Immigrant Detention and Deportation News Across the Country

What Is Deportation?
By National Immigrant Solidarity Network

4/27-28 Washington D.C.: Detention Watch Network conference

The 2007 DWN Conference is an opportunity for members to re-connect, re-energize and strengthen their collaboration. The need for focused public education, coordinated advocacy and resource-sharing has never been greater >> Read More

ADC, ACLU, and JACL Alarmed that Census Violated Privacy in World War II, Urge Congress to Ensure Similar Actions Are Not Happening Now >> Read More

3/30: Papers show Census role in WWII camps

The Census Bureau turned over confidential information including names and addresses to help the Justice Department, Secret Service and other agencies identify Japanese-Americans during World War II, according to government
documents > Read More

3/30: NEW IMMIGRATION COURTS TO BE ESTABLISHED IN CHARLOTTE, OMAHA, KANSAS CITY

The Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) plans to establish new immigration courts in Charlotte, N.C.; Omaha, Neb.; and Kansas City, Mo., by late 2007. These cities were selected to address growing immigration caseloads, Attorney General Alberto Gonzales announced >> Read More

3/30 Phoenix, CA: ICE Opens Office In Phoenix Prison

The federal agency that deports immigrants is scheduled to open its first office inside a prison Friday in an effort to expedite the deportation process >> Read More

Immigration agents arrested 69 people Thursday (3/29) in raids on a temporary employment agency's offices and places where it provided undocumented workers, including the port of Baltimore, authorities said >> Read More

3/28 San Diego, CA: Border Fence Co. Execs Sentenced For Hiring Undocumented Immigrants

Two executives of a Southern California fencing company were sentenced to home detention Wednesday (3/28) for knowingly hiring undocumented immigrants >> Read More

3/27: Judge dismisses toture/prisoner lawsuit against Rumsfeld

Former Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld cannot be tried on allegations of torture in overseas military prisons, a federal judge said Tuesday in a case he described as "lamentable." >> Read More

3/10 San Rafael, CA: ICE Arrest Immigrants, Community Protest

(March 9: community to protest ICE raid at San Rafael, CA)

At the dawn of Tuesday, March 6, federal immigration officers swept into the Canal neighborhood in San Rafael, CA and arrested 30 immigrants at early Tuesday and Wednesday mornings. More arrests were made in Novato.

"They went right into buildings and pulled people from their homes," said Edgar Hernandez of the sweep, which began about 5 a.m. and lasted until 8:30 a.m. "These are just working people, not criminals. Everyone in the Canal is now afraid."

Caught up in the sweep was 7-year-old Kevin Reyes, an American citizen, who was with his family in an apartment on Belvedere Street when officers made the arrests, according to his uncle, Rey Reyes.

Immigrant activities accuse THE HEAVYHANDED tactics used by federal immigration agents in Marin this week simply were not appropriate.

Local activists have expressed outrage at what they viewed as unacceptably harsh tactics.

They have reason to be angry. The immigration raids have created a climate of fear in the Canal neighborhood. This is wrong. Even worse, some of the undocumented immigrants arrested in San Rafael and Novato this week may have been deported the same day.

On September 9, about 75 community members and clergy leaders clogged San Rafael's Canal district sidewalks at dawn Friday to offer solidarity for the community - with plans to continue morning protests until the immigration raids which began this week are stopped.

3/26 San Rafael, CA: Resistance to ICE Raids

"They came for the immigrants, and we were all there" >> Read More

3/7 San Rafael, CA: 30 immigrants targeted in Canal neighborhood raid

Armed with 30 arrest warrants, federal immigration officers swept into the Canal neighborhood in San Rafael at dawn Tuesday and arrested immigrants >> Read More

3/9 San Rafael, CA: Immigration raids draw dawn protest

About 75 community members and clergy leaders clogged San Rafael's Canal district sidewalks at dawn Friday to offer solidarity for the community - with plans to continue morning protests until the immigration raids which began this week are stopped >> Read More

3/9 San Rafael, CA: Immigration raids handled poorly

THE HEAVYHANDED tactics used by federal immigration agents in Marin this week simply were not appropriate >> Read More

3/8 San Rafael, CA: Fate of detained becomes clearer

Some of the undocumented immigrants arrested in San Rafael and Novato this week may have been deported the same day, a federal immigration official said Thursday >> Read More

3/8 San Rafael, CA: Canal community fearful after immigration raids

The incident was part of a flurry of reports surrounding a two-day roundup of dozens of Canal area residents by federal Immigration and Custom Enforcement officials >> Read More

3/9: Updates on New Bedford, MA Immigrant Raid

3/9: Judge's order in 350 immigrant workers v. US ICE

The judge's order issued on Friday, March 9, 350 Immigrant Workers v. ICE (see attach document). This case challenged the transfer of the 350 workers arrested in New Beford, Massachusetts. Project members Harvey Kaplan, John Wilshire-Carrera, and Nancy Kelly were on the papers along with the Dechert law firm and Ondine Sniffen.

