Raids hurt families, undermine values
July 6, 2008
Once again, in the name of national security, we have imposed unnecessary hardship on spouses and children of immigrant workers in Maryland ("46 held in immigration sweep," July 1).

The aggressive immigration raids in Annapolis last week and the subsequent detention of some workers help no one.

The U.S. citizens who are the spouses and children of the detainees suffer the loss of their breadwinners and undergo emotional upheaval while the detainees are moved from place to place.

Detainees in this group have already been moved between Frederick, Howard, Carroll and St. Mary's counties and to the Eastern Shore and York, Pa.



Once in York, some detainees will be shipped to Texas and California and other places where it will be very hard to provide them legal support.

It is normal procedure for the Department of Homeland Security to move such detainees multiple times, eviscerating their ability to consult with counsel and see their families.

The DHS detention, and the practice of moving those detained to facilities far from their loved ones and counsel, is costly to taxpayers as well.

Prolonged detention of immigrants also undermines the idea of our nation as a haven for those who are wiling to work hard, the huddled masses yearning to be free.

Cynthia B. Rosenberg

Baltimore

The writer is an immigration attorney.

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