Feature Archives

On Monday, September 25, federal authorities asserted U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers have arrested 109 people on suspected immigration violations, throughout the Sacramento area, including 12 in Lodi. The raids were part of the government’s “Operation Return to Sender” campaign of cracking down on undocumented immigrants. The raids are strikingly similar to the recent roundups in Santa Cruz, Watsonville and Hollister on September 7th and 8th, where 107 were arrested by ICE officials in a move that infuriated the community.
Condemnation of the raids

On September 7th and 8th, the communities of Watsonville, Santa Cruz, and Hollister woke up to attacks (arrests & deportations) from the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency (ICE, formerly INS). The ICE told local media that they targeted undocumented people with prior warrants, but of the 107 arrested, only 19 had warrants for arrest, and up to 90 were immediately deported without an opportunity to see an immigration judge or receive any kind of legal advice. It was reported that the ICE told the victims that they were either police or school officials. Once in the house, they questioned all people living there about their immigration status. Children were left without their parents, husbands without their wives, and wives without their husbands. Read more

A protest against "Operation Return To Sender" took place in the Watsonville Plaza on September 24th. Cars honked in support as people lined Main Street holding signs calling for a world without borders, dignity for workers, black and brown unity and solidarity with immigrants. A circle was formed and people from Watsonville discussed how their community has been affected by immigrantion raids. Read more and view photos || photos and comments || photos contra la migra

Audio: FSRN: Watsonville Rally Denounces Immigration Raids || revolutionary sister drops knowledge || voices contra la migra watson

see also: The 13th Annual Peace and Unity March on October 7th

According to media reports, 107 people from Santa Cruz, Watsonville and Hollister have been arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers in a sweep over September 7th and 8th. Of the immigrants, mostly from Mexico, but also from El Salvador, Guatemala and India, 44 have already been deported without prior access to lawyers. The rest are currently being held in custody at an undisclosed location. Many of those arrested in "Operation Return to Sender" have lived in the United States for the majority of their lives, and have homes and U.S.-born children.

Labor Day, September 4th, was a National Day of Action for Immigrant Rights. A March for Immigrant, Worker and Community Justice was held in San Francisco. Thousands gathered at 10am in Justin Herman Plaza and at 11:30am marched to Civic Center. The day of action focused on local struggles of immigrants, hotel workers, and those fighting displacement in BayView/Hunters Point. Photos: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8

Over ten thousand people marched in San José. The march started at King and Story roads and proceeded to Alum Rock Ave/E Santa Clara St before arriving at San Jose City Hall. Photos: 1 | 2 .

There was a march for immigrant rights in Oakland, that started at International Blvd. and 98th Ave and went to the Federal Building for an 11:30 rally. People also gathered for an immigrants' rights rally in Southside Park in Sacramento at 10am. There was also a March for Legalization at the Fulton Mall in Fresno Photos | Video .

Radical Women will host a celebration of Women’s Rights Day at 7:30 pm on Saturday, August 26th at Radical Women's office, New Valencia Hall, at 1908 Mission Street. The event will feature a multi-racial panel of female activists who have been organizing as part of a national movement to bring full rights to immigrants. They will be talking about the essential role of immigrant women in leading the fight for unconditional amnesty, open borders, and an end to criminalization and discrimination based on citizenhip status.

Immigrant rights activists gathered on July 28th at Fremont and Mowry Blvds. to counter the bi-weekly rally called by the racist East Bay Coalition for Border Security (EBCBS) which is looking to become an affiliate of the vigilante group, the Minutemen. The EBCBS, in an effort to hide the location of their demonstration from the anti-minutemen protesters, rallied a couple miles down Fremont Blvd in the Irvington neighborhood. By foot, bike and car, about 40 anti-minutemen protesters left Mowry Ave. and Fremont Blvd and went to the Irvington neighborhood (Fremont and Washington) to show solidarity with immigrants and route out fascism in Fremont.

A group of racists who organize through the website "Illegal Immigrant Protest dot com" called for an "Illegal Immigrant Protest Rally" at the Town Clock in Santa Cruz on July 22nd. Peace and social justice activists from across Santa Cruz County put out a call for solidarity with migrants and to confront and educate the out-of-town "anti-alien" group. About 30 activists showed up in solidarity with migrants and 3 "anti-alien" protesters came to Santa Cruz to scapegoat problems in our society on people migrating from Mexico to the United States. Feeling far too outnumbered and unwelcome, the racists returned to their cars and drove back over the hill.