Greater immigration enforcement measures announced by the Department of Homeland Security on Tuesday have led to more fear and concerns for immigrants in the metro area.
The measures include a greater focus on identifying, capturing, and deporting undocumented immigrants that agents encounter, particularly immigrants with criminal backgrounds.
The plans also call for up to 10,000 more immigration agents to be hired by the department, and for further work to be done on expanding the wall bordering Mexico.
On Tuesday, the announcement brought more concerns to the family of Carmalita.
The 22-year-old woman from Missouri, who declined to tell 41 Action News her last name out of fear of identifying her parents, came to the country with her family nearly 15 years ago from Ecuador.
Carmalita said her family emigrated to America in hopes of providing a better life for her.
Now, because of greater immigration enforcement, she said her mother is afraid to leave her house.
“I know the strain emotionally that she's gone through,” explained Carmalita. “She doesn't want to go outside anymore. Every time she opens the window or sees a cop, she freaks out."
Carmalita told 41 Action News that going out for dinner or visiting stores has brought increased concern.
“Something as simple as going to Walmart and seeing a cop or going out to a restaurant and seeing someone walk by is like, 'Oh my God. He's going to take her’," she said.
On Tuesday, Carmalita said she feared she could lose her mother and father at any moment.
“Giving them that hug or that call could be the last time I get to say hi to them,” she said, through tears. “I'm deathly afraid of my parents being deported."
Carmalita’s family is not alone in dealing with fear of deportation in the metro.
Robert Sagastume of the KS/MO DREAM Alliance told 41 Action News that over the past few weeks, the group has been meeting with immigrants and reminding them of their rights in possible deportation cases.
He explained that going to church, getting pulled over, helping in after-school programs, or going to a rated-R movie is now met with concern by undocumented immigrants fearful they will encounter federal agents, be subject to a background check, or have to present their immigration papers.
“A lot of people don't recognize the trauma that is created by all these policies that are being implemented,” he said.
Sagastume said he came to America undocumented from Honduras with his family as a child.
He now holds a green card through marriage, but remembers the concerns of deportation he had growing up.
“I would be thinking, is this going to be the last day I see my family in case I get pulled over just for going to school?” he said.
With the new guidelines leading to increased concern, Carmalita believes immigrant families across the metro and country will need to make tough decisions in the years ahead.
“Some families are either going to self deport and go back home on their own or some families will wait and see what happens,” she said.
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Tom Dempsey can be reached at Tom.Dempsey@KSHB.com.
