Why Black Silence on Immigration Won’t Save Us

July 2, 2025

The article critiques Black Americans who are disengaged from immigration enforcement issues affecting Latino communities. Author Jasmyne A. Cannick warns that citizenship status won't protect Black Americans if the government expands its targeting, drawing parallels to historical criminalization of Black existence.

Who is affected

Black Americans who believe they are insulated from immigration enforcement
Black immigrants who face deportation and detention
Latino communities currently being targeted by ICE
Pan-African activists who selectively engage with issues
Immigrants being detained without warrants

What action is being taken

ICE is conducting raids and detaining immigrants "from their homes, their jobs, their kids' graduations"
Immigration enforcement is operating "without warrants" in what the author describes as "broad daylight kidnappings"
Some Black Americans are actively distancing themselves from immigration issues
The author is raising awareness through this article about the interconnectedness of these struggles

Why it matters

Historical precedent shows that legal status protections can be revoked with policy changes
What happens to immigrants creates a "blueprint" for how authorities might target others
The article argues that solidarity is essential for collective protection
Current enforcement exceeds the original "bad hombres" justification, suggesting scope creep that could eventually include other groups
Ignoring the plight of immigrants contradicts principles of liberation and Pan-Africanism

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: The San Diego Voice & Viewpoint