Hawaii is proud of its Aloha Spirit. But is it for sale?
Historically, Hawaii has extended the Aloha Spirit to the waves of immigrants who have come to our shores from all over the world. Migration has been part of the history of Hawaii ever since Native Hawaiians first journeyed here in voyaging canoes.
Virtually all of the rest of Hawaii’s residents are either immigrants or the descendants of immigrants. The Native Hawaiian values of aloha and ho‘okipa, or open-hearted hospitality, have allowed us to enjoy the richness that immigration has brought to Hawaii.
However, the Aloha Spirit is threatened by recent actions of the Trump administration. Changes have been made to the way immigration laws are being executed, and hyper-aggressive methods are now being used to round up undocumented immigrants in various states. These harsh methods are generating fear among immigrants and their families throughout the nation, including in Hawaii.
Here in Hawaii, tens of thousands of undocumented immigrants are part of our communities. Nationally, two-thirds of these adults have lived in the U.S. for 10 years or more. They work, own homes, pay taxes and send their children to school. They are our neighbors.
Recently, the federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency (ICE) has expanded the reach of its deportation efforts to include nearly everyone who lives in the U.S. without immigration documents. This has devastated families and the communities in which they reside.
In Arizona, for example, a mother of two children who has lived in the U.S. for over 20 years was recently deported, despite the pleas of her children, who are both U.S. citizens by birth. In addition, there have been reports that ICE has prevented detainees from contacting their attorneys. This violates the constitutional guarantees of due process and equal protection that are extended to all people on U.S. soil, whether they are citizens or not.
By law, it is the federal government that is responsible for regulating immigration. Local law enforcement agencies do not receive federal funds to enforce immigration laws, and are not legally required to do so.
Hundreds of cities and counties across the nation — as well as several states — have already rejected the idea that their local law enforcement agencies, work with ICE. These are the “sanctuary” jurisdictions that place a higher priority on maintaining peace in their communities. Sanctuary jurisdictions do not protect undocumented immigrants any more than they protect citizens, but they decline to work with ICE. A study by Tom K. Wong of the University of California at San Diego shows that these communities are safer for everyone.
In order to persuade local law enforcement agencies to work with ICE, President Donald Trump has threatened to withhold federal funds from jurisdictions that do not work with ICE. Many challenge the legality of such a move. Recently, San Francisco filed a lawsuit to prevent the withholding of federal funds, and more lawsuits are likely to follow.
Threatened by the withholding of federal funds, Hawaii finds itself in an identity crisis. Will Hawaii allow the Trump administration to chip away at the Aloha Spirit in order to assure the current level of federal funding? Is the Aloha Spirit for sale?
Hawaiʻi J20+ asserts that the Aloha Spirit is not for sale. Immigrants are a part of our communities, and they contribute to the rich fabric of Hawaii’s culture. Local law enforcement agencies should not work with ICE, which utilizes deplorable tactics to execute immigration laws. Consistent with our heritage, Hawaii should continue to extend the Aloha Spirit to immigrants regardless of their status.
Nandita Sharma, Nathalie Rita and Charles K. Burrows submitted this on behalf of Hawai‘i J20+, a grassroots organization dedicated to preserving constitutional principles and community values being threatened by the Trump administration.
