Democratic View: When hope is not enough: An urgent call to action in support of our immigrant neighbors

By Stacey Dimas

Editor’s note: The opinions expressed in this column are those of author Stacey Dimas and are not representative of the thoughts or opinions of Tompkins Weekly. 

The chill of this upstate New York morning bit deeper than the air; it pierced my heart. Approaching a man shivering uncontrollably, I offered help, and he responded only in Spanish. Thankfully, he was led to a supportive building where the meager warmth of hot coffee and cookies offered a brief reprieve. But it was the fear etched on his face, the way he scurried away like a terrified mouse, that haunts me. He was grossly unprepared for this biting cold, but the threat he fled from was clearly greater than any winter storm.

I don’t know his story, but I know the pain of watching a person hide in our community, actively seeking refuge while being actively hunted. Imagine the terror of being in a foreign land, not knowing who to trust, utterly reliant on a stranger’s fleeting compassion. As I watched him, one thought resonated with a chilling finality: So it has come to this.

The New Normal of Hiding in Plain Sight

This wasn’t my first cold splash of reality. The other time was in a friend’s basement, being shown a secret passageway—a hidden route for escape should Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raid the event I was hosting. A native-born English speaker, I suddenly found myself in a world where the need to know how to flee was a grim, necessary reality.

I was born in this country, yet I know that if me or my son are profiled, our rights can be stripped away without due process. If that is the shaky ground I stand on, what does it mean for those who don’t look like me? For those who have already navigated generations of oppression and state-sponsored violence? It means the illusion of safety is crumbling.

We are at a turning point in history, and every event since the dawn of civilization shows us this. The facile comparison to the rise of Nazi Germany is useful, but it leaves us with the agonizing question: What if those who saw the writing on the wall had chosen to fight before it was too late? As Latine people, we are sadly accustomed to coups, especially those with origins tied to the United States. We have survived generations of systemic trauma, and we will always hold onto our fierce, defiant hope. But hope alone will not save us.

The Question is No Longer What If, But What Now?

It’s hard to watch people cling to the belief that the pen is mightier than the sword when the images and experiences we are living through—the facts on the ground—tell a different, more urgent story. We have passed the point of polite letters and theoretical arguments. We have an obligation to act, and it must be tangible, immediate, and potentially dangerous.

When push comes to shove, what type of person will you be?

Are you prepared to do more than sign a petition? Are you willing to open your home—your basement or your attic—to shelter someone in fear? Are you ready to put your body on the line, to stand as a human shield against the terror of a state apparatus, even if it means being met with tear gas or worse? Are you willing to fight for the principles of universal dignity and freedom, regardless of the personal cost?

To be honest, I don’t know if I’m prepared for the ultimate sacrifice. But I do know this: I can take action today. And you can too. Silence is no longer an option; complicity is a betrayal of the community we claim to love. The time for deliberation is over. The time for courageous, immediate action is now.

Here are local organizations that are on the front lines, desperately needing your help, your time, and your resources:

Actionable Solidarity: Where to Invest Your Urgency

Ithaca Welcomes Refugees

• Mission: A volunteer-led initiative fostering a welcoming environment for immigrants and refugees.
• Location: 315 N Cayuga St, Ithaca, NY 14850
• Phone: (607) 288-2984

Catholic Charities of Tompkins/Tioga – Immigrant Services Program

• Services: Resettlement, legal immigration services, job development, public assistance, and more.
• Location: 324 W. Buffalo St., Ithaca, NY 14850
• Phone: (607) 272-5062
• Website: http://www.catholiccharitiestt.org/

Tompkins County Immigrant Rights Coalition

• Focus: Advocacy, organizing, resources, and leadership training for immigrant rights.
• Languages: Chinese, English, Spanish, Thai
• Phone: (607) 277-8699
• Website: http://www.tcimmigrants.com/