Thread: Menendez Accuses immigration agents of a 'witch hunt'

Menendez accuses immigration agents of 'witch hunt' Thursday, June 12, 2008
Last updated: Thursday June 12, 2008, EDT 10:24 AM BY HERB JACKSONWASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT

Audio: Listen to Sen. Menendez deliver his speech
Read the text of the speech

Sen. Bob Menendez accused immigration enforcement agents Wednesday of ignoring the rights of some citizens and legal immigrants because they speak Spanish or have dark skin.

"We need to face a blunt reality: Our legitimate desire to control our borders has too often turned into a witch hunt against Hispanic Americans and other people of color," Menendez, D-N.J., said in an impassioned 18-minute speech on the Senate floor. "Common sense repeatedly loses out to hysteria."

The son of Cuban immigrants who is a natural-born citizen, Menendez said all Americans should be worried about government agents entering people's homes without warrants and detaining people without charge, and he will introduce legislation shortly to prevent the unlawful detention of U.S. citizens and legal permanent residents.

"Before we accuse someone of being undocumented, there's one other document we should inspect first: It's called the Constitution of the United States," Menendez said. "It's time for immigration and law enforcement on all levels to rededicate themselves to respecting the rights the Constitution guarantees."

Menendez specifically cited two North Jersey residents' experiences, saying agents entered the Clifton home of Arturo Flores, a citizen, without showing a warrant, and held Maria Argueta of North Bergen, a legal immigrant, for 36 hours without cause.

Both are plaintiffs in a lawsuit against Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials filed by the Center for Social Justice at Seton Hall Law School in Newark.

"Those loud knocks on the door quickly woke these law-abiding individuals up from their American dreams," Menendez said. "These aren't undocumented immigrants getting pulled from their homes in the dead of night. They are United States citizens who are targeted because of their race, targeted because of their color."

In May, immigration agents arrested 491 people in New Jersey and New York, the largest number taken in a single month since an operation targeting immigration violators began in 2003.

Harold Ort, a spokesman for ICE's Newark office, said he could not comment on any cases that are involved in litigation, but he defended the way the agency decides on and carries out raids.

"We have targeted law enforcement operations based on investigations and intelligence processes that are ongoing," he said. "All of our agents have had sensitivity training and act professionally."

He said ICE agents are required to act as law enforcement officers and "as we would want to be acted upon if we were on the other end."

E-mail: jackson@northjersey.com
Audio: Listen to Sen. Menendez deliver his speech
Read the text of the speech


Sen. Bob Menendez accused immigration enforcement agents Wednesday of ignoring the rights of some citizens and legal immigrants because they speak Spanish or have dark skin.

"We need to face a blunt reality: Our legitimate desire to control our borders has too often turned into a witch hunt against Hispanic Americans and other people of color," Menendez, D-N.J., said in an impassioned 18-minute speech on the Senate floor. "Common sense repeatedly loses out to hysteria."

CAPITAL GAMES
Herb Jackson's notebook on covering Congress and Washington.
Read "Capital Games"
The son of Cuban immigrants who is a natural-born citizen, Menendez said all Americans should be worried about government agents entering people's homes without warrants and detaining people without charge, and he will introduce legislation shortly to prevent the unlawful detention of U.S. citizens and legal permanent residents.

"Before we accuse someone of being undocumented, there's one other document we should inspect first: It's called the Constitution of the United States," Menendez said. "It's time for immigration and law enforcement on all levels to rededicate themselves to respecting the rights the Constitution guarantees."

Menendez specifically cited two North Jersey residents' experiences, saying agents entered the Clifton home of Arturo Flores, a citizen, without showing a warrant, and held Maria Argueta of North Bergen, a legal immigrant, for 36 hours without cause.

Both are plaintiffs in a lawsuit against Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials filed by the Center for Social Justice at Seton Hall Law School in Newark.

"Those loud knocks on the door quickly woke these law-abiding individuals up from their American dreams," Menendez said. "These aren't undocumented immigrants getting pulled from their homes in the dead of night. They are United States citizens who are targeted because of their race, targeted because of their color."

In May, immigration agents arrested 491 people in New Jersey and New York, the largest number taken in a single month since an operation targeting immigration violators began in 2003.

Harold Ort, a spokesman for ICE's Newark office, said he could not comment on any cases that are involved in litigation, but he defended the way the agency decides on and carries out raids.

"We have targeted law enforcement operations based on investigations and intelligence processes that are ongoing," he said. "All of our agents have had sensitivity training and act professionally."

He said ICE agents are required to act as law enforcement officers and "as we would want to be acted upon if we were on the other end."

E-mail: jackson@northjersey.com


Im starting to feel the desperation.If I were a legal immigrant.Iwouldn't mind showing my proper I.D.Thats all they have to do.No immigration officer would give you a hard time if you had legal documents
There trying to make a big deal out of nothing..

http://www.northjersey.com/news/nationa ... 14119.html

"We need to face a blunt reality: Our legitimate desire to control our borders has too often turned into a witch hunt against Hispanic Americans and other people of color," Menendez, D-N.J., said in an impassioned 18-minute speech on the Senate floor. "Common sense repeatedly loses out to hysteria."

Get over it Menendez, when 70 % of illegals are of Latino or Mexican decent you are naturally going to come across more of them, you fool.

I would have to hear Homeland Security side of this before i made a judgement, and we all know where Menendez comes from the same racist group as LaRaza


>>ACTION ALERT 6/12<<
PLEASE TAKE ACTION ON NC. CAROLINA
INSTRUCTIONS AND INFORMATION!
http://www.alipac.us/ftopicp-702279.html#702279
Join Immigration Enforcement Groups for Historic Rally in Raleigh on June 18
http://www.alipac.us/ftopict-119113.html