Christopher Coen
Melissa Sogard
nancylee1
Police Call in Border Patrol On Somali Refugees in Grand Forks
Posted by Christopher Coen on September 3, 2010
Grand Forks police called in Border Patrol apparently on four Somali refugees after the men were unable to show the kind of identification that the law requires all immigrants to have on their person (I-94 card or green card). Three of the men were then taken into custody and held until a lawyer was able to prove their immigration status. According to the Grand Forks Herald:
Four men were questioned Thursday by U.S. Border Patrol agents outside a Somali-owned cafe on South Washington Street. Three were handcuffed and taken into custody until their immigration status could be determined, a Border Patrol spokesman said.
Somalis at the scene about 3 p.m. Thursday said the men are Somali immigrants, and one who was questioned was Ali Hussein, owner of the Washington Cafe, 2017 S. Washington, employees and friends said.
…It began when a Grand Forks police officer saw a parking violation by a vehicle in front of the cafe on the frontage road, Sgt. Kevin Kallinen said. Something caused the officer to call in the Border Patrol for assistance, Kallinen said.
…the Border Patrol agents began demanding documents from any Somali they saw walking nearby…
…Brent Everson, a Border Patrol spokesman, characterized the agents’ actions as asking to see the kind of identification all immigrants are required to have on their person.
…After the incident, several Somalis expressed dismay and anger, saying it was heavy-handed law enforcement singling out Somalis.
One of the men detained came to the United States only a month ago and does not yet understand English…
…Everson said the three men’s identities would not be released by the Patrol. He could not confirm the men were Somalis. But he said they were kept in the patrol’s holding cells in its new facility near the Grand Forks International Airport until their immigration status was determined.
He said all immigrants must keep documentation of their status on their person at all times. The Border Patrol regularly holds information sessions with college students, for example, to let them know they should always have their visa with them.
…Robin David, president of the board of the local Global Friends Coalition that works with new immigrants, said she doesn’t know exactly what happened Thursday.
But she knows that many immigrants, after living here for a year or more, get accustomed to not carrying immigration documents with them at all times.
…David said informal estimates have 300 or more Somalis living in greater Grand Forks. Many first immigrated to other parts of the United States and have moved here since, she said.
In the past decade, more than 700 Somalis have immigrated from their homeland to North Dakota, most to Fargo but many to Grand Forks, refugee officials have said. here
The way I’ve seen this problem avoided elsewhere is that resettlement agencies will instruct refugees to carry their immigration documents with them or will copy the refugees’ I-94 cards and have them carry the copy. Has Lutheran Social Services of North Dakota’s Grand Forks sub-office been doing that?
Of course the other problem here is that the law apparently requires immigrants, including refugees, to carry the original document, and not just a copy – as copies are more easily forged. Having assisted refugees for almost ten years, however, I’ve seen the enormous problems that result when a refugee then loses their wallet or purse, or the document falls out of their pocket. It costs a couple hundred dollars and years to get the I-94 replaced.
Either way I’d like to know why the police decided to call Border Patrol. Its seems like overkill. Also, why was the Border Patrol asking for immigration documents from every Somali just walking by? Don’t they need probably cause to believe that someone has committed a crime before they can stop them? Both the Grand Forks Police and the Border Patrol owe the public a prompt explanation.
GFresident said
ahh, so that is what was going on! I was walking by that day and was going to stop there to get some sambusas, my new favorite treat. But when I saw all those police and border patrol agents, especially the ones in military-garb, I got scared away. I did take a few pictures, as I thought something big must have been going on. But wow, all those vehicles just over some people not carrying their ID? I understand the importance of carrying your ID when you’re not a citizen, especially in Grand Forks where you stand out… but the police & border patrol need to handle these things delicately. Alienating a group leads to a lot of trouble years later, in my opinion.
Well I hope the cafe is still going strong, it’s so nice to be able to get something different & tasty, and not have to make it yourself!
christophercoen said
What doesn’t sound right is that the police stopped and asked for I.D. from any Somali walking by. I think that is unconstitutional — illegal search and seize? Police must suspect a crime has been committed before they can stop people. They can just target a whole ethnic group, which is profiling. Of course the police are free to explain that what they did was legal, but they remain silent. At least I haven’t heard anything.
If you live in Grand Forks contact your mayor and city commissioners and demand an explanation. They let the police feel free to do anything they want as long as the community remains silent.
Doug P. said
Why exactly does Lutheran social services think that people born in the desert a half a world away would thrive in the climate of Fargo ND , and Minneapolis Mn.
An article in the Fargo Forum the other day said they are trying to keep the younger ones from joining radical gangs and training to be Jihadists,
These people are all muslims, I don’t know what is in their heart. Sometimes things don’t need fixing, but someone always has to try and fix it.
When they rob you on the streets as one somalian youth was doing in the cities, you will know. His reason was that he “didn’t like White Americans”. So bring them all over and we will be dealing with religious and social problems for the next 200 years.
christophercoen said
Don’t lump them all together. There are the good and bad in every group.
fifi said
first of all thanks to the grand forks residents who stood up in this matter. secondly, i live in grand forks for the past 3 years as US citizen, and i have been dealing with similar issues like the other day i went to the DMV to change my ID and the lady in the front desk asked for my refugee card assuming that i am refugee by my looks or dress code. of course i stood up for my rights and remind her not to assume without askin. finally she demanded to see my proof of citizenship since i was not born in the USA. however grand forks residents have been wonderful interms of welcoming.
christophercoen said
I have taken many refugees to the Driver’s License Office and I find them to often be rude to refugees (or is it to anyone who looks foreign or doesn’t have perfect English?).
fifi said
that is right christophercoen, and another issue that many refugees face is that getting permanent driver’s license which they give them temporary one since they have I-94 card although their card states that they permanent resident. i think the border patrol should take a look at that cause these documents are legitimate documents that the homeland security issued for these people and that the DMV office don’t know nothing about this card. sometimes they tell ppl that their carrying the same I-94 as people like international students. so there are a lots of misunderstanding going on.