Letter to the Eagle County community

TO OUR COMMUNITY IN EAGLE COUNTY,

Last week was difficult. ICE was active in our communities. At least nine people were detained, and ICE agents were seen near restaurants and hotels. The fear was real because what happened was real.

From our office in Avon, we were answering calls as this unfolded. Family members called looking for loved ones. Workers and managers — Latino and non-Latino — called after seeing ICE with their own eyes outside their workplaces. Everyone was reporting the same thing. We confirmed these reports through firsthand witnesses and photo and video evidence.

We are aware of the concern in the community about the role local governments and institutions played. Not only because people did not turn to them during a crisis, but because many were not proactive, minimized what was happening, or simply did not know what was unfolding in our communities.

Our community is not just labor. We are human beings. We are residents of this region. We pay taxes. And we need our local governments and institutions to do more and do better — especially when our families are being impacted.

We do not know whether ICE has left our communities, or when or how often they may return. What we do know is that Voces Unidas will be here.

Our emergency hotline remains open 24 hours a day. If a loved one is detained by ICE, call us at 970-340-8586 for guidance and a free legal consultation.

In solidarity,

Alex Sánchez

President and CEO