By Barbara Slayter

On Saturday morning, April 11, more than 100 Lincoln residents plus a handful of visitors from neighboring communities gathered at Bemis Hall to hear a panel discussion on “Immigration Policy and Our Community: Strengthening Education and Advocacy in the Age of ICE.”

Panelists at “Immigration Policy and Our Community: Strengthening Education and Advocacy in the Age of ICE” on April 11 were well informed, compelling, inspiring, and keenly aware of the cruel and unjust actions ICE is visiting upon both undocumented and documented immigrants, mostly of color, of whom over 70% of those detained have no criminal record.

The event, which drew more than 100 Lincoln residents plus a handful of visitors from neighboring communities to Bemis Hall, was hosted by the Lincoln Democratic Town Committee and co-sponsored by Lincoln Witness, the Social Justice Commission of St. Anne’s-in-the-Field Church, and the Racial Justice Committee of the First Parish in Lincoln.

The five panelists brought us both critical information about the current immigrant crisis as well as inspiring stories of people working together with immigrants locally:

Jeffrey Thielman, president and CEO of the International Institute of New England (IINE), gave a thumbnail sketch of changes in immigration policy since 1918 when IINAE was launched. He characterized the work of IINE as focusing on integration not assimilation in the process of helping settle refugees and immigrants. Thielman descried the situation of the Afghan and Haitian communities whose Temporary Protected Status is now being revoked, and he identified lawsuits that IINE and other agencies are bringing against the federal government.

Jonathan Paz, founder of Fuerza, a volunteer rapid response grassroots organization supporting immigrant families in Waltham, spoke from the heart and from experience about the urgent needs and fears of Waltham’s large immigrant community in the face of masked, armed ICE agents capturing and removing family members on the streets. He described specific incidents of harassment and detainment as immigrants are checking in for court appointments, taking their children to school, or going about other activities of daily life. Fuerza’s voluntary network is key in providing family support and in monitoring ICE activities in Waltham. Paz, a son of Bolivian immigrants, is a former Waltham City Councilor and a candidate for Congress.

Jamie Hinson-Rieger, senior minister of the Unitarian Universalist Church in Bedford and a founder of Bearing Witness New England, a weekly nonviolent standout at the Regional New England Office and Detention Center in Burlington (ICE), reminded us that in New England, over 10,000 immigrants have been taken by ICE, the majority of whom have no criminal record. He described the intentionally cruel and harsh conditions under which detained immigrants continue to be held in Burlington, and he specified, as well, the coercion ICE exercises to force people to self-deport.

Launched by two protesters in April 2025, Bearing Witness now routinely hosts 500-1,000 people at its weekly Wednesday Standout, providing hope for detainees and a clear rebuke for ICE agents and supporters. There are prayers, speeches, music, a reading of the Constitution, and a shared spoken commitment to nonviolence, the Constitution, and our immigrant neighbors. 

A member of a research team reported on the use of Massport’s Hanscom Field to deport immigrants overseas or to prison/immigrant warehouses in other parts of the country. Hanscom Field, spread out on land of Lincoln and Bedford, plays a critical role in the deportation of immigrant detainees from New England. Research reveals that over 6000 people have been taken from Hanscom via approximately 127 flights last year. Details about these flights can be found in publicly accessible records, such as the Deportation Data Project. 

The main airline involved in servicing ICE deportations from Hanscom is Signature Aviation. It is widely recognized that lobbying Massport to stop using this airfield for deporting immigrants has been almost futile. Our speaker advised citizens to target our opposition toward organizations supporting Signature, such as those supplying fuel or banking services.

Kim Jalet co-founded Lincoln Witness with fellow Lincoln resident Kathy Madison, founded and co-chair Lincoln Witness (LW), a voluntary organization working to support the immigrant community under duress. LW, organized in mid-2025, focuses on unjust policies and actions of ICE toward immigrants. “Today it is immigrants, tomorrow it could be any of us,” Jalet said.

LW has about 40 members who participate in a range of activities including fundraising, education, advocacy, standouts and marches, monitoring and documenting ICE activities, and supporting services for immigrant families. The group’s website offers information on actions and organizations working to support immigrants in the face of ICE overreach. Finally, LW provides a “Know Your Rights” flyer in English, Spanish, and Portuguese.

During the question-and-answer period, panelists addressed a variety of questions about what ordinary citizens can do to increase safety and justice for immigrants threatened by ICE. A range of suggestions emerged:

• Pay attention to legislation. Let your Massachusetts legislators know the importance of strengthening and passing the Protect Act right away, and urge them to support the Dignity Not Deportation bill. Work to change Congress in the 2026 election.
• Allow immigrants to attend court dates remotely to prevent arrest by ICE while fulfilling legal requirements.
• Work with the local communities to protect immigrants and work at the state level to make it morally clear that ICE is not welcome.
• Courage is contagious: join the Standouts and Protests and help immigrants in your own and neighboring communities.
• Join with others to find ways to undermine the efforts of ICE and Signature Aviation.
• Check out the Lincoln Witness website, where you can find an organization to work with, ongoing activities, and a monthly calendar of events
• Send a check — all these organizations need resources!

All the speakers recognized the extraordinary difficulties of addressing current unjust immigration policies and their implementation. Yet, as Thielman reflected: “together people can make change, but it is a long-term process requiring courage, commitment, and patience.” One Lincoln resident effectively summed up the essence of the morning’s presentations and discussion: “Speakers did a great job keeping an upbeat tone about such a difficult subject without obscuring the truth.” 

Many thanks to the Lincoln Democratic Town Committee for hosting the event and to Lincoln Witness, the Social Justice Commission of St. Anne’s, and the Racial Justice Committee of the First Parish for co-sponsoring it.

Thanks also to our state legislators for joining us, making brief remarks, and sharing our concern for the wellbeing of immigrants and of all people in our community. Attending were state Reps. Alice Peisch and Carmine Gentile, state Sen. Michael Barrett, and Ravi Simon, a candidate for state representative to replace Gentile, who is retiring at the end of this term.

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