Editorial by Gwyneth Pearson
A man named Ricardo Montes was arrested by ICE August 8 at the Sikeston Jaycee Bootheel Rodeo. At least 3 other people are reported to have been arrested by ICE at the event. Last night’s headlining performer was That Mexican OT. Montes’ wife told me last night that he was held overnight at the Miner Police Department and he would be transferred to a detention facility in Saint Genevieve, Missouri.
The 287(g) program is a federal partnership under the Immigration and Nationality Act. It allows U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to deputize state and local law enforcement officers to perform immigration enforcement. Scott County is part of this partnership.
In a statement posted today, Scott County Sheriff Derick Wheetley said the county chooses to work with ICE so that local law enforcement has “the ability to identify and address individuals who are unlawfully in this country and are committing violent crimes or otherwise creating serious problems in Scott County.” Scott County Sheriff’s deputies did not make the arrests last night, though – ICE officers did.
Before going any further, I should be transparent about where I’m coming from. In modern traditional journalism, you are not supposed to be emotionally attached to a story you cover. I am very emotionally attached to this family. I’ve been in their home, I’ve danced in their home. I graduated with this man’s daughter. The children this man raised helped shape my understanding of the world. No amount of Montes’ illegality could change my perception of him as one of us. I am a journalist loyal to unbiased truth. But I am also loyal to those who have welcomed me into their home – providing me food, water, and a comfortable couch to relax and laugh on – so long as they do not prove themselves unworthy of that loyalty.
So how do I go from here? For now, I will give my opinion.
Immigration is one of the most divisive topics we face today. It is politically sensational. In the last year, we’ve seen a woman shot and killed for resisting ICE operations in her community. We’ve seen a man shot and killed for resisting ICE operations. We’ve seen people attend scheduled green card renewal meetings, be arrested, and ultimately deported. We’ve seen the politicization of immigration, and as always, people are divided.
I will tell you where I stand on that. I love Hispanic culture. The rodeo is an event largely shaped by Hispanic and Latin influence. The bulls used in bullfighting are Spanish bulls. I love learning Spanish. I appreciate the colorful culture of Latin America, and I find the stories of illegal immigrants to be humbling. I detest the nature of cartels and the horrors that occur on journeys across the border. I recognize that rapid cultural/ethnographic changes in a region can inherently lead to political and literal instability. I also recognize, though, the average Hispanic immigrant is more indigenous to pan-American land than I am. America is beautiful in her flag, name, and culture – but her true beauty lies in the natural, undivided state.
When the natural amalgamation of cultures becomes hindered by laws, statutes, and bureaucracy – there becomes a problem. Hispanic and American cultures have always been drawn to another because they have similar origins. They are quite compatible on the religious, familial, and creative levels. Yet, our immigration system does not reflect this compatibility. On the national scale, the complexity of legality has been simplified into “legal” or “illegal.” Really, there are levels. Undocumented immigrants, refugees, temporarily protected immigrants, and green card holders are all different statuses. The nature of modern politics does not encourage the understanding or reorganization of immigration processes. It implores us to choose a side — illegal immigrants are bad, illegal immigrants are good.
This national division affects us on the local level, as we are seeing today. Division is something I’ve spoken a lot about with the Sikeston Chief of Police. We’ve been working to schedule a ride-along next week, but the date is not fully set. Following the death of Lloyd Gilmore, I’ve been quite concerned about the state of division between the public and the authorities. I’ve been very concerned about the well-being of officers. I’ve been very concerned about the well-being of a public divided over the function and enforcement of authority. I’ve hoped, and continue hoping, this division can be mended.
How can I work to ensure our community is united in seeing authority as legitimate and in their best interest when things like this happen? Ricardo Montes made himself an authentic contributor to our community through the family and work. By every measurement beyond the law — he was one of us. He respected his Hispanic origin and contribution to our community by attending an event inspired by his original culture. In an age of political immigration sensationalization, he was arrested. His family now questions not just his future – but their future too. ICE did not become involved in rodeo affairs until this year, after Scott County entered their agreement.
We allowed a divisive national problem to dictate and infiltrate the function of one of our cultural staples, and now people here are divided yet again. The blame in this does not lie in the hands of our leaders, authorities, or officers. This is the land of the free, home of the brave. Yet, we confine our minds to fit the divided national dynamic. This decision the average American makes is simple and easy. In it, there is no bravery, and the result will never end in freedom for all. The result will be proof that none of us are as moral or upright as we’d like to believe ourselves to be.
I do not know what else to say.
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