3/8: Patrick wants detainees from immigration raid kept in Mass.

Gov. Deval Patrick urged federal authorities to not move any more factory workers detained in an immigration raid out of state until their children are located and arrangements are made for their care >> Read More

3/8: ACLU accuses probation officials of violating immigrants' rights

Immigrant rights advocates are accusing state probation officials of breaking the law by working with federal authorities to arrest immigrants >> Read More

3/6 New Bedford, MA: Hundreds of Immigrant Workers
Were Arrested by ICE at Gestapo-Style Raid!

To lend support, please contact Adriana Lafaille of the Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition, 617-350-5480 x 216 or alafaille@miracoalition.org. There is an urgent need for help, including legal aid.

Sign on letter about raids in New Bedford, MA (Deadline 3/7 10 AM EST)

Emergency Protests:
Wednesday, 3/7, 11:00-3:00 pm. Vigil and press conference. JFK Bldg. Boston, MA
Thursday, 3/8, 12 noon, ICE Office, Dyer St, Downtown Providence, CT.

During the early morning blitz, an army of 300 federal immigration agents raided a New Bedford leather manufacturer and arrested 350 workers, the company's owner and three managers on charges that they hired undocumented workers to meet labor demands fueled by millions of dollars in contracts with the US military. >> Read More

Related News

3/6 New Bedford, MA: Up to 350 in custody after New Bedford immigration raid

An army of 300 federal immigration agents raided a New Bedford leather manufacturer today and arrested the company's owner and three managers on charges that they hired undocumented workers to meet labor demands fueled by millions of dollars in contracts with the US military >> Read More

3/6: Helps need for major raid in New Bedford, MA

>> Read More

3/7: NEW BEDFORD MIGRANT WORKERS ARE NOT THE ENEMY

>> Read More

2/28 Trenton, NJ: 'Sanctuary municipalities' urged

Standing in front of banners in support of immigrant rights, a coalition on Wednesday decried lawmakers for failing to act on immigration reform and laid out plans for new "sanctuary municipalities." >> Read More

Immigrant Detention

2/26 Phoenix, AZ: Police, immigration agents teaming up

Ten agents with Immigration and Customs Enforcement have joined Phoenix police to get immigrants who commit crimes off the streets.... >> Read More

2/26 San Francisco, CA: Local officials resist immigration sweeps

In the wake of recent sweeps by immigration officers in San Francisco and on the Peninsula, officials are struggling to assure residents that local police are not cooperating with federal deportation efforts.... >> Read More

3/3 Beaufort, SC: Jails might become new immigrant gatekeepers

A group of state legislators wants all South Carolina jails to follow Beaufort County's ambition by requiring them to gain the federal powers necessary to check the immigration status of people arrested on felony and driving under the influence charges.... >> Read More

2/28: Immigrant Families Sold Out, Locked Up

Private prisons make money from locking up immigrant families--including young children--indefinitely.... >> Read More

2/27 Colorado: Inmates to replace immigrant farm workers

State prison inmates may soon be working the farm fields of Colorado as immigrant labor becomes more difficult to find due to tightening down of immigration laws.... >> Read More

2/23: LIRS Report Reveals Mistreatment of Detained Immigrant Families

A report released Feb. 22 details "disturbing" conditions at the two U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) facilities which house families undergoing immigration proceedings >> Read More

Updates on Guantanamo Concentration Camp

3/1: US military charges Australian Guantanamo detainee

The U.S. military said on it'd charged Australia's only Guantanamo Bay detainee, David Hicks, with providing material support for terrorism and that proceedings would begin in about a month.... >> Read More

2/28: The Military Commissions Act, Gitmo Detainees and Habeas Corpus

Why the Boumediene Case Was Wrongly Decided.... >> Read More

2/25: Al Jazeera TV cameraman among detainees at Guantanamo

A TV cameraman is getting an inside view of life at Guantanamo Bay prison, only he is unable to get out and tell the story >> Read More

2/23: Military Commissions Act Headed For Supreme Court

Following an appeals court's divided decision upholding the constitutionality of the Military Commissions Act, opponents of the measure are racing the clock to file an appeal to the US Supreme Court and have it heard during the court's current term >> Read More

2/22 ICE Raids Across the Country

2/23 Los Angeles, CA: Immigration Raid Nabs President of National Janitorial Service and his Workers

Federal immigration officials have arrested the president of a national janitorial service and over 200 undocumented workers employed by the company in 17 states whose clients include Hard Rock Café and Planet Hollywood >> Read More

2/22: Execs indicted for employing undocumented immigrants

Federal authorities have accused three cleaning company executives of pocketing more than $18.6 million in unpaid taxes collected from employing hundreds of undocumented immigrants from Mexico, Central America, and Haiti >> Read More

2/22 Alert! Immigration raids sweep through SoCal eateries!

