Washington, D.C. – A horrifying video has surfaced showing the real-time ICE abduction of a mom in Massachusetts who was with her teen daughter and newborn baby. The video shows dozens of agents forcibly grabbing this mother as she pleads to be let go while community members and allies are seen shouting at ICE to stop.
This violence is part of escalating attacks against the immigrant communities, families, and parents who power our country. Recently, three U.S. citizen children –including one with Stage 4 cancer– were deported and abducted from their homes alongside their mothers. A Maryland father, Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia, was kidnapped and remains in a mass concentration camp in El Salvador despite court orders to have him returned to his home and family. Jeanette Vizguerra, an activist and mother, was abducted from her community and remains in a detention camp in Colorado. These are just some of the many cruelties ICE is unleashing against our families.
In response to these alarming cases, organizations representing immigrants and moms across the country are speaking out and have released the following statements. Please note that names have been concealed to ensure individuals’ safety.
Mom of 3 year-old from United We Dream:
“Seeing the video of this mother being abducted and hearing her screams shattered me. As moms, our priority is always to care and protect our children. We power our families and communities every single day. ICE’s attacks against parents and families should outrage us all. As we speak, it’s our taxpayer dollars that are being used to keep private detention camps running and sign the checks of ICE agents who are kidnapping parents off the streets and tearing apart families. These are crucial taxpayer dollars that could instead be going to education, childcare and healthcare for all of us. This Mother’s Day, ICE’s actions are a reminder that mothers and children deserve better.”
Mom of a 16, 14 and 11 year old from MomsRising:
“The incident in Worcester, Massachusetts yesterday, when ICE agents arrested an immigrant mom carrying her baby and terrorized and then charged her frightened teenage daughter, is a horrific example of human rights abuses, which are happening on a massive scale. It becomes clearer every day that a campaign of mass human rights abuses is happening, and the public is outraged. America’s moms recognize immigrants as our neighbors and coworkers who strengthen our communities and power our economy, and we demand that our government treat every immigrant with compassion, dignity, due process, and respect.”
Mom of a 5 years and 20 months old from Solidarity Initiative:
“Seeing the separation of a mother from her daughter in Worcester, Massachusetts was heart-breaking. This inhumane action demonstrates how far these agents are willing to go to realize the demands of the regime. As we head toward Mother’s day weekend, we call for mothers across the country to stand in solidarity with immigrant communities and immigrant moms who power our communities and are being ruthlessly targeted. The outpour of support from allies in this video who showed up to this mother’s side was inspiring. This is the kind of response we need to see more of from allies willing to take action when they see their members of their communities being attacked. We must fight back. We must fight for the preservation of all families.”
