01/18/2008

News / Group outlines abuse claims in immigration sweeps

Hate and bigotry among items cited in critical report as conference opens

A national immigrant advocacy organization on Thursday released a report that accused U.S. officials of stepping up workplace raids and immigration sweeps to "instill fear in communities."

The report's release coincides with the opening of a national conference for the National Network for Immigrant and Refugee Rights, which will be held today through Sunday at the downtown Houston Hyatt. The California-based group outlined a wide range of alleged human rights violations in its 108-page report, "Over-raided, Under Siege," based largely on news reports and interviews with community leaders.

Arnoldo Garcia, the director of the Immigrant Justice & Rights Program at NNIRR, described a "climate of hate and intolerance and bigotry" against immigrants in much of America. He said the report raises important questions about the timing and legality of recent immigration raids, citing a sweep last year in New Haven, Conn., that was conducted two days after the city approved issuing a municipal ID card that would allow all residents — regardless of their citizenship — to access certain city services.

"When they do those raids, it's a scary thing for people to see," Garcia said. "It intimidates people into giving up their rights. It's very deliberate."

Kelly Nantel, a spokeswoman for Immigration and Customs Enforcement, disputed the allegations and said the raid in New Haven was planned more than a month in advance.

"ICE is a law enforcement agency," she said. "We are not trying to strike fear into anyone. We are enforcing the law. I think the American public has made it crystal clear that that is what they want."

Garcia said the conference organizers chose to hold the conference in Houston in part because of the city's size and diversity, and its location along the Gulf Coast.

Nestor Rodriguez, a University of Houston sociology professor and co-director of UH's Center for Immigration Research, said he plans to speak briefly at the conference this morning. He said such gatherings have great significance in helping to broaden the immigration debate.

"This is a key social issue for us today in this country, and something the presidential candidates and the public in general talks about," Rodriguez said. "The more we meet and discuss the significance of migration, the better off we are. I think the more informed we are, the better we're equipped to make decisions."

The conference will focus in part on developing a system to track and document human rights abuses and hold the government accountable for documented violations, Garcia said. Other goals include strategizing about the November political elections and crafting plans to lobby Congress to legalize the estimated 11 million to 12 million undocumented immigrants in the U.S.

Garcia said the conference registration is near capacity with about 500 people. Those interested in attending the conference at the Hyatt Regency Houston, 1200 Louisiana, can e-mail NNIRR at conference08@nnirr.org. For information, visit www.nnirr.org.

By SUSAN CARROLL
Copyright 2008 Houston Chronicle

Source: http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/5465292.html

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