Thread: Shelbyville[TN] Hispanics Fear Arrest

There is a sense of fear among many undocumented immigrants in Shelbyville.

ICE agents are in the midst of an operation, and some believe they're retaliating against Hispanics who are speaking out.

Customers are few and far between at Miguel Gonzalez's Shelbyville market.

"My store is empty, people don't come in like they used to," says Gonzalez.

The unpurchased tortillas here are a clear indicator.

Gonzalez says many undocumented members of the Hispanic community are afraid to come out of their homes.

"Fear to go to their jobs, fear to go shopping, they just don't know what to do right now," says Gonzalez.

Immigration and Customs agents are making arrests in Shelbyville and some believe the timing is suspicious.

Last week, the Hispanic community held a public forum and issued a report alleging racial profiling, and human rights violations by local and federal officers.

Some believe the new ICE operation is retaliation.

"Is it coincidence, or it it a concerted effort to terrorize the community into not standing up for their rights," says TIRCC Executive Director Stephen Fotopulos.

The Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition is bringing together advocates to take up the cause.

"Isn't this the South that we wanted to get rid of...this kind of behavior. I mean people acting for racial motivations," says Shelbyville Latino community supporter Bill Geissler.

FOX 17 News contacted ICE about the arrests, and received this statement, "These arrests...were part of a targeted enforcement action. In order not to compromise it, there are not further releasable details at this time."

Meanwhile, Miguel Gonzalez hopes his customers will soon return.

"When you see immigration knocking on doors, or go around the town all over, it's automatic, you're going to scare people," says Gonzalez.

For now the fresh tortillas he sells continue to pile up.

A spokesman for Immigration and Customs Enforcement says FOX 17 News will be notified when details of the Shelbyville investigation are made public.Shelbyville Hispanics Fear Arrest - John Dunn
Monday, September 19 2011, 10:13 PM CDT

Video at link:
http://www.fox17.com/newsroom/top_stori ... 9299.shtml

There is a sense of fear among many undocumented immigrants in Shelbyville.

Good to hear! Criminal should be afraid.

Glad to see the criminals afraid for a change instead of the innocent Americans that are being terrorized, victimized, and run out of their jobs, communities, and homes.

W

"Fear to go to their jobs, fear to go shopping, they just don't know what to do right now," says Gonzalez.

May I suggest "go home".

Gonzalez says many undocumented members of the Hispanic community are afraid to come out of their homes.

One sentence says it all.

A market that caters to illegals is complaining that the tortilla sales are down?

It's stunning that we've come to the point where there's even a conversation taking place about protecting the rights of those who have broken U.S. law! Truly we are living in the Twilight Zone!

Some believe the new ICE operation is retaliation.

Could we really get that lucky? Every time they hold a rally ICE should be there with MULTIPLE paddy wagons!

I fear the possibility of arrest too and I'm not hispanic or a person of "color" (though I think that term is stupid because all people have some color to them), nor did I do anything wrong! But you bet your booties that though I don't plan on doing anything against the law, the possibility of arrest is a deterrent too.

Be afraid, be very afraid... and let it hinder you from staying here illegally! If you are afraid of getting caught for doing something wrong... then.... DUH!... you must be doing something wrong.

Idiots..

If I want to live in a neighborhood full of bank robbers and go rob a bank I can tell the police they can't arrest me because everyone here is a bankrobber? Better yet, they can't even drive around the neighborhood, make any traffic stops on anyone who might live in the neighborhood, or even question anyone casually about bankrobbing? They especially aren't allowed to do or say anything to the ring leaders or the get away drivers? And we all have to feel bad if the bank robbers get scared and stop buying stuff from stores targeting bank robbers?

Instead they have to provide me everything to make my life easier and actually help me rob banks?

How stupid is the argument when put that way?

Wow. Just wow.