Translated by Francesca Valsecchi
In the United States of America, the theme of migration continues to be central in the public and institutional debate, with relevant consequences on the fabric of society and on the relationship between federal authorities and local communities. In this context operates the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), a federal agency which is part of the Department of Homeland Security, which is in charge of the implementation of migration laws, of the investigation on national security and transnational criminality, of the arrest, detention, and in cases provided for, of the expulsion of people irregularly living in the territory of the United States. Founded in 2003, the ICE operates mainly internally, differentiating itself from border control agencies.
The present-day American society is facing increasing tensions associated with migration control policies. On the one hand, there is a strong mobilisation of civil organisations, local institutions and groups for the safeguard of migrants rights; on the other hand, there is an intensification of federal enforcement efforts. ICE operations, often taking place in urban areas far from national borders, influence directly the daily life of many communities and are subject to criticism for their impact on people without criminal records or involved in ongoing administrative procedures.
In the last months, the role of ICE has been at the centre of an intense media attention, after a series of events which took place in specific metropolitan areas, among which Minneapolis and Minnesota.Those operations entailed a significant increase of arrests and caused contrasting reactions from local authorities, which in some cases expressed fear for the deterioration of trust between residents and federal institutions. The modalities in which the interventions were carried out raised questions concerning respect for civil rights and the proportionality of the undertaken actions.
An emblematic episode concerns the detention of a 5-years-old-child and his father during a federal policy operation. According to available sources, the minor aged would have been remanded in custody during an arrest which took place around a school, even if there was already an ongoing asylum request. The subsequent relocation in a detention centre outside the city caused critical reactions among political representatives, school authorities and human rights organisations. Federal authorities declared that the adopted procedures are in accordance with current norms, while critics have interpreted the episode as a sign of an overly rigid and punitive approach.
Overall, ICE's actions are enclosed in a broader frame of migratory policies redefinition and of the concept of internal security in the United States. The public debate reflects a deep polarisation between the need to enforce the law and the necessity to guarantee the protection of fundamental rights. In this frame, the role of the ICE represents a point of friction between federal institutions and civil society, underlying the difficulties of maintaining law and order, social cohesion and respect of human rights in a society characterised by a significant cultural and demographic diversity.
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