Statement from Arturo Rodriguez, UFW Pres., Condemning Deportation of the Cuevas Family

STATEMENT FROM ARTURO S. RODRIGUEZ, PRESIDENT
UNITED FARM WORKERS OF AMERICA, AFL-CIO
CONDEMNING DEPORTATION OF THE CUEVAS FAMILY
JUNE 30, 2004 SAN FRANCISCO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT


All of us in the farm workers movement condemn the forced
deportation by U.S. immigration authorities of Delfine and Angelita Cuevas and their three children, Donna, Dale and Dominique.

The injustice and suffering to which this family has been
subjected underscores the urgent need for humane and rational immigration reform. Until Delfine Cuevas was forced to quit his job as a member of SEIU Local 1000 last April, he spent years as a hard-working, tax-paying contributor to America¹s economy. His daughter, Donna, recently graduated from California State University, Hayward. His two youngest children are students at San Jose State University.

This family epitomizes the American dream and the contributions immigrants make to American society.

To those who say these hard-working, tax-paying people are
criminals and trespassers, we ask: Why do you continue to buy most fresh fruits and vegetables that come to your tables through the skill and toil of undocumented farm workers? Why do you patronize hotels and restaurants or purchase processed or manufactured goods, all of which come from the hands of undocumented immigrants? America¹s economy, and American agriculture, cannot survive without them.

Senator John Kerry has promised to sponsor comprehensive
immigration reform if he is elected President. He has also pledged to sign into law the historic AgJobs bill, which would let undocumented farm workers earn the legal right to permanently stay in this country by continuing to work in agriculture. Strongly supported by both growers and the United Farm Workers, it has 63 cosponsors in the U.S. Senate.

Such reforms are needed to prevent needless suffering by more
families like the Cuevases.

- end -

Note: I am including the full text that was sent by Arturo S. Rodriguez, even though I believe that it is incredibly difficult to put any faith in any member of the Democratic Party, since the law that was passed under Clinton in '96(the IIIR)was largely responsible for the deportation of the Cuevas family. Inaction over the last year or so on the Democrats and Republicans part also allowed the Cuevas family to be deported, even though there is a bill in Congress called the Dream Act that is ready to be passed and could have at least stopped Dominique and Dale from being deported, since they were still in school at San Jose State. In a strange twist last night as I was watching the corporate news a news story came on the screen about Kerry not supporting drivers licenses for immigrants. So though I respect Arturo S. Rodriguez's right to put out this endorsement of Kerry and the Democrats at the end of this otherwise beautiful letter condemning the deportation of the Cuevas family, I also feel very strongly that if Kerry and other democrats really support immigrants rights, they would take a stand now before the election and stop the increasing attacks on the immigrant community which have been growing in number since 9/11.