Thread: House Panel Criticizes ICE Workplace Raids

House Panel Criticizes ICE Workplace Raids

On Tuesday, the House Workforce Protections Subcommittee of the House Education and Labor Committee held a hearing on immigration raids and their effect on the children of illegal aliens arrested in the raids. Chairwoman Lynn Woolsey (D-CA) was critical of Immigration and Custom Enforcement's (ICE) tactics, describing the effect that workplace enforcement raids had on several children on her district. She also charged that when ICE raided a meat processing plant in Iowa on May 12th, they interrupted a state investigation of child labor violations. (Statement of Hon. Lynn Woolsey, Subcommittee Hearing On "ICE Workplace Raids: The Impact on U.S. Citizen Children, Families, and Communities," May 20, 200

The panel included three witnesses who were also critical of ICE's procedures, including, Kathryn Gibney, Principal of San Pedro Elementary School; Simon Romo, Chief Counsel of New Mexico Child Protective Services; and Janet Murguia, President of the National Council of La Raza. Murguia testified that her organization's studies on ICE raids revealed, "…evidence of increased economic hardship, social stigma, fear, isolation, family separation, disruptions in schooling and negative emotional and mental health consequences for children." (Statement of Janet Murguia, President, National Council of La Raza, Before the House Education and Labor Subcommittee on Workplace Protections, May 20, 200

Congressman Buck McKeon (R-CA) responded to Ms. Murguria's testimony by arguing the parents of these children bear the bulk of responsibility, "A person who entered the country illegally or overstays their visa - they are the ones who are really putting those children in jeopardy by their own actions, and they should take those children into account," (San Francisco Chronicle, Immigration Raids Terrify Kids, House is Told, May 21, 200

James Spero, Acting Deputy Assistant Director Office of Investigations, defended ICE's actions at the hearing. He told the committee that when it is operationally possible, ICE coordinates with state and local social service agencies to assist with humanitarian needs. He also explained the difficulties in proactively working with social service agencies, while protecting the integrity of the investigation. Spero testified, "ICE takes extraordinary efforts to ensure that its law enforcement operations are conducted in a safe, humane, and professional manner, including extensive preoperational planning and coordination. Worksite enforcement operations are not poorly planned, haphazard incidents, but rather are professional law enforcement operations conducted by a professional law enforcement agency whose primary mission is the enforcement of the laws of the United States and the protection of the American people." (Statement of James Spero, Before the House Education and Labor Subcommittee on Workplace Protections, May 20, 200

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.c ... e=politics

good for McKeon. im glad someone stood up to LaRaza and told them how it was


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Congressman Buck McKeon (R-CA) responded to Ms. Murguria's testimony by arguing the parents of these children bear the bulk of responsibility, "A person who entered the country illegally or overstays their visa - they are the ones who are really putting those children in jeopardy by their own actions, and they should take those children into account," (San Francisco Chronicle, Immigration Raids Terrify Kids, House is Told, May 21, 200

McKeon! That's "hate speech"! Media Matters is going to get you! Can't wait to read the press release or watch the video on youtube.

I couldn't agree more and I've said that myself over and over on this fourm. Foolish Parents did this to their children, not the federal government.

Dixie