Current immigration enforcement calls for coordinated response and preparedness for workplace and community safety. An upcoming attorney-informed workshop focuses on lawful support both on and off the job for all workers regardless of immigration status.
The workshop — Real Talk Roundtable: Worker Rights and Safety During Immigration Enforcement — will be 1 to 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 18, in person at the ‘Ulu‘ulu film screening room at the James & Abigail Campbell Library, or via Zoom.
The event is presented by the Center for Labor Education and Research (CLEAR) at the University of Hawai‘i–West O‘ahu, Hawai‘i Workers Center, and ACLU Hawai‘i.
“Many communities in Hawai‘i are experiencing immense stress from current administrative policies,” said CLEAR event organizers. “We need to raise awareness on this because immigrants make up Hawai‘i’s working class, supporting all business and industry operations.”
They continued, “Many migrants work as caregivers, teachers, janitors, hotel staff, food service providers, and retail workers. They are our families, friends, neighbors, patients, and clients. Within the university, we are workers, or future workers preparing to enter the work force. It is important for us to gain lawful understanding of this situation in order to figure out how to prepare ourselves and help each other if something happens.”
At the workshop, participants will:
- Receive Know Your Rights resources;
- Work through scenarios and practice action steps to take in the event of a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) encounter;
- Build community-based support networks to stand in solidarity with community members who are at the highest risk
“ICE activities in our communities affect the morale and trust of everyone in the community, and our economic capacity,” event organizers said. “U.S. citizens have been harmed when standing up for their immigrant neighbors and families. It is not right to stand silent as parts of our community and workforce are being picked off one by one. This issue is about all of our constitutional rights.”
The event is open to UH West O‘ahu students, faculty, and staff, and the general public. Register to attend (in person or via Zoom): https://go.hawaii.edu/QxD. For more information, call 808-689-2760 or email clear@hawaii.edu.
