LULAC urges Moritorium on Immigration raids

Washington, DC - The League of United Latin American Citizens condemns the unnecessary worksite raids that took place last week at six Swift & Co. meatpacking plants.

Over 1,300 employees were arrested and families were separated from their children.

“We demand a halt to further immigration raids unless the government demonstrates that a particular arrest is necessary to protect public safety or for national security,” said LULAC National President Rosa Rosales. “The manner in which the raids were conducted has caused psychological harm to the immigrants and their families.We must enforce our laws in a humane manner that balances our economic and security needs with our national values.”

LULAC plans to challenge any violations of the workers constitutional rights in court. We have joined with other national Hispanic organizations, including MALDEF, NALEO, NCLR and the National Hispanic Bar Association in sending letters to U.S. Secretary Michael Chertoff urging for a temporary halt on the raids.

There is concern that some arrested in Minnesota were denied access to an attorney in violation of federal law. Of the1, 200 individuals arrested only 65 have criminal charges pending against them. The rest have been placed into administrative proceedings.

“Every labor-intensive industry including the hospitality, construction, agriculture and restaurant industries will be adversely impacted if these raids continue,” said Rosales. The Swift & Co. meatpacking plants have been running at reduced levels since the arrests just as demand for their products is peaking during the holiday season.

LULAC calls upon Congress to take action. Raids are unfair to the immigrants, their employers, their communities and our economy and disruptive to towns where immigrants have settled. Congress must overhaul immigration law in the first quarter of 2007 and create a process for hardworking immigrants to strengthen our economy legally rather than forcing them to work in the shadows and terrorizing them with ineffective work place raids.