“No Witnesses”: The Cruelty Is the Point — And We Must Act

As the national conversation swerves toward sensational headlines and election-year spectacle, the lives of immigrants—families, workers, asylum seekers—are being quietly and brutally reshaped by a growing architecture of cruelty.

This past week alone, a flood of terrifying developments made it clear: The Trump camp isn’t waiting for November to escalate its war on immigrant communities. They’re testing the waters now—and Virginia is not immune.

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💥 This Is What We’re Up Against

JULY 21
Trump’s former border chief publicly vowed to “flood” sanctuary cities with ICE agents—weaponizing tragedy after an off-duty officer was allegedly shot in NYC by an undocumented man. The language is deliberate. The strategy is familiar: paint immigrant communities as dangerous, and justify mass sweeps, raids, and detentions.
➜ [Read more – The Guardian]
➜ [Read more – CBS News]

JULY 21
A federal appeals court ruled in favor of ending deportation protections for over 10,000 people from Afghanistan and Cameroon, stripping humanitarian protections from people already displaced by war, terror, and U.S. foreign policy.
➜ [Read more – CBS News]
➜ [Read more – The Hill]
➜ Take Action: [Tell Congress to support the Family Unification Act]

JULY 20
A group of lawful Filipino cruise ship workers with valid visas were handcuffed and deported under false pretenses. CBP officers allegedly accused them of crimes with no evidence—and denied them due process.
➜ [Read more – 10 WAVY]

JULY 20
The Trump team is gutting protections for women seeking asylum from gender-based violence—making it nearly impossible to gain safety in the U.S. even when rape, forced marriage, and assault are well-documented threats.
➜ [Read more – Mother Jones]
➜ [Women’s Refugee Commission Report]

JULY 20
An 82-year-old man, a torture survivor granted asylum decades ago, was secretly deported after simply trying to replace a lost green card.
➜ [Read more – The Guardian]
➜ [Read more – America’s Migration Brief]

JULY 17
ICE agents are now harassing courthouse volunteers who show up to help immigrants navigate the legal system. The goal? Silence witnesses. Shut down oversight.
➜ [Read more – Mother Jones]

JULY 14
The American people are not asking for this. A new Gallup poll found 62% disapprove of Trump’s immigration policies. And 79% say immigration is good for the country.
➜ [Read more – Gallup]

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👣 What You Can Do Right Now

In Virginia and beyond, grassroots organizations are fighting back. They need us to stay informed and get involved. Here's how:

✅ Volunteer with VACIR (VA Coalition for Immigrant Rights)
Help build statewide networks of support, court observers, legal clinics, and more.
👉 [Sign up here]

✅ Volunteer with New Virginia Majority
Their Solidarity Committee connects citizens with immigrant communities in need.
👉 [Sign up here]

✅ Volunteer with ACLU of Virginia
Serve as a court watcher, attorney, or local advocate.
📧 Email: acluva@acluva.org

✅ Call Congress

• Demand the shutdown of “Alligator Alcatraz,” a horrific private immigrant detention facility.

• Urge support for the Family Unification Act.

• Push back against Governor Youngkin’s cruel policies toward immigrants in Virginia.

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The Fight for Dignity

This moment demands more than sadness or outrage—it demands presence. The cruelty we’re witnessing isn’t accidental. It’s strategic. It's meant to terrify, isolate, and overwhelm.

But we can counter it. With solidarity. With facts. With action.
If you’re not sure where to start—start here. And start today.

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