From ddj at mbaysav.org Wed Apr 26 16:38:20 2006 From: ddj at mbaysav.org (Deirdre Des Jardins) Date: Wed, 26 Apr 2006 14:38:20 -0700 Subject: Reports of Immigration Raids in Northern California & Press Conferences Today Message-ID: <02e901c66979$bfc97c90$6601a8c0@WHITE2> This just in on the California Civil Rights Coalition Listserv. There may be problems on May 1st. Whatever this is, it seems to be organized & coordinated. Trying to get the word out. Deirdre Des Jardins _____ From: distribution-owner at lists.caccr.org [mailto:distribution-owner at lists.caccr.org] On Behalf Of Sheila Chung Sent: Wednesday, April 26, 2006 12:50 AM To: immigrantrights at yahoogroups.com Subject: [CACCR-distribution] Reports of ICE Raids in East Bay & Press Conferences Today Importance: High Este mensaje sigue en espanol Dear BAIRC members: Several of our member groups have received reports of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) sightings in the East Bay. They include 2 supermarkets in East Oakland (El Nopal and Mi Rancho), 2 day laborers sites (in Concord and Oakland), Home Depot in Richmond, Wal-Mart in Pittsburg, the Cesar Chavez Library and Goodwill in Oakland, and a school in Richmond. Sightings/raids are still being confirmed, but the number of reports suggests intimidating activity on the part of federal immigration agents or individuals posing as agents. Not surprising, these activities come on the heels of mass mobilizations against anti-immigrant bills in Congress. ICE denied making any arrests when asked by a reporter from Univision Channel 14. An official statement from ICE follows. In response to these reports, two press conferences have been organized to share updates and community reactions, provide Know Your Rights and hotline information, and call on Bay Area communities to continue supporting May 1 actions. Emergency Press Conference to Denounce Immigration Raids Wednesday, April 26, 2006 10:00AM Intersection of Avenida de la Fuente and International Blvd. Oakland, CA Contact: Andrea Cristina Mercado, Mujeres Unidas y Activas, 510-205-3684 Press Conference to Denounce Immigration Raids Wednesday, April 26, 2006 3:00PM SEIU Local 87 240 Golden Gate Ave. San Francisco, CA Contact: Olga Miranda, SEIU Local 87, You can download Know Your Rights Information from our website: http://www.immigrantrights.org/knowrights.asp Below, you?ll find: Press Release - Emergency Press Conference to Denounce Raids ? 10:00AM Press Release - Press Conference on May 1 Boycott and Raids ? 3:00PM Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Statement La Raza Centro Legal Press Release Press Release from Congresswoman Barbara Lee Sheila Queridos miembros de BAIRC: Varios de nuestros miembros organizativos han reportado la presencia de la migra (ICE) en el este de la bah?a. Los reportes incluyen a 2 mercados en el este de Oakland (El Nopal y Mi Rancho), 2 sitios de jornaleros (en Concord y Oakland), Home Depot en Richmond, Wal-Mart en Pittsburg, la biblioteca Cesar Chavez y Goodwill en Oakland, y una escuela en Richmond. Todav?a estamos confirmando esta/s presencia/redadas pero el n?mero de reportes indica actividad amenazadora por la parte de agentes federales de inmigraci?n o individuos disfrazados como la migra. No nos sorprende que este tipo de actividad este sucediendo tras las acciones masivas contra los proyectos de ley anti-inmigrantes en el Congreso y en v?speras de las acciones del 1? de mayo. La migra neg? haber hecho arrestos cuando fue cuestionado por un reportero de Univisi?n Can?l 14. Abajo est? la declaraci?n oficial de la migra. En respuesta a estos reportes, dos conferencias de prensa han sido organizadas para dar informes y respuestas de la comunidad, dar informaciones sobre los derechos y una l?nea para reportar abusos, y para continuar llamando a las comunidades a apoyar las acciones del 1? de mayo. Conferencia de Prensa para Denunciar Redadas de Inmigraci?n Mi?rcoles, 26 de abril 2006 10:00AM Intersecci?n de Avenida de la Fuente e Internacional Oakland, CA Hable a: Andrea Cristina Mercado, Mujeres Unidas y Activas, 510-205-3684 Conferencia de Prensa para Mi?rcoles, 26 de abril 2006 3:00PM SEIU Local 87 240 Golden Gate Ave. San Francisco, CA Hable a: Olga Miranda, SEIU Local 87, 650-219-9799 Puede conseguir informaci?n sobre sus derechos en nuestra p?gina de Internet: http://www.immigrantrights.org/knowrights.asp Abajo encontrar?: Comunicado de Prensa - Conferencia de Prensa para Denunciar Redadas ? 