Latino Lawyers Condemn pre-Christmas Raids

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 /PRNewswire/ -- The Hispanic National Bar Association (HNBA) condemns the recent multi-state immigration enforcement raids by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials at Swift and Company plants and other areas throughout the United States. The HNBA is reviewing the raids to determine whether a recommendation is warranted for an investigation by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Office of Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, and the DHS Office of Inspector
General.

Immigration officers conducted pre-Christmas raids at U.S. meat packing plants across six states and rounded-up close to 1,283 workers. Reportedly, "non-Latinos" and light skinned employees were provided blue wristbands which exempted them from questioning, while "Latinos," persons perceived to be of Hispanic or Latino origin underwent immigration processing.

The raids occurred less than two weeks from the Christmas holidays and resulted in the separation of families, including children. The raids underscore the need for immediate comprehensive immigration reform.

"The raids so close to the holidays and are particularly harsh and unwarranted, especially since they involve hard-working people that show up daily at their jobs," said Jimmie V. Reyna, National President of the HNBA.

"But the serious concern is the use of police and immigration officials to sort amongst workers and determine upon unknown criteria who is Latino, and then to assume that all persons perceived to be Latinos are illegal.

Does this mean that by law all Latinos and only Latinos should carry citizenship papers? We don't think so. The government should immediately call for a moratorium on further raids until it determines how to eliminate "drag net enforcement" that entraps on the basis of race or color."

Posted by USTaino

Thursday, December 21, 2006