US Citizens Carry Passports Amid Fear of Immigration Raids

Across the United States, an increasing number of citizens are carrying their passports daily due to a heightened atmosphere of fear surrounding immigration raids. Reports of temporary detentions of US citizens, particularly those from immigrant backgrounds, have sparked anxiety in communities nationwide.

Concerns in Minneapolis

Munira Maalimisaq, a family nurse practitioner in Minneapolis, began carrying her passport on December 2, 2022, as federal agents intensified their presence in the city. A naturalized US citizen since childhood, Maalimisaq emigrated from Somalia and previously only took her passport when traveling abroad. Her clinic, known as Inspire Change Clinic, serves marginalized communities, many of whom have expressed reluctance to seek medical care amid fears of being targeted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Maalimisq noted an unsettling trend—patients are now presenting their passports instead of driver’s licenses at check-in. “We have a lot of patients that may be targeted,” she stated. “I want to make sure that I go home safely to my kids.” She emphasized that no one should need to carry a passport just to feel secure in their own city.

The Impact on Local Communities

In Kenner, Louisiana, Walter Cruz Perez has also felt the urgency to keep his passport close. A US citizen since 2022, Cruz moved to the US from Guatemala six years earlier. He had previously felt comfortable carrying just his driver’s license but changed his habits following reports of Latino citizens being detained without proper identification.

Cruz, who runs a landscaping business, now places his passport in a ziplock bag in his cellphone case while working outdoors, fearing that his accent could draw attention from immigration agents. “It’s stressful,” he admitted. “But you see on the news that people don’t have the chance to identify themselves.”

Educator Carola Lopez, living near New Orleans, carries her US passport in her vehicle, a habit that began after an unsettling encounter with authorities in 2015. Despite being a US citizen, Lopez has faced questions about her identity due to her Puerto Rican heritage. “It’s really sad that we have to do this,” she remarked, reflecting on the current climate of fear surrounding citizenship and immigration.

Similarly, Miguel Rios, a 49-year-old Los Angeles native, began carrying copies of his passport after witnessing immigration raids in his neighborhood. The situation escalated when he learned of a US citizen being mistakenly detained. “It’s really scary for the elders,” Rios stated, underscoring the emotional toll on families grappling with the consequences of immigration policies.

Another individual, known only as Ana for safety reasons, has felt compelled to carry her passport following the detainment of a fellow US citizen, Andrea Velez, who was forcibly taken by immigration officials while on her way to work. Ana expressed her frustration, stating, “I know I am [a citizen], but this is an administration that says ‘you don’t belong.’”

As the climate of fear persists, more citizens are taking precautions to protect themselves from potential encounters with immigration enforcement. Many are left questioning the state of citizenship in a nation that has long been considered a refuge for immigrants.

The stories of these individuals illustrate the profound impact of current immigration policies on the daily lives of US citizens, prompting a significant shift in their behaviors and the spaces they inhabit.