In a nationwide sweep across 17 states and the District of Columbia, immigration officials descended on popular eateries like Hard Rock Café and Planet Hollywood, arrested almost 200 undocumented immigrants working for a janitorial company and filed criminal charges against its top three officials. >> Read More

2/20: DOJ audit found anti-terror case data flawed

Federal prosecutors counted immigration violations, marriage fraud and drug trafficking among anti-terror cases in the four years after 9/11 even though no evidence linked them to terror activity, a Justice Department audit said >> Read More

2/12 Canada: Support Canadian Detainees' Hunger Strike in 80th Day!

Today is Day 80 of a hunger strike against indefinite detention and wretched conditions of detention for Canada's secret trial detainees, held over 6 years without charge on secret evidence neither they nor their lawyers are allowed to see >> Read More

2/15: Smithfield Workers Need Our Support

Please donate to the Smithfield Worker Justice Fund today and pray for the workers who are standing strong in the face of such appalling injustice. Thank you for your concern >> Read More

2/15 Auburn, WA: 51 Held at Immigrant Raids at two Auburn Warehouses

Agents with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detained 51 foreign nationals Wednesday morning believed to be working at two Auburn warehouses >> Read More

3/19-21 Washington D.C.: Outrageous Militarization of the border conference

A so-called Secure Border Initiative conference will be happened in Washington D.C. at March 19-21, organized by National Defense Industrial Association--a military industry trade association, to promote more $$$ for the weapons. >> Read Morre

1/24: Smithfield Plant Raided

On Jan. 24, Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents arrested 21 workers in a raid on the Smithfield Foods Inc. plant in Tar Heel, North Carolina. In contrast with high- profile raids at six Swift meatpacking plants last Dec. 12, this time ICE officials kept the operation low-key: they called Smithfield to say they were coming and showed up in unmarked cars and plainclothes, according to Smithfield spokesperson Dennis Pittman. The workers were then sent into a room with ICE officials, questioned and arrested on administrative immigration charges. The 20 men and one woman arrested were moved on Jan. 25 from the Mecklenburg County Jail to Stewart Detention Center in Lumpkin, Georgia, nearly 700 miles from Tar Heel.

Local church officials and spokespeople from the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) union said the workers' families didn't know where they were, and other immigrant workers were terrified of more arrests. Those fears led hundreds of workers--including most of a nighttime cleaning crew--to stay home, resulting in a production slowdown on Jan. 25. "There were several hundred people who didn't show up," said Pittman; he accused union organizers of warning workers to stay home. Pittman said the company spent most of Jan. 25 trying to persuade employees to return to work, even placing advertisements on a Spanish-language radio station. Local UFCW organizer Eduardo Pena denied that the union told workers to stay home, and said the workers themselves, and their families, were the ones who spread the word. "There are hundreds of immigrant families who will have to decide, 'Do I show up to work [Friday] and risk being arrested by immigration?'" said Pena. Last Nov. 16, about 1,000 of the Tar Heel plant's 5,000 employees staged a walkout after Smithfield fired 75 people in a crackdown on undocumented workers. The walkout ended two days later after Smithfield officials agreed to rehire the fired workers and give them 60 days to get their documents in order.

Smithfield spokesperson Pittman said about half the workers arrested on Jan. 25 had been identified by the company as having unverifiable identification information. Pena, the UFCW organizer, called the latest arrests an intimidation tactic. The union has been trying to organize the plant for over a decade. On Jan. 15, the UFCW organized a small walkout at the Tar Heel plant to protest the fact that plant officials refused to designate the date-Martin Luther King Jr. Day--as a paid holiday. [Fayetteville Observer 1/26/07; AP 1/25/07 from Dow Jones Newswire; AP 1/26/07]

Pittman said 541 of the plant's 5,000 employees will face termination in mid-February because of discrepancies on their job applications, unearthed after Smithfield began participating last June in the ICE Mutual Agreement between Government and Employers (IMAGE) program, in which businesses submit I-9 employee eligibility verification forms to ICE for an audit. Pittman called Smithfield's agreement with ICE "a business decision" resulting from an implied threat. "We knew raids could be a possibility," he said. "We felt going this way, there would be less of an effect."

