Browse by Tags

• Immigration Officials Detain a Six-Year-Old Boy. Real Nice.

  The ACLU and Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights are suing the federal government for taking a six-year-old boy, Kebin Reynes, into custody for 12 hours when they arrested his father as an illegal immigrant. When immigration officials took father Noe Reynes into custody, they refused to allow him to call anyone to take Kebin, and instead held him until an uncle heard about the arrest. Sound familiar? An immigration agency spokesperson said, "He went with his dad so he wouldn't be left home alone." I will now try not to be physically ill at the thought of a six-year-old being taken into custody because he wanted to be with his dad. The story goes on to say that "mental health experts say the [immigration] raids are traumatizing children." Wow, you think? The story details possible constitutional violations made by officials as they conduct raids. Part of the problem seems to be changes in immigration laws that allow officials to interrogate anyone "believed to be an alien," even if they just happen to live in the home of someone else suspected of illegal status. Reynes was detained during a series of raids known as "Operation Return to Sender". Hey, don't think of the immigrants as people, just imagine they are packages. Really, UPS should be handling this one. Read More... Posted Apr 30 2007, 02:28 PM by Kelly Mills with | with no comments Filed under: ACLU, crime, children of illegal immigrants

• Kids, Babies Stranded When Feds Raid Sweatshop, Detain Illegal Workers

  Dozens of young children and babies were stranded at schools and with babysitters Tuesday, after the F.B.I. raided a factory suspected of hiring illegal workers, in New Bedford, Mass. Over 300 employees - mostly women - of Michael Bianco Inc., were detained and are facing possible deportation.  Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick expressed concern for the Guatemalan community in his state, and hopes the letter he wrote to U.S. Rep. William Delahunt will ensure that federal authorities allow social workers access to the detainees, who are mostly from Guatemala and El Salvador.  Read More... Posted Mar 08 2007, 09:02 AM by Alisyn with | with 16 comment(s) Filed under: illegal immigrants, children of illegal immigrants, F.B.I. raid, F.B.I.