Immigrant Activists Watch ICE Raids in Minnesota
New America Media, News report, Alondra Espejel, Posted: Dec 13, 2006
Editors Note: When some workers at the Swift meatpacking plant were arrested, immigration activists were there to watch. Alondra Espejel with the Minnesota Immigrant Freedom Network wrote this account for NAM.
WORTHINGTON, MINNESOTA -- 5:00 pm, Tuesday December 12, 2006. Today, Swift company workers in Worthington, Minnesota were arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials in a controversial immigration raid targeting the company’s workers. People communicating with the Minnesota Immigrant Freedom Network reported that Swift facilities were surrounded by ICE vehicles and estimated there were 280 agents present. Ten buses, which are thought to be able to transport anywhere between 400-500 people, are reported to be at the Swift building waiting to take workers. “Children are crying, families are crying, there are no words for me to describe how this event is tearing our community apart,” said Mike Potter, President of UFCW Local 1161 in Worthington, as he observed the bitter happenings at the Swift meatpacking plant.
Local Spanish radio host, Antonio Medina, describes the immigration raid as aggressive and ugly. “I went to the plant to see what was happening, but because I’m Latino they immediately asked me for my papers,” said Medina, “I felt like I was being treated like a criminal, I don’t work at Swift but I was asked for my immigration status nonetheless.” Medina, who usually broadcasts his Spanish radio show called Al Ritmo de Mi Tierra on Sunday and Monday nights, is allowed by the station manager to host a special program tonight at 7:00 pm to help the Worthington community access updated information on the day’s events. The information includes an ICE hotline number, 1-866-341-3858, where family members of those who were apprehended can call to find out more about the status of their loved ones. Additionally, the Minnesota Immigrant Freedom Network has set up a toll free number, 1-877-265-8817, so that Spanish speakers can call to report their cases and get guidance on the how to find the proper help.
“Immigration raids cause more problems than they solve, the raids do not address the root causes of immigration and this is why we call for a moratorium on all deportations and raids,” said Mariano Espinoza, Executive Director of the Minnesota Immigrant Freedom Network. According to Espinoza, new Minnesotans in Worthington contribute immensely to the local economy, they pay taxes, they have helped add more money to the social security system which has now been dubbed the “social security super fund,” they have helped rebuild the agricultural industry and have infused life into rural Minnesota cities that, had it not been for immigrant families, would have become ghost towns. “There are children who have now been left without parents,” said Pastor Andrade, a local community priest who is working with the new Minnesotans in Worthington to help heal the wounds that have been created by the immigration raids. “The community has been left in complete chaos,” added the Pastor, “we have no way of telling what will happen to these children nor when they will get to see their parents again, this will be a very painful Christmas for Worthington.”
12 midnight, Wed December 13, 2006
For over four hours, callers connected and exchanged information with Antonio Medina on his Al Ritmo de Mi Tierra special show about finding ways to get a hold of lawyers, loved ones and consulate offices representing Guatemala, Honduras and Mexico. Comments about children not wanting to go to school the next day were made by callers who wanted to report what the little kids in the community were feeling after experiencing such harsh and inhumane ICE tactics. People who were affected by the issue, facing the harsh reality of being at home alone without their siblings, mothers and neighbors, called our offices up until midnight still waiting to hear where ICE had decided to detain their loved ones. The search for our community members in the immigration detention labyrinth continues as the state of Minnesota braces for a cold, cold Christmas, compliments of ICE.
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User Comments
rather not say on Dec 26, 2006 at 06:32:47 said:
I think If you want to be here do it legally,but I think I.C.E. should not just hit the big cities,I know a plant here in Fairmont,I.C.E. never comes here thats why whenever there is a raid FF hires alot of illegals,they take away jobs that other people in this area could have but the one does the hiring rarely hires whites.
albene on Dec 21, 2006 at 02:52:55 said:
what is the population of mexico, I know it not much because all of them are in the USA demanding there right' send them all back to Mexico include there children
Ki Szimas on Dec 15, 2006 at 01:20:43 said:
The 'identity theft' bit is just a pretense. This isn't identity theft like on TV when someone steals credit card numbers. To clarify, let's say some of the people working at Swift were using other people's social security numbers. Guess what? All their social security taxes go into that other person's account! So, hey, use my SSN--I'll benefit!
And let's not pretend that Swift was trying to do the right thing here. They knew how many of their workers are undocumented. Like other packers, they advertise in Mexico. So this is a pretty convenient way for Swift to deal with the anticipated post-holiday slump--you don't have to lay off workers if lots have been taken by ICE.
And as for helping people become legal, the ones trying to help the workers arrested ARE and HAVE BEEN trying to do that. But our immigration laws are a mess, the citizenship process takes years, and guess what? the companies who hire these workers *need* them.
Use our emergency rooms as health insurance? You go get the numbers--I've seen them, and immigrants use far less in services than they pay in taxes, nationwide (it varies up or down, state to state). And the
g on Dec 15, 2006 at 00:28:55 said:
"... Go back and fight for it like we are fighting for ours..."
yes! i guess that you are fighting for this country in irak, killing inocent people and stealing their resources... that is the american way of doing things?
Joanna OConnell on Dec 14, 2006 at 12:12:35 said:
There seems to be a lot of confusion in the reporting (to put in charitably) and in these comments between "people who were detained" and "undocumented workers". Many of the people who were detained, handcuffed, separated from their children, treated with disrespect, are here legally and should never have been removed from the workplace.
henry magarin on Dec 14, 2006 at 02:47:43 said:
Hi, i mfrom guatemala i have 20 year in this country and also i do not stand why, the president bush or people white racist,because if this cuntry if dont have hispanic dont have economy, an people hispanic due hard job, an people white american due easy job,and people black take walfare. tellme sombody a both this ,,,,,,
Frank Livingston on Dec 13, 2006 at 22:22:27 said:
Why would you say controversial? Are they here illegally? YES. If they want to work and raise a family, then change their own country. Go back and fight for it like we are fighting for ours. How can an immigration raid against those who stole someone’s identity be a problem? Do illegal aliens ever think of who they are hurting when they steal someone’s identity? Nope. Those of you who are stealing from us are not helping us. Look at how you are bringing down the school scores in the “No child left behind law”. It costs us. The scared children who are at home, the mom and dads problem and they should have thought about it when they came running across the border. Fix your own country, quit trying to steal ours. Look at the number of illegal aliens who are involved in DWI accidents that kill Americans. Look at the number of Illegal aliens who rape our children. What are the numbers? Look at the number of illegals who use our emergency rooms as their private insurance policy. You broke our laws to get here. You broke our laws when you stole someone’s social security card. Why should I feel sorry for you when ICE finally does their jobs?
C Suits on Dec 13, 2006 at 05:38:57 said:
Instead of whining about how mistreated these people are why don't you have some concern for the people whose identites have been stolen by illegals.I am sick to death of pro immigration people saying these people are being picked on or singled out. What a crock. I have a hard time understanding why you don't help them become legal instead of wanting US citizens to give them a free ride. Help them learn english, help them become citizens, help them to obey the laws of this country and to repect it citizens. They have no one to blame but themselves for the situation they are in. The government of the United States is finally doing what it is supposed to be doing, protecting the citizens of this country. As far as you being asked for ID, blame that on the illegals too, they put you as well as all other latinos in this position. The kids are a sad situation and it is too bad these parents did not think of them before they came here illegally and stole someone else's life from them.
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