The quiet storm brewing in Chicago's Asian-American community. Rabia Amin's father, Asif Amin Cheema, was picked up by federal immigration agents just three minutes from his home in west suburban Addison. The 63-year-old Pakistani immigrant had applied for asylum and had no criminal record, but the authorities didn't hesitate to detain him.
Amin's family tried to keep her father's arrest quiet, fearing the gossip and stigma that could come with it. They even lied about his health issues – diabetes, high blood pressure, and vision problems – to avoid sparking rumors. But when Cheema collapsed at the airport just as he was about to be deported, the Amins couldn't stay silent anymore.
The family held a press conference on New Year's Day, pleading for their father's release. But it was too late; Cheema was deported back to Pakistan that evening. The ordeal took a toll on him, causing him to lose over 30 pounds while in detention.
Amin, who is now advocating for immigration reform, believes that speaking out and banding together is crucial. "You don't win by staying silent," she said. "It hurts you more than anything." Her family's experience highlights the dangers of underestimating the impact of immigration enforcement on Asian-American communities.
Asians are being targeted in disproportionate numbers, with over 140 arrests made in Illinois since the start of the Trump administration. Many have been immigrants with no criminal record, only to be detained and deported. The lack of media coverage and a false sense of security among some community members has contributed to their silence.
Organizations serving Asian populations are now stepping up efforts to educate residents about immigration rights and provide support. Lisa Wright, director of government affairs at the Chinese American Service League, notes that "each ethnicity has an organization that represents them... sometimes they can operate in their silos." It's time for these groups to coalesce and build a stronger coalition against Trump's mass deportation campaign.
Amin's story serves as a powerful reminder that speaking up is not only important but also necessary. The silence of the past has allowed this storm to brew, but it's too late now. Asians must band together and demand justice for their community.
Amin's family tried to keep her father's arrest quiet, fearing the gossip and stigma that could come with it. They even lied about his health issues – diabetes, high blood pressure, and vision problems – to avoid sparking rumors. But when Cheema collapsed at the airport just as he was about to be deported, the Amins couldn't stay silent anymore.
The family held a press conference on New Year's Day, pleading for their father's release. But it was too late; Cheema was deported back to Pakistan that evening. The ordeal took a toll on him, causing him to lose over 30 pounds while in detention.
Amin, who is now advocating for immigration reform, believes that speaking out and banding together is crucial. "You don't win by staying silent," she said. "It hurts you more than anything." Her family's experience highlights the dangers of underestimating the impact of immigration enforcement on Asian-American communities.
Asians are being targeted in disproportionate numbers, with over 140 arrests made in Illinois since the start of the Trump administration. Many have been immigrants with no criminal record, only to be detained and deported. The lack of media coverage and a false sense of security among some community members has contributed to their silence.
Organizations serving Asian populations are now stepping up efforts to educate residents about immigration rights and provide support. Lisa Wright, director of government affairs at the Chinese American Service League, notes that "each ethnicity has an organization that represents them... sometimes they can operate in their silos." It's time for these groups to coalesce and build a stronger coalition against Trump's mass deportation campaign.
Amin's story serves as a powerful reminder that speaking up is not only important but also necessary. The silence of the past has allowed this storm to brew, but it's too late now. Asians must band together and demand justice for their community.
. I mean, come on! This poor man gets detained, deported... all because he applied for asylum? It's just common sense, right? And the fact that they had to lie about his health issues to keep him quiet is just heartbreaking 
. You can't blame Amin and her family for speaking out now; it's too late, but it's better than staying silent 
. I wish more organizations would work together to help these communities, you know? It feels like we're still living in the same world as Trump's America 
. We need a collective effort to protect our rights and make sure everyone is treated fairly 
.
. It's just not fair that someone who applied for asylum gets picked up like that! And 63?! That's old age, you know? What did he even do to deserve this? Deportation is such a harsh punishment... my grandma had to leave Pakistan because of the war, but at least she was allowed to stay in the US. This immigration thing is so complicated... I just wish everyone could get along and respect each other's rights 
. I remember my own parents coming to this country with nothing & working hard to build a new life... it's crazy that some ppl still think they can just detain ppl w/ no record & send 'em back. 
We need 2 stand together & make some noise, like Rabia is doin' now. 
. Our communities should be stronger, not fragmented!
I'm literally shook by this news, guys 
.
And then they deport him back to Pakistan with no hesitation 
. That's just not right, fam 
. We need to stand together as a community and demand some justice here 
. It's time for us to take a stand and make some noise 
.
& now he lost over 30 pounds while in detention... talk about a toll it takes on ur mental health 
This is so messed up 
It just goes to show how arbitrary and unfair the system can be.
it's crazy cuz ppl r being targeted in disproportionate numbers and alot of them dont even have a record 
idk why ppl arent talking about this more 
I'm telling you, something fishy went down with Asif Amin Cheema's arrest. Like, what was his "health issues" really? Diabetes, high blood pressure, vision problems... sounds legit, but what if it was all just a smokescreen for the real reason he got picked up? 
), but it's clear there's more to this story than meets the eye. And what about all those other Asian immigrants who got arrested and deported since Trump took office? That's just numbers game, people... they're not telling us the whole truth 
. We need to dig deeper and find out what's really going on here. 
. It's like they're targeting Asian-Americans specifically, and it's not fair at all 
.
. It's time for us to wake up and realize that these attacks aren't just on immigrants, but on our communities too 
. Asian orgs need to put aside their differences and work together to fight this mass deportation campaign 
. Rabia Amin's story is just one example of what happens when we don't speak up 
. We can't keep being silenced or expecting things to magically change on their own - we need to demand action from our leaders and hold them accountable 
... I'm really worried about the impact on mental health, all this stress & fear can't be good for people's well-being 
... Asians are being targeted in such a disproportionate way, it's like they're being singled out on purpose 
... we need more awareness & education about immigration rights, organizations should be working together to support each other 
. It's time to break the silence and demand justice for Asian-Americans!