The effort started Monday night with an initial meeting filling the fellowship hall of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church to nearly standing room only.
In the Catholic church alone, It is a large community, said Ed Alba, who helps minister the Spanish mass at the church on Hamilton Street. At St. John the Baptist that community is around 200 people and slightly more than half of them attended the meeting.
In the Hispanic community, there is fear of the police, Alba said, and that’s leading to crimes committed against them not being reported. “Right now there are robberies being committed and they’re not calling the police to get help. There’s a little fear, there’s a terrible language barrier.”
While Halifax Community College has offered free English as a second language courses since 2008, few take advantage of them, Alba said.
The majority of Spanish-speaking immigrants in the community are hardworking, Alba said, many working 12-14 hour days, working double shifts.
They come seeking a better life, Alba said. “My kids here are fed three times a day when they got one meal in Mexico.”
Natara Velazquez, a Roanoke Rapids police officer, is taking a lead in the effort along with Chief Chuck Hasty and Deputy Chief Andy Jackson.
“A lot of times this community is living in the shadows and scared of the police,” Velazquez, who served as interpreter for the meeting, said. “We want to let them know that we are here for you.”

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Hasty told the large audience, “The goal is to reach out to the Latino community, to prevent fear of the police and if you’re a victim we want you to feel comfortable because you have rights in the community as a victim. We’re here to help you live in the community without fear.”
One factor which has been successful in other communities has been a simple ID card, said Reverend David Fracarro, of the Greensboro-based FaithAction International House. “Tonight is important,” he said. “For three years FaithAction has been building trust between the police and the immigrant community.”
Roanoke Rapids is one of the smaller communities in the state to begin this outreach program, he said. “That your police department has initiated this is really good news. It recognizes that if you don’t feel safe, if you’re afraid to call, you and your family are less safe, the entire community is less safe.”
FaithAction started the ID program as a way to quell the challenges both the immigrant community and law enforcement face when dealing with one another.
“One of the primary challenges facing many new immigrants to our country is how to understand and relate to local law enforcement,” the organization’s website says. “Immigrant and other minority communities often experience a lot of fear with police officers, and are especially concerned that an average traffic stop or reporting a crime might turn into an immigration enforcement case.”
At the same time, the website says, many officers may not be familiar with the “languages and cultures of our newest immigrant neighbors, and feel limited in their ability to serve and protect these communities without stronger relationships.”
Fracarro told the audience eight counties in the state are using the ID cards. “It’s just a piece of plastic, but there’s a lot it can do if the community trusts it. Law enforcement needs to know who you are. Many have never seen a foreign ID or a passport.”
In Greensboro, the card has been accepted at hospitals to use to check for medical records, he said.
For its use to spread in Roanoke Rapids, it depends “on how much value your community gives it.”
While it’s not a driver’s license and can’t be used to vote, Fracarro said, “People who use the ID felt safe enough to talk about crime, robbery rape, family violence. They trusted enough to end their suffering.”
Hasty said this was the first of many meetings to come in the push. “We want you to come to us to answer any questions.”
Said Jackson: “We want to get both sides of the story. It’s a community tool. We want to make our community community whole, as one. Your talents and services are much appreciated. If someone takes advantage of your finances or living situation, we want to help you. This is one of many meetings opening that door.”