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Indybay Feature

Quezada, Rights Groups Blast ICE Raids - Calls for Stronger Sanctuary City Enforcement

by Eric Quezada
Eric Quezada, candidate for District 9 Supervisor, is coming out strong on the ICE raids, and calling for vigorous sanctuary policy enforcement and more assistance to immigrant families.
Eric Quezada and Community Leaders Blast ICE Raids Against Families

Calls for beefed up sanctuary policies and immigrant support funds


BEFORE DAWN WEDNESDAY MORNING, a San Francisco immigrant family, reportedly all U.S. citizens, was raided and harassed at gunpoint by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency – and by the end of the day, 17 Bay Area residences were raided and several people detained, according to immigrant rights attorneys.

At about 4:30 a.m., ICE officials broke down doors, tossed around family belongings, pointed their pistol at Julio Cesar Hernandez from just a meter away, and then handcuffed all the adults; Hernandez’ two children, aged 4 years and 7 months old, were traumatized by the raid.

In response, District 9 Supervisorial candidate Eric Quezada is teaming with immigrant community leaders to mobilize legal and social resources for families victimized by ICE raids. “Everybody has rights, whether they’re documented or not,” said Quezada, who has aided immigrant families with housing, legal, and employment assistance for years. “This harassment of families is shameful, and must be strongly condemned by local leaders.”

Quezada called for swift implementation of a Municipal ID program to protect immigrants from violence and harassment, and greater funding for immigrant legal and education services to stabilize families. We need to strengthen the sanctuary ordinance, and we need to see some political courage from the mayor in these moments, to stand up for what’s right.”

“We need leaders who aren’t afraid of political fallout, to stand up for immigrant communities. We need city leaders who have consistently stood by immigrant communities, which are a lifeblood of our city’s culture and economy.

“I have trembling in my heart,” Hernandez told immigrant rights attorney Mark Silverman. “I told them that I am a U.S. citizen. There were about 20 law enforcement people in the house. When I talked about my civil rights, one of them laughed.”



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FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE VISIT http://www.ericquezada.com, and contact cdcook [at] igc.org.
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