In Firestone Colorado, on Puritan Way, an ICE facility has been spotted. Tucked back in a corner, this facility covers a multitude of areas. The list includes: Counties of Broomfield, Boulder, Larimer, Weld, Morgan, Logan, Washington, Yuma, Phillips, Sedgwick, Kit Carson, Cheyenne. In such a small town, such as Firestone, this large-scale operation can be perceived as a threat for local residents. Especially with ICE operations and proceedings when it comes to them handling residents being criticized so commonly.
Their main mission is to “Protect America through criminal investigations and enforcing immigration laws to preserve national security and public safety”, with opinions being so divided nowadays, this message has been blurred and warped by both sides of the political aisle.
Some perceive ICE’s main mission to be ripping families away from each other, due to the illegal aspect of some of their nonexistent documents. Others think it is restoring peace and order back into America. Both sides believe their side to be right, but what are the implications for residents living near an ICE facility?
According to Behavior Health, Our results indicate that the health of participants completing the intervention at a facility located close (2.5 miles) to a detention center was more negatively impacted when they received news of ICE arrests even for ICE activities in other parts of the country. Besides negative physical, emotional, and financial impacts, the morale of both documented and undocumented Latinas was destabilized and participants expressed a desire for resources to protect/defend themselves from potential threats to their families.”
These negative results show that living close to this facility, specifically for a small town such as Firestone, can increase anxiety and is linked to a depressive state. Another statement mentioned on Behavior Health was, “We learned that mental health resources and legal support should be offered to residents living near ICE detention centers, many of whom have vulnerable relatives and friends.” With a lack of resources specifically surrounding the Firestone location, this can cause backlash from the residents.
In particular, the Latino community can feel extra pressure considering ICE singles out some of them, and this can be perceived as a threat to the community. Although others might feel more unsafe in this area too, it is more of a threat to the Latino community, which is such an unfortunate, broad, categorization of the community inside of the Firestone area.
