Thread: CO: Latinos Unidos members urge city council to oppose ICE

Latinos Unidos members urge city council to oppose ICE office in Greeley

Vanessa Delgado, (Bio) vdelgado@greeleytribune.com
May 16, 2007

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Latino organizers said they want justification for establishing an Immigration and Customs Enforcement office in Greeley and are calling on its proponents to respond.

Last month, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security sided with U.S. Sen. Wayne Allard and determined there was a need for an ICE sub-office in Greeley and would consider relocating its current office from Brush.

Members of Latinos Unidos said an office would increase existing racism, racial profiling of Latinos, and it would divide the community.

"We want to ask the question, 'Are there any secret documents our elected officials are using to be so adamant in opening an ICE office in Greeley?' " said Latinos Unidos Co-Chair, Juvenal Cervantes. "We would also like to see the criteria ICE used to determine that need. Immigration is not just a Greeley issue, it is a state issue, so why focus on our community?"

Cervantes asked the Greeley City Council to join the group in opposing an ICE office. The group also sent a letter to Allard, asking him to meet with Latinos Unidos members and Greeley residents to explain why he feels an ICE office is needed.

When the office was first proposed by Weld District Attorney Ken Buck in 2005, council members backed off because they said it was a federal issue. Buck, along with other supports of an ICE office said it would help the county address issues of identity theft and drug and gang crime.

Buck worked with Allard, and in July, Allard attached an amendment to the Homeland Security Appropriations Bill that set money aside to evaluate the cost and need for office.

"It has always been the position of Latinos Unidos and Greeley City Council that this is a federal issue. Well, the federal government has decided," Buck said. "If they want that justification then they need to go the federal government and ask them for that justification."


http://greeleytrib.com/article/20070516/NEWS/105160090

Members of Latinos Unidos said an office would increase existing racism, racial profiling of Latinos, and it would divide the community.

Ah yes, bring out the old race card again.

Originally Posted by pjr40

Members of Latinos Unidos said an office would increase existing racism, racial profiling of Latinos, and it would divide the community.

Ah yes, bring out the old race card again.

Yup, I'm getting about tired of the race card being pulled. Illegal knows no race, religion, etc, etc. ILLEGAL is ILLEGAL.

What also gets left out are the legal immigrants that want to have a local office to update paperwork, check on status, do interviews, etc. This will be a positive add for those here legally.

I would think its obvious an ICE office being installed locally isn't out of line when a raid on just one business in this community netted 280+ illegals.

How about the need for all the Mexican Consulates?

What would Mr. Cervantes say to polling American citizens about the need for all the Mexican consulates?

I am so sick and tired of these special interest groups trying to dictate policy, when it comes to doing what we need to as a country to tackle ILLEGALS working in this country!
It's plain people u need to be a LEGAL RESIDENT of this COUNTRY TO WORK HERE!
NOTE to employers of ILLEGALS: You to need to be held accountable!
Whether it be fines for first, second offenses and then legal action after that! Let's face it alot of the problem lies with the employers who want them as a slave labor force!