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PHOTOS: Mississippi ICE Raid Arrests Hundreds of Parents, Leave Children Stranded at School

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Yesterday,  ICE conducted a massive worksite raid at seven locations in six cities in Mississippi, leading to the arrest of 680 immigrants and the largest single-state worksite enforcement action in our nation’s history.

During the raids, family members and supporters surrounded the buses that had been organized to take workers away, shouting “let them go!” At least one U.S. citizen was tased and handcuffed before ICE acknowledged that he had papers.

Hundreds of those arrested were parents who had just dropped their children off for the first day of school. Many children were left stranded at school without anyone to pick them up, while others were found on the street and had to be taken by strangers to a local gym that was offering shelter for the night. ICE is supposed to make plans to “reduce” harm to children in raids like this one, but it appears that they did not do so.

Below are some of the images from the aftermath of the raid, as well as important tweets.

Massive ICE raids that take away parents, make communities afraid, and empty out neighborhoods can have consequences for years to come.  Children who are separated from their families often suffer mental health consequences and show signs of anxiety, withdrawal, and PTSD. The Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition, which saw a large-scale ICE raid last April, put out a guide to how responders can best assist their communities. And, if you see ICE, know your rights.