As concerns continue to swirl around U.S. immigration enforcement under the Trump administration, one Belizean living in Los Angeles says fear among immigrants is largely driven by misinformation.
Faron Smith Jr., a Belizean resident of Palmdale, California, has lived in the L.A. area since 1998. Though he holds a U.S. green card, he has chosen not to pursue American citizenship. “I didn’t want to become a citizen of the U.S., you know, so I just stay with my green card,” Smith told News Five in an interview.
When asked about recent reports of ICE enforcement operations, Smith admitted he was skeptical at first. “At first I didn’t even believe it. I thought it was just people overreacting and just spreading misinformation. But then I end up seeing it, man, and I was like, whoa, just unbelievable.”
Despite the reports, Smith said he doesn’t live in fear of being deported. “Unlike what you see on Facebook, it’s not like they’re just targeting anybody and everybody,” he explained. “They deport a lot of people because… when they open up the border, you get good people coming in, but then you also get bad people… Any people that love their country, they don’t want that. So I completely understand what they’re saying.”
While Smith hasn’t altered his daily routine, he recognizes that others are fearful though he believes much of that fear is unnecessary. “I haven’t changed anything… I’m a veteran out of the United States Navy. I don’t live in fear none whatsoever. But I know, I see other people that are afraid.”
He believes much of the fear stems from a lack of accurate information. “If you have the information, you have no reason to be afraid. They can’t do you anything if you have your stuff together, if you’re not a criminal.”
Smith said he hasn’t personally heard of any Belizeans being picked up by immigration authorities in L.A. “I asked the owner of a Belizean store if she knew anyone it happened to. She said no. And I said, ‘Okay, I haven’t heard of one either.’ I know a lot of illegals here, a lot of Belizeans that are illegal. And guess what? If we don’t have even one person… what is that saying to you?”
He said that fear persists in the community, leading to the cancellation of cultural events.
Smith also criticised the violent actions during recent protests in downtown LA. “You could go out and protest something and you don’t have to vandalize, rob, hurt people, burn stuff. You can’t expect that you’ll be breaking the law and the police won’t come.”
Despite the challenges, Smith says the U.S. still offers opportunity, if approached legally and responsibly. “If you feel like you need more opportunity and you’re not getting it at home, there’s a lot more opportunity in America. But… if that’s their law, just go with it, man. Because that’s where you are.”
Downtown Los Angeles erupted in large-scale unrest this weekend as thousands of demonstrators protest recent ICE raids and the deployment of federal forces.
