Thread: Activists plan to protest immigration raids in Watsonville

http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/archiv ... 2local.htm

September 22, 2006


Activists plan to protest immigration raids in Watsonville
By Daniel Lopez
Sentinel Staff Writer
The Immigrant Rights Coalition of Watsonville and Santa Cruz plan to rally Sunday to raise awareness about the recent sweep through the Monterey Bay area by federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents.

The early morning raids on Sept. 7 and 8, part of operation Return to Sender, resulted in the arrest of 107 people from Watsonville, Santa Cruz and Hollister.

Federal authorities said they were enforcing standing deportation orders, some linked to criminal activity.

But the sweep has angered area immigration-rights advocates.

"Middle of the night raids in our community are not acceptable," said Jenn Laskin, an organizer with the Watsonville Brown Berets, one of the groups organizing the protest.

Laskin said Sunday's gathering at the City Plaza is meant to serve as a forum for community members to share their concerns and speak out about the raids.

"We want to educate the community that this is not OK," she said.

Those who support immigrant rights are upset that Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents identify themselves as "police." They say that's misleading because immigration authorities are not officers from local law enforcement agencies, and that the immigrants are not required to open the doors of their homes to agents.

Lori Haley, a spokeswoman with Immigration and Customs Enforcement, recently told the Sentinel that immigration officers, as policy, identify themselves as police because that's a word people with limited English are likely to understand.

Laskin doesn't agree with that.

"I don't think the tactics are excusable or OK," she said. "ICE deceived people into opening their doors."

The Santa Cruz Resource Center for Nonviolence has begun what it's calling a "Migra Watch Project" in response to the raids. Megan Kennedy, a volunteer with the center, said five members of the center's adult community soccer league, three Mexicans and two Salvadorans, were among those deported in the raids.

That motivated the center to take action and a immigrant rights telephone hotline has been established. Yolanda Venegas of the center said the objective of the hotline is to educate immigrants about their rights, dispel rumors of immigration agent sightings and to hold agents accountable.

The center also plans to distribute pamphlets to the public advising immigrants of their rights beginning next week, Kennedy said.

"We are not going to be able to intervene and keep the agents from taking someone, but the idea is that if you come to Santa Cruz, there's going to be someone watching you," Venegas said.

The hot line number is 331-1119.

Contact Daniel Lopez at dlopez@santacruzsentinel.com.

If you go

WHAT: Immigration raid protest.

WHEN: 2 p.m. Sunday.

WHERE: Watsonville City Plaza.

"Middle of the night raids in our community are not acceptable," said Jenn Laskin, an organizer with the Watsonville Brown Berets, one of the groups organizing the protest.

Whether or not they are acceptable is not your decision! So protest all you want. You won't gain any sympathy from us.

"We are not going to be able to intervene and keep the agents from taking someone, but the idea is that if you come to Santa Cruz, there's going to be someone watching you," Venegas said.

This a threat to Federal Authorities.

I agree.......why aren't they taking these threats seriously?

http://www.pslweb.org


Protest against the recent INS (I.C.E.) raids in Watsonville, Santa Cruz, and Hollister!
We need immediate action to prevent future raids!

Protest in Watsonville
Sunday, September 24, 2006 - 2pm
@ the Watsonville Plaza!

On September 7th and 8th, the communities of Watsonville, Santa Cruz, and Hollister woke up to attacks (arrests & deportations) from the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency (ICE, formerly INS). The ICE told local media that they targeted undocumented people with prior warrants, but of the 107 arrested, only 19 had warrants for arrest, and up to 90 were immediately deported without an opportunity to see an immigration judge or receive any kind of legal advice. It was reported that the ICE told the victims that they were either police or school officials. Once in the house, they questioned all people living there about their immigration status. Children were left without their parents, husbands without their wives, and wives without their husbands. We cannot let this happen again. Are you willing to join a JUSTICE NETWORK in your community? All college students, business owners, and church members are especially encouraged to participate! Please join us in making our community safe for all of us, regardless of legal status! Spread the word!

Maybe they will find the ones that got away at the protest.

"ICE deceived people into opening their doors."

I find this highly amusing and terribly ironic! Their entire existence is one of DECEPTION!!