ICE Arrives in Hutchinson

By Lizzie Rush
Editor in Chief
IG: Liz.Rush

As of the 2023 U.S Census Report, 2.7% of Reno County population are immigrants. The presidential administration is cracking down on immigration across the country, and Reno County is not an exception.

Ruby Tovar-Contreras, a Hutchinson sophomore and active member of the community said, “Officially there has been only one confirmed instance of ICE detaining individuals in the workplace (Reno County) this year. However, ICE routinely picks up individuals with criminal charges from the jail if they have an administrative warrant.”

As of March, Reno County became one of the Kansas Sheriff’s departments to provide help and aid to ICE.

Tovar-Contreras is an intern for Hutch in Harmony, a non-profit organization that aims to make the community inclusive for people of all backgrounds. They just recently became a founding partner of the Kansas Immigration Coalition.

“A common misconception I believe that many choose to embrace is that immigrants commit crimes. This is not a reality proven by many studies,” Tovar-Contreras said. “As immigration rates climbed since the 1980s, overall crime rates have dropped dramatically. The causation for crime does not correlate with a person’s country of origin. Being an immigrant does not automatically mean you will commit to a life of crime.”

Hutchinson Community College has a procedure in place in the event that ICE agents appear on campus. The policy says, “Hutchinson Community College is committed to fostering a safe and welcoming learning environment for all members of our community, regardless of immigration status. We recognize the authority of federal law enforcement agencies, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), to carry out their duties.”

The core principles of the policy state, “1. Prioritization of Safety and Well-being: The immediate safety and well-being of our students, faculty, and staff is our paramount concern. 2. Respect for Legal Rights: We will uphold the legal rights of all individuals on our campus, including the right to remain silent and the right to legal counsel. 3. Protection of Student Privacy: We are committed to protecting the privacy of student records in accordance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and other applicable laws.”

HutchCC recommends that if a student or staff member comes in contact with an ICE agent, to remain calm, confirm identification of the officer, and not to obstruct.”

The policy also said, “While gathering information, employees and students should not obstruct or interfere with the officer’s lawful activities. Politely inform the agent that the College is represented by legal counsel, and request that the agent wait to meet with a HutchCC designated official.”

The college encourages students and staff members politely and safely to observe, document, and report to higher ups on campus if they see ICE on campus.

“Our community can better advocate for immigrants by simply treating them as human beings. Using harmful language and perpetuating stereotypes inspires fear and anger, not safety and community,” said Tovar-Contreras.

Hutch in Harmony has started a Safe Reno Hotline that can be used by members of the community to report sightings of ICE.

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