For some, ICE means safety. For others, fear. Joplin demonstrators speak out

A good crowd showed up at Joplin's City Hall Monday evening as competing demonstrations brought the national immigration debate to downtown.

This followed Councilman Brian Cowles' request that the Joplin Police Department look into joining the federal 287(g) program, which allows specially trained local officers to perform certain immigration enforcement duties under federal supervision.

The Joplin-Area Democratic Socialists of America organized the "ICE Out Joplin" demonstration, while the Joplin Patriot Alliance organized a counterprotest supporting immigration enforcement.

Despite the sharply different positions, protesters on both sides shared their reasons for attending.

Dorothy Fulks, of Webb City, said she believes immigration enforcement has become a political weapon rather than an effort to address problems with the nation's immigration system.

"They've got to stop using immigration as a club and really try to solve the problem," Fulks said. "Didn't we learn anything with the way that Germany treated the Jews about scapegoating people?"

She said the debate has consequences for immigrants already living in the Joplin area.

Fulks described a local business owner she knows who is legally in the United States but is afraid to pursue citizenship because of concerns about attracting the attention of immigration authorities.

On the other side of the demonstration, Joplin resident David Eckermann said he attended to support ICE efforts to remove immigrants who are in the country illegally and have committed crimes.

"I'm out here to support ICE getting the criminal illegal aliens out of the country and stop taking our tax dollars, stop taking our jobs," Eckermann said.

However, Eckermann emphasized that he does not oppose all immigration.

He said he worked alongside immigrants at Butterball and believes those who follow the legal immigration process should be welcomed.

"There are good ones," Eckermann said. "We need to get them here the right way, the ones that are good, and get the criminal element out."

Eckermann said he moved to Joplin from California in September 2011, just months after the devastating EF5 tornado. He credited the community with helping him find employment and reconnect with values he learned growing up.

He said preserving those values, including freedom and respect for others, is important to the country's future.

No agreement with ICE has been approved, and no vote on the 287(g) program was scheduled for Monday's council meeting.