“Stand up if you believe that me sharing my story…is committing a crime,” Lawyer and activist Yader Morazán said to the audience, highlighting the irony in viewing human rights advocacy as a threat and acknowledging the increasing criminalization of human rights activism.
“Know Your Neighbor: Immigration 101” was hosted at Evansville Vanderburgh Public Library Central on Thursday, Aug. 21. The event focused on educating the public on the inner workings of the U.S. immigration system, the changes occurring under the second Trump administration and the experiences of new Americans. Immigration lawyers, local activists and immigrants addressed the room, all bringing a unique perspective to the table.
BRIDGE, the League of Women Voters, the Immigrant Welcome & Resource Center, Centro Latino Americano and the Haitian Center of Evansville co-sponsored the event.
Morazán, one of the 94 Nicaraguans denationalized in February of 2023 under the Ortega-Murillo dictatorship, continues his activism efforts despite the risk of deportation due to his immigration status as an asylum applicant.
“I never thought that it would be criminalized to share your story,” said Morazán, “but the same kind of fear I had living in Nicaragua as a judge defending human rights is the kind of fear that I’m starting to feel here in exile, as I am watching how we are now criminalizing talking about individual rights, constitutionality and democracy.”
A second-generation European immigrant, Laith Koleilat experienced the challenges of being seen as an outsider, witnessing the complex and restrictive nature of a system without any significant reform since the Reagan administration.
“At best, I would never be truly considered American, maybe a very well-valued guest,” he said.
Immigration is a topic of discussion amidst expansions of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, increased detentions and a surge in deportations under the Trump administration. With many voices contributing to the conversation, it can be difficult to differentiate between rhetoric and fact.
Immigration attorneys David Guerrettaz and John Langmaid, from Ziemer, Stayman, Weitzel & Shoulders, LLP, provided an overview of the United States immigration framework and emphasized the importance of humanizing immigration, knowing your status, rights and speaking on behalf of others.