Hearing in Chicago re. Sanctuary Aug. 5, 10:00 a.m.
Antonio Zavala/Corresponsal La Raza |
2008-07-24
| La Raza
Translation:
The municipal hearing to investigate nearly 200 arrests of undocumented Latin Americans by Chicago Police, whose cases fell without explanation in the hands of the Office of Immigration and Protection of Customs (ICE), will take part on August 5.
The hearing, promoted by the eight latin American councilmen of Chicago and carried out by the Committee of Human Relations, lead by Billy Ocasio (D-26), would be from 10 to a.m. to noon, and would include the presence of high official of the municipal government giving testimony.
Possibly invited to give testimony will be the Superintendent of the Chicago Police, Jody Weis; the Sheriff of the Cook, Tom Dart; a representative of the Legal Department of the city hall and some of the latin American councilmen, perhaps Daniel Sol�*s, since he was who on July 9 introduced the corresponding resolution, that made possible such hearing.
It is still not known if a representative of ICE would be invited to answer questions.
Besides, the Committee of Human Relations would also invite one or two members of the Center Sin Fronteras and the 10 de Marzo Coalition.
Members of the community in general will also be able to give testimony if they are registered before the start of the hearing, which will be in the City Council, located in the second floor of City Hall.
The information that the Committee of Human Relations gathers during the hearing would then be delivered to mayor Richard M. Daley and will ask for answers in 15 days.
"It all depends on what happens in the hearing", explained Hector Villagrana, team leader of councilman Ocasio.
Executive order 85-1
In question is if there are violations to municipal executive order 85-1, which since 1985 prohibits city employers to ask, or to investigate if a person has or does not have documents to live legally in this country.
The problem with this executive order, enacted during the administration of mayor Harold Washington, is that it does not have punishments or a against those who violate it, admit the activists.
List of arrested
In the passed days 60 people were arrested for crimes not related to immigration, but whose cases ended before ICE. Although not all cases are documented, leaders calculate that from March there have been some 200 people delivered to ICE that were arrested in Chicago for traffic violations.
The list of people under arrest was delivered to Villagrana by Jorge Mújica, of the 10 de Marzo Coalition, during a press conference outside the offices of councilman Ocasio in 3236 to the West of Street Division.
If evidence is found that shows that Chicago Police violated the executive order that protects the undocumeted , Mújica declared that he expects the modification so that the regulation include fines or punishments. "We want the executive order to be reinforced", said Mújica.
The activist also declared to the press that community organizations would be willing to sueto the Police Department if the evidence shows that there was undue cooperation with ICE agents in the city. "We suspect that the Police is alerting ICE", indicated Mújica.
Far from diminishing, the community activists denounced that the cases of undocumented people under arrest by Chicago Police eventually reported to ICE are increasing.
During the press conference three new cases were made known to the public.
One of them is the case of Carmel Mart�*nez, of 38 years, who her relatives said was arrested in Chicago June 5 under charges that she was driving under the influence of alcohol and without a license.
His sister, Rosa Mart�*nez, told La Raza that the family paid a bail of $1,500 so that the defendant would be free, but that onJuly 16 she had not left the jail nor did they tell her where he was.
"They removed him from the Cook County jail but they don't tell us anything else". complained the sister. "We are worried and we do not know if he has been not to communicate and and why", she denounced.
Another similar case is Ranferi Velázquez, of 47 years, who was arrested in Chicago July 1 for driving drunk and when his family went to pay the bail, someone reported to them "not to worry, he has an immigration hold".
In this case the relatives have been able to visit and to see their relative, although nothing can be done regarding his immigration hold. "It is a trauma when we go to see him", said Evelia Velázquez, his wife.
The third case involves Albino Rojas, of 26 years and who according to his brother Guillermo went to leave a friend in the car and they stopped him for running a stop sign and also has an "immigration hold".
