Thread: Hudson parents threatened with deportation

Hudson parents threatened with deportation

Father of 2 children detained, mother appears before ICE

Updated 10:05 pm, Wednesday, March 1, 2017


About 25 members of the Columbia County Sanctuary Movement and Capital Region-based New Sanctuary for Immigrants rallied against
deportations outside the U.S. Department of Homeland Security in Latham on Wednesday, March 1, 2017. (Emily Masters / Times Union)

Ramiro Martinez-Chacon was cleaning his car outside his Hudson home Feb. 7 when routine turned to nightmare.

Federal immigration officers pulled up, asked a few questions and snapped him into handcuffs as his 12-year-old and 6-year-old sons, both U.S. citizens, watched helplessly.
As he was led away, Martinez-Chacon cried out, "Take care of each other. Take care of your mother," his niece Gloria Martinez said Wednesday outside the U.S. Department of Homeland Security office in Latham.

Behind her, about 25 protesters held signs that read, "Sanctuary Everywhere" and "Stop Deportations."

Members of the Columbia County Sanctuary Movement and the Capital Region group New Sanctuary for Immigrants organized the rally outside the Route 7 federal facility to support Martinez-Chacon's wife Maria de Jesus Canterero Mercado as she met with federal agents about her own immigration status.

A spokesman for the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement said Martinez-Chacon, of El Salvador, is currently facing criminal prosecution for re-entry after deportation, a federal felony punishable by up to 20 years.

According to the criminal complaint, Martinez-Chacon was removed from the U.S. in December 2000 at Miami, Fla.

"A search of relevant immigration records indicates that Martinez-Chacon has not sought nor obtained the express permission of the Attorney General, or his successor, the Secretary of Homeland Security, to return to the United States following the removal," the complaint states.

De Jesus has been in the U.S. since 2002 and is now under an order of deportation. The mother of two meets with ICE officials every month to verify her whereabouts and activity, praying they do not detain her as well.

"If she was deported, what would happen to the children?" the Rev. Shannan Vance-Ocampo said Wednesday after Maria's latest check-in.

The pastor accompanied de Jesus as her translator.

Gloria Martinez said supervisors told her aunt she would not be detained or deported at this time because she has two young children who are U.S. citizens.

Martinez-Chacon is being held on behalf of ICE at the Rensselaer County jail while federal officials decide whether to deport him. His niece said he had no notice he'd be detained and had no idea why he was targeted. Relatives said Martinez arrived in the U.S. in the 1990s.

"They just said 'they were around the area,'" Gloria Martinez said.
Martinez-Chacon was one of about 600 undocumented immigrants detained across the country during sweeping raids conducted by ICE in early February. Several immigrants were detained in the Hudson Valley, federal officials confirmed.

ICE maintains that recent sweeps are no different than those under President Barack Obama that targeted immigrants with criminal histories or multiple immigration violations — "gang members, drug dealers and others," as President Donald Trump described them on Twitter Feb. 13. But immigration advocates note that ICE agents have also arrested others they find while looking for specific individuals with criminal histories.

"Could you imagine your parent being told they could be detained or deported?" Gloria Martinez said.

"And then watch them be handcuffed, as they tell you to take care of each other?" Bryan MacCormack, an organizer for the Columbia County Sanctuary Movement, replied.

Martinez-Chacon and Maria de Jesus are both from El Salvador, a small Central American country whose bloody gang warfare has sent a steady stream of immigrants to the U.S. for over a decade. In 2015, El Salvador was named the murder capital of the world.

"They're scared. They're terrified," Gloria Martinez said.

Although de Jesus' meeting "went quickly, that does not mean there is any guarantee" she'll get the same answer in April, Joe Paparone, an organizer for New Sanctuary for Immigrants, said, He added about 11 million undocumented immigrants nationwide are threatened by an increase in deportations.

"We reject that," Paparone said. "We reject the racism and xenophobia from top officials. We reject the criminalization of immigrants."

Colonie police officers on scene said they did not expect any arrests or tickets, since the rally was peaceful and protesters were cooperating with police orders not to block the front door, stairs or driveway.

http://www.timesunion.com/local/arti...n-10968804.php

Deport them both, and remove the children with them. These are minor children, where their parents go, they go. Period.

GET THEM ALL OUT OF HERE, MINOR CHILDREN AT THEIR SIDES.

Because they had children doesn't make them immune to the law. How much did she get in welfare for the two anchor babies? It is a good bet that Medicaid paid for her hospital bills and ongoing medical needs. What more does she think she is entitled to?

If these good protestors want to sponsor, support and pay all of her bills personally, instead of standing in the street with a sign they should step up. Just like the churches that get government contracts and make money. If they bring them, they should be 100% responsible for them forever.JMO

We have to change this anchor baby crap as soon as possible.

"If she was deported, what would happen to the children?" the Rev. Shannan Vance-Ocampo said Wednesday after Maria's latest check-in.

I assume that is a rhetorical question. Everyone knows they either go with her or guardianship is turned over to someone here legally.

Rev. Shannan Vance-Ocampo...let me answer your question.

The ILLEGAL parents are the guardians and custodians of their minor children. Not the USA or it's taxpayers...we did not give birth to her children...she did. She takes them with her! Unless of course she goes to jail...then she hands them over to the Father or some Legal guardian until she gets out.

Do not tear the illegal families apart...deport the whole family unit.