In this raw and deeply personal conversation, Claire and Laurie discuss the recent spike in ICE violence—including the high-profile murders of U.S. citizens—and how these events can trigger ancestral and personal trauma for the adoptee community. We are NOT staying small and quiet, we are fighting back!
Here are 5 ways to empower yourself and fight back against inhumane acts of violence and racial profiling by federal agents in your communities:
1. Economic Resistance: The Boycott
2. Legislative Action: Calling Your Representatives
Direct pressure on senators and representatives is essential to stop the funding of mass detention and profiling.
- Who to Call: Find your local officials at commoncause.org.
- What to Say (Script):
"My name is [Name], and I am a resident of [City/State]. I am calling to demand that Senator/Representative [Name] vote to defund ICE's mass detention expansion and support the Adoptee Citizenship Act. I am deeply concerned by the recent reports of U.S. citizens being racially profiled and murdered by federal agents. We need an end to 'absolute immunity' for federal officers and a restoration of our 4th Amendment rights. Our tax dollars should fund community care, not concentration camps."
3. Support the Frontlines: Where to Donate
- Adoptees for Justice (A4J): Specifically supports the legislative fight for adoptee rights. adopteesforjustice.org
- National Bail Fund Network: Provides immediate release for those caught in the detention system. communityjusticeexchange.org
- The ACLU: Leading the legal battles against the 2025/2026 administrative shifts in profiling laws. aclu.org
- BAJI (Black Alliance for Just Immigration): Direct support and advocacy at the intersection of Black and immigrant rights. baji.org
4. Community Defense: Prepare Your City
Building a "Community Defense" plan is a radical act of love and safety.
- Establish a Rapid Response Network: Use encrypted apps (like Signal) to create a neighborhood alert system. If ICE is spotted, the community can be notified instantly to film, provide legal support, or offer sanctuary.
- Know Your Local "Safe Havens": Identify restaurants, churches, or community centers that are committed to opening their doors during raids.
- Host "Know Your Rights" Workshops: Partner with local legal aid to teach your neighbors their constitutional rights.
5. Know Your Rights (Constitutional Literacy)
Informed citizens are harder to oppress. Here are some legal reminders:
- The 4th Amendment: You have the right to be free from "unreasonable searches and seizures." You do not have to open your door to ICE unless they have a judicial warrant signed by a judge (not just an administrative warrant signed by an ICE official).
- The 5th Amendment: You have the right to remain silent. If stopped, you can say: "I am exercising my right to remain silent and I would like to speak to an attorney."
- The Right to Record: You have the right to film federal agents in public spaces a
We would love to connect with you and hear from you! Please send us a text and share your story 💜
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laurie@theempoweredadoptee.com
claire@theempoweredadoptee.com