The UFCW charges that Smithfield has used the IMAGE program to target organizers."Most of the leaders of [the November walkout] are on their list," said UFCW spokesperson Leila McDowell. "Whether ICE is consciously in collusion or not, Smithfield could very easily manipulate the process and can use it as a tool to intimidate and threaten workers, which it has done in the past and been found to have done so illegally." [Washington Post 1/29/07] On Jan. 25, a day after the raid, Smithfield announced it had reached an agreement with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) that clears the way for a new union election at the Tar Heel plant. UFCW assistant general counsel Renee Bowser called the announcement "a public-relations ploy to shift attention," noting that the company still faces "outstanding unfair labor-practice charges." NLRB official Howard Neidig said that although the board had reached an agreement with Smithfield regarding the intimidation of employees during union elections in 1994 and 1997, no new election would be scheduled because a case involving a subcontractor is still pending against Smithfield. Under the terms of the agreement, Smithfield Packing, a subsidiary of Smithfield Foods Inc., agreed to pay $1.1 million in back wages, plus interest, to employees who were terminated by the company. [Winston-Salem Journal 1/26/07 from AP]

January 2007: Several Local ICE Immigrant Raids/Arrests

Baltimore: Day Laborers Arrested; Chicago: Cleaning Workers Arrested; More Military Base Arrests >> Read More

Recent Detention and Deportation News

1/30 Costa Mesa, CA: Costa Mesa's immigration crackdown highlights the fears of many

Activists worry that the city's enforcement of federal laws would affect more than just those guilty of serious crimes. >> Read More

1/23: Senators question Swift immigration raids

The Bush administration is taking heat from lawmakers for the harm done to a company during last month's largest-ever immigration raid >> Read More

1/23 Santa Ana, CA: 761immigrants reported arrested in Southern California sweep

Federal officials said Tuesday they arrested more than 750 undocumented immigrants over the past week in the Los Angeles metropolitan area in what they described as one of the biggest such sweeps in U.S. history >> Read More

1/12 Denver, CO: Judge demands to know whereabouts of Colorado suspects in Swift raid

A federal judge demanded today that immigration officials disclose the whereabouts of 265 people arrested in a raid at a meatpacking plant in Greeley last month >> Read More

1/17: DHS IG Audit Report on Immigration Detainees Released

The long-awaited report on the treatment of immigration detainees at five immigration facilities is released >> Read More

1/13: Cactus, TX: Urgent Help for Families And Their Deported Relatives at Swift Raid!

I am writing to you because our visit to Cactus has left us with a mission to help 400 families who have been left behind and have not heard from their deported relatives >> Read More

1/13 Queens, NY: URGENT! STOP THE DETENTION & DEPORTATION OF A WHOLE FAMILY ARRESTED BY ICE!

TAKE A FEW URGENT STEPS IN THE NEXT 48-72 HOURS to...STOP THE DETENTION & DEPORTATION OF A WHOLE FAMILY ARRESTED BY IMMIGRATION TUESDAY (1/16) MORNING AS AN INTIMIDATION TACTIC! >> Read More

1/17: DHS IG Audit Report on Immigration Detainees Released
The long-awaited report on the treatment of immigration detainees at five immigration facilities is released >> Read More

The Report: http://www.dhs.gov/xoig/assets/mgmtrpts/OIG_07-01_Dec06.pdf

1/14 Taylor, TX: Update on U.S. Concentration Camp for Immigrant Families
What was uncovered behind the barbed wire of the T. Don Hutto facility was that children of all ages were being forced to wear the standard prison uniform the orange jumpsuit. >> Read More

1/13: Cactus, TX: Urgent Help for Families And Their Deported Relatives at Swift Raid!
I am writing to you because our visit to Cactus has left us with a mission to help 400 families who have been left behind and have not heard from their deported relatives >> Read More

1/13 Queens, NY: URGENT! STOP THE DETENTION & DEPORTATION OF A WHOLE FAMILY ARRESTED BY ICE!
TAKE A FEW URGENT STEPS IN THE NEXT 48-72 HOURS to...STOP THE DETENTION & DEPORTATION OF A WHOLE FAMILY ARRESTED BY IMMIGRATION TUESDAY (1/16) MORNING AS AN INTIMIDATION TACTIC! >> Read More

1/12 Denver, CO: Judge demands to know whereabouts of Colorado suspects in Swift raid
A federal judge demanded today that immigration officials disclose the whereabouts of 265 people arrested in a raid at a meatpacking plant in Greeley last month > Read More

1/9 Providence, RI: ACLU sues state police
The Rhode Island Affiliate of the American Civil Liberties Union yesterday filed a federal lawsuit against the state police, alleging racial profiling and violation of the constitutional rights of 14 Guatemalan nationals during a July traffic stop that led to their detention by immigration officials. >> Read More

1/8: Battling Deportation Often a Solitary Journey
Without Legal Assistance, Thousands Are Expelled Unfairly, Critics of System Say. >> Read More

1/1/07 San Antonio, TX: Tell ICE: Release Palestinian Family NOW!
The Arab American Community Coalition(theaacc.org) has just learned of an entire Palestinian family - the Ibrahims - being held in jail in Texas while waiting an unjustified deportation >> Read More

2006 Detention & Deportation News Archive