10:00AM Comunicado de Prensa - Conferencia de Prensa sobre Paro Econ?mico del 1? de mayo y Redadas ? 3:00PM Declaraci?n de la Migra (ICE) Comunicado de Prensa de La Raza Centro Legal Comunicado de Prensa de la Congresista Barbara Lee Sheila Press Release - Emergency Press Conference to Denounce Raids ? 10:00AM Comunicado de Prensa - Conferencia de Prensa para Denunciar Redadas ? 10:00AM FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Wednesday, April 26, 2006 Community groups, immigrant rights advocates and labor call for end to immigration sweeps and work to maintain the spirited community actions for May 1st (Oakland, CA, April 26, 2006): As dozens of cities and immigrant communities in the San Francisco Bay Area prepare for the May 1st actions and festivities, immigration police patrols and sweeps are being reported in Oakland and other cities in the Bay Area. Posing a threat to local community stability and a blatant attempt to intimidate residents with their patrols, community groups, immigrant rights advocates, labor and allies are calling on Bay Area communities to mobilize on May 1st to raise their voices for a just and fair immigration reform Over the last three days, vans and vehicles carrying agents from the Department of Homeland Security Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (BICE) have been sighted and reported in east Oakland and Oakland's Fruitvale District, trolling the streets for undocumented immigrants. Many residents, day laborers and other members of Oakland's communities have been alarmed by the reports of immigration police and called local community organizations to denounce the threats. Immigration sweeps have been reported in the Bay Area, including Concord, Pittsburgh, Richmond and Bay Point. Community meetings are being held in different towns to rollback the fear and the threat, while continuing preparations for May 1st. Reports of immigration patrols and sweeps have also been reported in Sacramento and Modesto. Last week, BICE unfurled a national operation involving immigration raids against IFCO factories, which construct pallets. The raids netted over 1,200 immigrant workers, who were deported, and resulted in the arrests of several IFCO executive employees charging them with then "crime" of employing undocumented workers. IFCO employees and executives face severe fines and possible jail time for violating employer sanctions provisions, which requires employers to verify that all new hires provide proof of authorization to work in the U.S. WHAT: Press conference and speak out by local community leaders and members to denounce threats of raids and call on community to report and document any abuses perpetrated by police or immigration authorities, as part of continuing the build-up for the planned May Day activities and actions in the Bay Area. WHEN: Wednesday, April 26, 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. WHERE: At "Avenida de la Fuente" Plaza and International Boulevard in Oakland (Fruitvale BART Station) WHO: Maria Reyes, Mujeres Unidas y Activas; Mariana Bustamante, ACLU Immigrants' Rights Project; Sheila Chung, Bay Area Immigrant Rights Coalition; Arnoldo Garcia, National Network for Immigrant and Refugee Rights; Wilson Riles, Jr., Oakland Action Network (invited); Nicholas Espiritu, Lawyer?s Committee for Civil Rights of the San Francisco Bay Area CONTACT: Andrea Cristina Mercado, 510-205-3684, andreacristina at mujeresunidas.net Arnoldo Garcia 510-928-0685, (510) 465-1984 ext 305, agarcia at nnirr.org Sheila Chung, 415-308-0776, sheila at immigrantrights.org Press Release - Press Conference on May 1 Boycott and Raids ? 3:00PM Comunicado de Prensa - Conferencia de Prensa sobre Paro Econ?mico del 1? de mayo y Redadas ? 3:00PM PRESS CONFERENCE DATE: Wednesday April 26, 2006 HOSTED BY: SEIU LOCAL 87 along with Bay Area Community Organizations WHERE: SEIU LOCAL 87 UNION HALL- Located at 240 Golden Gate Ave. TIME: 3:00 p.m. CONTACT: OLGA MIRANDA, President SEIU LOCAL 87 @ 415-760-7335 FRANK MARTIN DEL CAMPO, SEIU LOCAL 87 @ 415-4077117 SHEILA CHUNG, Director, Bay Area Immigrant Rights Coalition @ 415-308-0776 THE GREAT AMERICAN NATIONAL BOYCOTT MAY 1 ?KNOW YOUR RIGHTS PRESS CONFERENCE? BEFORE THE BACKLASH This Century?s Immigrant Civil Rights Movement is preparing itself for MAY 1. The countdown has begun; businesses whose practices are often anti worker and anti immigrant are scrambling and using not only threats of loss of work but also deportation. Residents in the cities of Oakland, Concord, Richmond and Pittsburg report federal immigration patrols and sweeps. