Casa San Jose makes policy changes due to rise in ICE activity

For years, Casa San Jose has worked with the Hispanic/Latino community in Pittsburgh. The organization is now adapting its operations policy in response to increased activity by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.”We’re not going to stop our advocacy work. There’s no way that’s what this administration wants us to do. And we’re not going to,” said Monica Ruiz, executive director of Casa San Jose.Ruiz emphasized that the organization has observed a significant rise in ICE activity, saying, “You know, we would probably get maybe like 10 to 15 calls a week, and we got like 10 to 15 calls in a day.”She described the fear that has gripped the community, saying, “They’re scared to death. They are scared to death. They’re afraid to leave their homes. They’re afraid to send their children to school. They’re afraid to go to the doctor. They’re afraid to go to the surgeries they have scheduled. They’re afraid to do anything. Go to the grocery store, go to church.”In response to the increased activity and recent events in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Casa San Jose transitioned to virtual services and is implementing several policy changes to ensure the organization’s employees and the people they serve are safe.”But we do have to rethink the way that we provide direct services to people, because we don’t want them to be in danger. We don’t want them to be in the spotlight,” Ruiz said. “We thought, you know, hey, you know, we have cameras and we have different security measures that we take. But that’s not enough. It’s not enough. Because at this point, you know, a lot of these agents are just doing whatever they want, however they want to. Whoever they want.”Despite the challenges, Ruiz remains hopeful that the measures taken at their new facility will be effective, and said they will not stop serving the community “And it is really unfortunate that it’s the helpers who are the ones being targeted, and all we’re trying to do is help people,” Ruiz said.Ruiz said they hope to officially move into their new facility later this year.

PITTSBURGH —

For years, Casa San Jose has worked with the Hispanic/Latino community in Pittsburgh. The organization is now adapting its operations policy in response to increased activity by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

“We’re not going to stop our advocacy work. There’s no way that’s what this administration wants us to do. And we’re not going to,” said Monica Ruiz, executive director of Casa San Jose.

Ruiz emphasized that the organization has observed a significant rise in ICE activity, saying, “You know, we would probably get maybe like 10 to 15 calls a week, and we got like 10 to 15 calls in a day.”

She described the fear that has gripped the community, saying, “They’re scared to death. They are scared to death. They’re afraid to leave their homes. They’re afraid to send their children to school. They’re afraid to go to the doctor. They’re afraid to go to the surgeries they have scheduled. They’re afraid to do anything. Go to the grocery store, go to church.”

In response to the increased activity and recent events in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Casa San Jose transitioned to virtual services and is implementing several policy changes to ensure the organization’s employees and the people they serve are safe.

“But we do have to rethink the way that we provide direct services to people, because we don’t want them to be in danger. We don’t want them to be in the spotlight,” Ruiz said. “We thought, you know, hey, you know, we have cameras and we have different security measures that we take. But that’s not enough. It’s not enough. Because at this point, you know, a lot of these agents are just doing whatever they want, however they want to. Whoever they want.”

Despite the challenges, Ruiz remains hopeful that the measures taken at their new facility will be effective, and said they will not stop serving the community

“And it is really unfortunate that it’s the helpers who are the ones being targeted, and all we’re trying to do is help people,” Ruiz said.

Ruiz said they hope to officially move into their new facility later this year.