Thread: Roundup of hundreds rattles illegal workers

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/spe ... 09000.html

From taco truck owners in Houston, construction workers in Phoenix and
Boston landscapers to pro-migrant advocates in Washington, D.C.,
Wednesday's nine-state roundup of hundreds of illegal workers has dealt
a staggering blow to the momentum of pro-immigration demonstrations,
according to organizers.

Immigrants who only weeks ago were chanting "Yes, we can!" in some of
the largest rallies in this country's history are now asking themselves
"what will come next?"

"It's awfully coincidental that these raids are happening now just when
the people are standing up and saying 'enough is enough'," said
Germonique Jones, a spokeswoman for the D.C.-based Center for
Community, the umbrella organization that organized many of the April
10 marches.

Estela Jimenez, head of the Houston-based National Association of Taco
Stands, said that members have been telephoning her all day.

"People are asking me what else is going to happen," she said, "they
ask if this is what the government is doing in response to the
protests."

Immigration officials Thursday denied that the raids on IFCO Systems,
an international supply services company, had anything to do with the
recent debates over immigration law.

"We don't react to the political arena or criminal environment of the
day when we conduct criminal investigations," said Scott Hatfield,
assistant special agent in charge for the Houston branch of Immigration
and Customs Enforcement.

But immigrants across the nation are not so sure, organizers said, and
some are having doubts of continuing the fight.

"I spoke to one owner of a taco truck," Jimenez said, "who said he was
worried because if this continues, people will not want to come out to
the businesses, they will not want to come out into the street."

In Phoenix, one of the cities where IFCO plants and offices were swept
by immigration officials, roundups have continued, according to Lydia
Hernandez, an organizer for the Arizona Coalition for Migrant Rights.

Immigration officials have set up checkpoints across the city and are
screening motorists, she said. Messages left for officials of the
Phoenix branch of ICE seeking comment were not returned.

"People are now rattled," she said.

Immigration officials in Houston would not comment on any upcoming
plans but did say that they will continue to concentrate on workplace
enforcement.

"Everytime there is a raid, there is a feeling of alarm in the
community," said Ali Noorani, executive director of the Massachusetts
Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition. "These are people living
underground."

But, Noorani said, he has seen signs that recent adversity may
strengthen the resolve of pro-immigrant advocates.

After past raids "the reaction used to be that (ICE is) going to come
for me next. Now the feeling is 'we have to keep pushing for change,' "
he said.

Cristobal Hinojosa, a Houston organizer, said that plans to participate
in a May 1 nationwide boycott will go forward.

"The people are angry. Many people in Houston have marched and wanted
to have their presence respected in the country," he said.

In Houston the raids resulted in 67 arrests. All but 14 of those
apprehended had been assigned court dates and released by Wednesday
evening.

Nelson Chavarria, who had his papers in order and was one of only five
workers left after the Homeland Security buses pulled away on
Wednesday, said he had more work than usual a day later.

"I'll be frank. Here, everyone knows that the majority of people
working for the company are undocumented," said Chavarria, who earns
about $10 an hour, plus overtime, after 15 years with the company.

''I don't know what's going to happen now."

He loaded a trailer with pallets Thursday while his wife's 19-year-old
nephew, who is from Honduras, waited in a detention facility to be
deported.

''He's a good boy," Lucia Andino, Chavarria's wife, said of Christian
Gutierrez. ''It's so sad."

He had been staying with the family during the 18 months he had worked
for IFCO Systems.

Several family members had worked for the company before, Andino said,
and several of them were hired without documentation.

I don't know why they're worried. They were released and they'll never report for their court date. It'll be back to business as usual.

ohhh it's soooooo sad....sooooooo sad...(violins playing) poor pitiful lawbreakers....They didn't realize, of course, that there were any consequences to their decision to come to this country illegally and bring all their families and friends with them...just looked like a gravy train...hop on.

I am weary of the gentle euphemisms that describe these people who are attempting to steal our country and everything in it....placed in a nice soft light..praised, even, for their perfidy. Barf

And now some of them are 'nervous'? I certainly hope so..along with the companies that hire them and the politicians that support them.

"What is it about 'illegal' you don't understand?" has never fit better than in these instances.

Go, ICE...

MJ

:P Its a great thing to have them worried. If i was in thier city i would call into the Radio stations that they listen to and advise them of a check point close to companies that are employing them. Also I used to have an old Border Patrol passanger van. If i could buy it back i would just drive buy those places Its not marked now but they would still get the point and shrink into the shadows. Just a Little Fun for this Disabled American Veteran

Yes, sadly it does seem like "show" to calm the troops on this side. It really does no good to catch and release. But it is nice to see that there is some fear in them. I was getting pretty upset at the masses thinking they were going to just march in and take over. I never thought there would be a mass deportation and if they'd only follow through ,it could be done bit by bit, once that border is secured.

I'm getting tired of the media's touchy-feely tones.....we have laws...these people need to know this...

They are going to use the "poor old me" song, and we cannot allow that.

This morning on Foxnews, E.D. said her dentist told her there was a town close to where he lived, that had lots of Italians, many generations, that speak nothing but Italian. Said she he told her, they have no want of assimilating, as they would have learned English over all these years.

She didn't say what town it was.