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) deny making any arrests while community organizations and legal service providers work to confirm incidences of abuse and intimidation. Not surprising, these reports come on the heels of mass mobilizations against anti-immigrant bills in Congress, and right before the economic boycott of May 1. Workers in industries such as janitorial, hotel, restaurant and construction are paid in what we know as the ?underground economy?. These workers often are working under dangerous conditions, without any rights that unionized and white collar workers often take for granted such as breaks, lunch, days off and overtime pay. These workers are not protected by Collective bargaining agreements negotiated by Unions. This week workers in this country represented by UNIONS including those that are not but will be affected by anti-immigrant legislations such as HR4437 or any version that is not a path to citizenship are debating in their living rooms, at work and church whether they should NOT GO TO WORK ON MAY 1. SEIU LOCAL 87 considered the ?Ellis Island? of the west coast for our industry representing janitors in San Francisco our members are protected because they have a union; they will not have to be concerned about losing their job on MAY 1. However, this is not a luxury that many workers in this country have. Workers without a union must take measures to protect themselves. SEIU LOCAL 87 along with community organizations are uniting to provide workers some security and information on KNOW YOUR RIGHTS. Labor and Community leaders will share updates and community reactions, provide Know Your Rights and hotline information, and call on Bay Area communities to continue supporting May 1 actions. Speaking at the Press Conference will be: Representatives of SEIU Local 87 ?The Janitors Union?, Bay Area Immigrant Rights Coalition, SF Day Labor Program, Mujeres Unidas y Activas, The National Lawyer?s Guild, ACLU - Immigrant Rights Project, Lawyer?s Committee for Civil Rights of the San Francisco Bay Area Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Statement Declaraci?n de la Migra (ICE) Office of Public Affairs U.S. Department of Homeland Security U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement April 25, 2006 Contact: ICE Public Affairs (202) 514-2648 Statement U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is responsible for investigating a wide range of domestic and international activities arising from the movement of people and goods in violation of the nation?s immigration and custom laws. ICE agents conduct operations every day in locations around the country as part of their efforts to protect the nation and uphold public safety. These operations are not random sweeps, but carefully-planned enforcement actions that result from investigative leads and intelligence. # ICE # U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) was established in March 2003 as the largest investigative arm of the Department of Homeland Security. ICE is comprised of four integrated divisions that form a 21st century law enforcement agency with broad responsibilities for a number of key homeland security priorities. La Raza Centro Legal Press Release Comunicado de Prensa de La Raza Centro Legal LA RAZA CENTRO LEGAL, Inc. a non-profit community law center 474 Valencia Street, Suite 295, San Francisco, CA 94103 Phone: (415) 575-3500 Fax: (415) 255-7593 for immediate release Press Contacts: Anamaria Loya, Executive Director, c: 415-699-3429 Renee Saucedo, Director of Community Empowerment, c: 415-425-6575 La Raza Centro Legal Denounces Retaliatory ICE Raids What to do if questioned by an Immigration Officer Over the last week the Department of Homeland Security has initiated aggressive and retaliatory raids against immigrant communities throughout the country. In the last two days those raids have come to the Bay Area and it is critical that immigrants know their rights. La