South Bay immigration arrest sparks outcry among community
By Banks Albach balbach@dailynewsgroup.com.
MediaNews
Article Launched: 10/15/2007 10:13:13 PM PDT

http://www.mercurynews.com

A South Bay community and religious activist detained last week by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents who had come knocking on the door with an arrest warrant for someone else now faces possible deportation, sparking an outcry among friends and parishioners of a Mountain View church.

While staying with his goddaughter's mother on the 300 block of Green Lake Drive in Sunnyvale, 37-year-old Lucio Caciano Miranda was snared by the agents after opening the front door Wednesday morning. The agents were investigating another man who had most likely lived in the house before the current residents.

But after quizzing Miranda, a Santa Clara resident, about his immigration status, the agents handcuffed and transported him in an unmarked car first to San Francisco and later to jail in Yuba County, north of Sacramento.

Regardless of the name on the warrant, ICE agents are required while conducting their raids to arrest anyone found to be in the country illegally, ICE spokeswoman Lori Haley said.

The policy, and Miranda's resulting arrest, has angered his friends and fellow parishioners at St. Athanasius Church in Mountain View. Philip Crosby, a member of the church and a leader with Peninsula Interfaith Action, helped organize a rally Monday night for Miranda on the 100 block of North Rengstorff Avenue.

Last spring, Miranda completed a three-year program at the Diocese of San Jose's Institute for Leadership and Ministry. Crosby and

other friends said Miranda also has worked closely with young people, especially gang members, for about eight years through the group Youth for Christ.
Crosby and others were also hoping to protest in front of Miranda's hearing today before an immigration judge in San Francisco. He is scheduled to appear at 9 a.m. Miranda does not appear to have a criminal record, said his lawyer, James Bennett.