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Press Conference: Stop ICE Immigration Sweeps through Neighborhoods | |
Date | Thursday February 01 |
Time | 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM |
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Location Details | |
Immigrant Legal Resource Center (ILRC), 1663 Mission St., Ste. 602, San Francisco, |
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Event Type | Press Conference |
Organizer/Author | |
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Community Groups Call on Public Officials to Demand Halt on ICE Immigration Sweeps through Neighborhoods What: Press Conference on the Immigration Raids When: THURSDAY, February 1, 2007 at 12:00 PM Where: Immigrant Legal Resource Center (ILRC), 1663 Mission St., Ste. 602, San Francisco, CA 94103 Contact information about the press conference: Mark Silverman (ILRC): 415-305-8217; mark [at] ilrc.org Renee Saucedo (La Raza Centro Legal), 415 575-3500 Contact information for interviews with people working with CCISCO in Richmond where there was a very successful meeting this past Sunday. Cristina H. Espinoza (CCISCO): 925-301-6198; cciscocristina [at] aol.com <mailto:cciscocristina [at] aol.com> . El Comite de Padres Unidos, los Voluntarios de la Comunidad, and the Immigrant Legal Resource Center will be holding a press conference to criticize the immigration authorities enforcement arm, ICE, (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) for their conduct during at least the past two weeks, ICE authorities have posed as police officers and gone door-to-door in neighborhoods in search of people, or have stood outside grocery stores and arrested residents who cannot provide documentation legal residency. According to ICE out of 119 detainees in Contra Costa County, 94 were "encountered in the process", meaning they had no deportation orders. "These arrests are ripping our communities and families apart," testifies Jessica Peregrina, St. Mark's and CCISCO leader. "Children are being separated from their parents, people are afraid to walk on the street, or send their children to school." These practices make it much more difficult for Richmond police to combat crime because they put roadblocks in the way of immigrant communities cooperating with the police. "I believe that raids are illegal and unconstitutional," states Mark Silverman with the Immigrant Legal Resource Center. "I know that they are immoral. This makes no sense, especially in a year when Congress is moving to enact comprehensive immigration reform." Community leaders are demanding an immediate halt to these door-to-door raids and calling for a full investigation of the actions of ICE officers. Community leaders are also calling for city officials and public agencies to put pressure on ICE to halt these raids, follow guidelines and stop misrepresenting themselves. Community leaders want to declare Richmond a place of refuge and lodge formal complaints with the Department of Homeland Security to protest these divisive tactics. "ICE needs to halt this campaign of fear that it is waging in our community," states Fr. Ramiro Flores, pastor of St. Mark's Chuch. "We are calling on our public officials to protest these tactics and call for real immigration reform." 30 Mark Silverman Director of Immigration Policy Immigrant Legal Resource Center 1663 Mission St., Ste. 602 San Francisco, CA 94103 Email: mark [at] ilrc.org <mailto:mark [at] ilrc.org> Tel: 415-255-9499 Ext 745 |
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