Raza Centro Legal has received reports of immigration officials questioning and detaining individuals in Oakland, Pittsburgh, Concord, and Richmond. We strongly denounce what is clearly a special mission to target and intimidate immigrant communities which in recent weeks have been organizing mass non-violent protests against HR 4437 and which are mobilizing for a national economic boycott and day of action on May 1. We demand an immediate end to these retaliatory raids. La Raza Centro Legal is committed to educating the community about their rights and how to respond if an immigration official approaches them. We request the assistance of media outlets in informing the community of these rights. To report detentions of oneself or others and for legal questions please call the National Lawyer?s Guild Hotline at 415-285-1041 or Ojo a la Migra at 415-553-3402. Below is basic ?Know Your Rights? information created by the International Institute in San Mateo County. More detailed information is available in National Lawyer?s Guild brochures, which can be found at: Spanish: http://www.nlg.org/resources/kyr/KYR_Spanish_2003.pdf English: http://www.nlg.org/resources/kyr/kyr_English2004.pdf Si la Migra llega a su casa x x No abra la puerta. Pida una orden judicial, si el official no se la muestra Ud. no tiene que abrir la puerta. x x No conteste a las preguntas del oficial. No le diga ni de d?nde es, ni si tiene papeles, ni como entr? a los EEUU. Digale ?Yo no tengo que darle esa informaci?n.? x x No firme nada sin hablar con un abogado primero. Si necesita un abogado, puede llamar al Servicio de Referencia de Abogados, 415-543-6767. x x No muestre ningun documento si no le muestran la orden judicial. Si la Migra lo para en la calle (o en cualquier lugar fuera de su casa) * ? De su nombre, diga que no quiere hablar con ellos, y mantenga silencio. * ? Si lo arrestan, diga que Ud. quiere llamar a un abogado antes de hablar con ellos y antes de firmar cualquier papel. USTED TIENE EL DERECHO DE MANTENER SILENCIO. x No corra. No mienta. No use documentos falsos. * ? Si Ud. tiene tarjeta de residencia, las leyes dicen que debe mantenerla con usted en todo momento. * ? Si Ud. es ciudadano, solo diga ?Soy ciudadano.? * ? Si necesita un abogado, puede llamar al Servicio de Referencia de Abogados, 415-543-6767. ### Press Release from Congresswoman Barbara Lee Comunicado de Prensa de la Congresista Barbara Lee Press Release from Congresswoman Barbara Lee Ninth Congressional District of California U.S. House of Representatives PRESS RELEASE For Immediate Release 4/25/06 Contact: Nathan Britton (202) 225-2661 Barbara Lee Responds to Rumors of Immigration Raids in Oakland (Washington, DC) - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-Oakland) issued the following statement today in response to rumors that immigration raids were taking place in Oakland: "My office in Oakland has received reports that individuals in unmarked vans have been traveling throughout our community and seizing individuals. My staff has spoken with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and they have stated that there are currently no deportation operations ongoing in our community. "My staff has learned from the local churches, community organizations, and elected officials that there have not been any confirmed sightings or apprehensions of individuals in our community. "However, I am concerned about individuals perpetrating a hoax or impersonating immigration agents and placing our community members in danger. "Now is not the time to create an atmosphere of fear or repression in order to silence individuals who wish to exercise their right of freedom of speech and assembly at the upcoming rallies being held across the nation on May 1st. "My office will continue to monitor this situation, and if community members have questions about their rights or about suspicious activity in the community, I encourage them to call us at (510) 763-0370." ### ................................ Sheila R. Chung Director Bay Area Immigrant Rights Coalition 310 Eighth Street, Suite 303 Oakland, CA 94607 Phone: (510) 839-7598 Fax: (510) 465-1885 www.immigrantrights.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://nationalmediacorps.org/pipermail/southeast_nationalmediacorps.org/attachments/20060426/8d5c139f/attachment-0001.htm