Detentions and Deportations in Rural Northeast Georgia: Implications for Latina Immigrants, Their Families, and Communities

Background and Purpose: The increase of Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids in Rural Northeast Georgia has adversely impacted a whole community of immigrants, who live in continuous fear of violent family separations. The imminence of arrests and consequent removal of unauthorized immigrants has become a major source of anxiety, trauma and despair, particularly among Latina immigrants. The aftermath of deportations translates into a major role shifting for most of these women, who are forcibly joining the workforce to provide for the lost income and support their families.

The purpose of this study is to describe and interpret the lived experiences of Latina immigrants in the aftermath of deportation raids in rural Northeast Georgia. This research emphasizes on Latina immigrants defying their own risk of detention and deportation by sharing conocimiento (knowledge), conscientización (consciousness’ awareness), resilience, and resistance, individually and collectively.

Methods: Eleven in-depth, semi structured interviews were conducted with Latina immigrants 18 years and older, who have been impacted by the detention and or deportation of a loved one. Participants were originally from Mexico (8), followed by Guatemala (2), and El Salvador (1). Ten participants have an unauthorized migratory status in the USA, while one is a USA citizen. The median age was 44 years old, the median family size was 4 members. Forty percent of participants has a high school diploma or higher. Recruitment was conducted through grassroots groups working with Latinx immigrants, and with community leaders in Latino enclaves who had direct contact with potential participants. Audio-recorded interviews were conducted at participants’ homes. Most interviews were conducted in Spanish, except for one in English. Data was transcribed verbatim and coded thematically using Excel. A heuristic inquiry methodology guided this qualitative analysis.

Findings: Qualitative analyses on the data show that Latina women interpret their experiences with detentions and deportations as an ongoing source of violence against themselves, their families, and communities. Participants described their fear of deportation as ‘living imprisoned in your own house’ to avoid being detained. Financial struggle has forced them to work outside the home, risking their own deportation to care for their families in the absence of the main breadwinner. Many participants identified the deportation crisis as a source of strength and courage, that has forced them to reveal their unauthorized status as an act of defiance against ICE. All participants were mothers with at least one child born in the USA. Data revealed that women’s primary reason to remain in the USA is to provide safety and better quality of life for their children.

Conclusions and Implications: Despite the harshness of the deportation policy enacted by ICE in rural Northeast Georgia, Latina immigrants are enduring and resisting the aftermath of financial and emotional adversity. They are taking new roles as breadwinners, sharing their knowledge on informal sources of support with other families, and advocating for themselves and their children to keep them together and safe in their communities.