictions on asylum seekers, and the acceleration of deportation processes. However, Varón emphasized that Puerto Rico, as a U.S. territory, is subject to federal immigration laws, which offer options such as temporary visas, permanent residency, humanitarian programs, family reunification and Temporary Protected Status (TPS).
“The immigrant community in Puerto Rico is diverse, with individuals from countries such as Colombia, Haiti, Cuba, Venezuela, Mexico and Argentina,” she said. “It is crucial to foster a migration culture that enables these communities to inform themselves and adapt to political and legal changes.”
Varón, along with other lawyers, has organized talks to educate immigrants about their rights and the available procedures. “Information is power and helps communities reflect, engage in dialogue, and make informed decisions,” she said. “Although changes can generate fear, there are legal resources that can provide stability and protection.”
The lawyer underscored the importance of staying informed and seeking reliable advice in order to navigate the evolving landscape of immigration policies.
The American Civil Liberties Union of Puerto Rico (ACLU-PR), meanwhile, along with a broad coalition of community and human rights organizations, plans to announce later this week a series of urgent measures to support and protect island communities that are being impacted by the federal immigration crackdown. A press conference to that end is scheduled for Thursday morning, the ACLU-PR said.
Also on Monday, Puerto Rican Independence Party (PIP) Sen. Adrián González Costa repudiated the fact that Trump in the orders stated that the illegal entry of immigrants to the United States will be considered an invasion.
“To defend the citizenry from the invasion, churches are not even allowed to provide services such as giving water and shelter to immigrants …” González Costa said. “That is not our culture. That is not Puerto Rico and how we treat people moving to Puerto Rico, where we have received people from Cuba, Haiti and the Dominican Republic.”
He urged the island Senate to approve a resolution rejecting Trump’s policies, specifically the ban on churches serving as sanctuaries. He noted that the Education Department and the Municipality of San Juan have already established services for migrants.
He said Puerto Rico has always been friendly to migrants, including undocumented migrants, because “they pay sales and use tax, go to schools and hit holes in the street like us.”
Others in the upper chamber also weighed in on the issue Monday.
Senate President Thomas Rivera Schatz said that the laws must be followed.
“Of course, no one in Puerto Rico agrees with anyone being mistreated, let alone an immigrant,” the veteran New Progressive Party senator said. “We do not believe in violating anyone’s human rights, much less violating their dignity. Under no circumstances, in no way.”
Majority leader Gregorio Matías, who is Dominican, said “What surprised many of us is the way it [the immigration crackdown] is happening.”
“Sometimes they see me fighting hard [for Puerto Rico] to be a state, to honor my American citizenship,” he said. “Because I come from the Dominican Republic, where my brothers get on a boat looking for a better future, looking to move forward. There are hundreds of my brothers who have died in the water. But each one of them comes to look for what we have on this island … because it is part of the United States of America.”
Sen. Ada Álvarez Conde of the Popular Democratic Party said that she has always supported the Dominican community.
“There are no illegal people,” she said. “There are undocumented people. And we all know that in the last few hours there have been situations that have directly affected the residents of San Juan, but that obviously affect many immigrants in Puerto Rico and obviously also in the United States, from what we are seeing.”
