Undocumented immigrants are surviving tougher immigration laws
implemented in Georgia and other southern states by utilizing a
surprising tool: social media. It has become an instrument to help them
navigate the streets and remain undetected by police.
Mario Sevilla, 24, is a construction worker; his day begins at 5 a.m. His five brothers and sisters live in Sonora, Mexico, and they all rely on the money that he can earn and wire back home. Lately, Sevilla has used social media to risk-taking road trips as far away as Tennessee to get to work.
“The first thing that I do in the morning is to turn on my cell phone and send out a message to my friends through Facebook. Those who are here legally and have a driver’s license are my informants about police presence in different areas so that I can avoid “retenes” to get to work,” explains Sevilla.
“Retenes” or police checkpoints have increased twofold in heavily Latino populated counties since local officials were given immigration enforcement powers in 2006. Gwinnett and Cobb Counties in Georgia are two of the busiest in the nation for deportations.
Mario Sevilla, 24, is a construction worker; his day begins at 5 a.m. His five brothers and sisters live in Sonora, Mexico, and they all rely on the money that he can earn and wire back home. Lately, Sevilla has used social media to risk-taking road trips as far away as Tennessee to get to work.
“The first thing that I do in the morning is to turn on my cell phone and send out a message to my friends through Facebook. Those who are here legally and have a driver’s license are my informants about police presence in different areas so that I can avoid “retenes” to get to work,” explains Sevilla.
“Retenes” or police checkpoints have increased twofold in heavily Latino populated counties since local officials were given immigration enforcement powers in 2006. Gwinnett and Cobb Counties in Georgia are two of the busiest in the nation for deportations.
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