Thread: Hispanic leaders urge moratorium on workplace immigration..

http://www.dfw.com/mld/startelegram/new ... 292268.htm

Posted on Thu, Dec. 21, 2006email thisprint thisreprint or license thisHispanic leaders urge moratorium on workplace immigration raidsMICHELLE ROBERTS
Associated Press
SAN ANTONIO - Hispanic leaders called Thursday for a moratorium on workplace raids like recent ones at six meatpacking plants, saying immigration reform in Congress should be completed first.

"This is the time to take action because families are being destroyed," said Rosa Rosales, president of the League of United Latin American Citizens.

She and others at a news conference here called on federal officials to halt raids targeting undocumented workers, saying such roundups harm workers who are simply trying to support their families.

"We would like the raids to stop - a moratorium on them - until we can come up with comprehensive immigration reform," Rosales said.

Last week, federal agents raided six Swift & Co. meatpacking plants and arrested nearly 1,300 workers. Federal immigration officials accused workers of stealing identities and Social Security numbers to secure jobs at the plants.

An estimated 12 million illegal immigrants are in the United States, but workplace raids have been relatively rare, with attention focused on border enforcement instead.

"For many years, that has been the status quo," said Jaime Martinez, president of the Labor Council for Latin American Advancement, a division of the AFL-CIO. Now, "they're trying to arrest as many people as possible until there's a guest worker program."

Immigration and Customs Enforcement spokesman Marc Raimondi said that while Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff has made it clear that comprehensive immigration reform is necessary, the agency must enforce the existing law.

"We're going to enforce the law because that's what our mandate is," Raimondi said.

Border security continues to be a high priority, but ICE has increased interior enforcement as well, Raimondi said. The number of workplace enforcement operations tripled between fiscal year 2005 and 2006, he said.

Last week's raid at the Swift plants was the largest ever.

Over the last several years, President Bush and several members of Congress have proposed plans to allow more immigrant guest workers, but proposals have failed to get traction as factions fight over whether such programs should have time limits or provide ways for illegal immigrants to obtain legal status without returning to their home countries.

Rosales said she's hopeful immigration policy changes will be enacted after the Democrat-controlled Congress takes office in January. She plans to meet with congressional leaders in the upcoming days to talk about making immigration policy a priority, she said.

Rosales said she's hopeful immigration policy changes will be enacted after the Democrat-controlled Congress takes office in January. She plans to meet with congressional leaders in the upcoming days to talk about making immigration policy a priority, she said.

I certainly hope someone is speaking for the majority of Americans! We also want immigration policy to be a priority, but something tells me our desires don't mesh with Rosales'.

If you come here illegally, you take that risk. Families can relocate. IN fact, these special interest groups can help them relocate and fund them on their way. If they love them that much, they should help them in their home countries as well as the churches.

You don't have to be in America to help your fellow man.

funny.... there has been a moratorium on enforcement since 1965 when the basic law was "liberalized" and Teddy Kennedy, Lyndon Johnson and others were assuring us there would be no

a) mass immigration surge
and
b) no changes in ethnic mix

She and others at a news conference here called on federal officials to halt raids targeting undocumented workers, saying such roundups harm workers who are simply trying to support their families.

So, to use that logic, thieves, and robbers, or other criminals who also have families, should not be arrested? And yes---illegals are THIEVES and ROBBERS, and CRIMINALS!

Exactly ThomasMoore.

Honestly, I wish Hispanic leaders and others would quit defending illegal aliens. Why are Hispanic leaders the ones running to the rescue of criminals? They are actually defending illegal aliens and their criminal deeds. That is just so wrong. I would not be part of an organization that supported, protected or defended criminals.

Dixie