The Colorado Independent - Latest Comments in Immigration: Breaking News in Colorado

Re: Immigration: Breaking News in Colorado

concerned Texan — Thu, 14 Dec 2006 04:45:41 -0000

Swift raids politically motivated Apparently Our government Reps. need fuel for the new house taking over in January. why only Swift plants attacked? Tyson have more lobbyist with more money on hand or have record of larger campaign contributions? Or maybe they "owe one". Swift was using government pilot program to verify employment eligibility, this was actually posed as an identity theft arrest warrant, no other manufacturer has employees with fake ID ? Maybe we should mention Swift was working on a major buy out of another large meat packer , this merger scare industry? Again, why just Swift Co. ??????????

Re: Immigration: Breaking News in Colorado

sirjohndoe1 — Wed, 13 Dec 2006 19:43:26 -0000

ICE SUX i think that the raid is cold hearted and there should have been a warning before they started raiding

Re: Immigration: Breaking News in Colorado

greenchiledem — Wed, 13 Dec 2006 12:32:38 -0000

How you can help. ==Toll Free Hotline to call for family member of people who may have been detained yesterday. After the Swift raids yesterday, the local ICE office provided the chapter here in Minnesota with a toll free hotline to call for family members of people who may have been detained yesterday. (Thanks to Donna Lipinski for the hotline tip.)

Hotline: 866-341-3858

==ACTION ALERT! Help Families Affected by the SWIFT ICE Raids in Greeley:You are invited to Make a Donation to Our Lady of Peace Catholic Church, working with several other agencies to distribute financial assistance to the affected community.

Send Checks to: Our Lady of Peace Catholic Church, Attn: Rev. Bernard Schmitz, 1311 Third Street, Greeley, CO 80631,

Phone: 970.353.1747 (please don't flood them with calls,

Fax: 970.353.4830. Please write in the Memo line: for the families affected by ICE.

==Friday, 12-15-06, 7:00 PM Mass & Vigil

Our Lady of Peace Catholic Church

1311 Third Street, Greeley, CO 80631

Community groups and immigrant rights organizations based in Greeley are holding a Candle Light Vigil and Mass this Friday evening, December 15, 2006 at 7:00 PM at Our Lady of Peace Catholic Church.

==AFSC is organizing a complimentary vigil in Denver on Friday night. They are holding a planning meeting tonight and will have details on when and where tonight or tomorrow. From AFSC:

While a location has yet to be decided, please consider joining us tonight to plan a meaningful event and strategize for ways to further achieve Humane Comprehensive Immigration Reform

(Thanks to Jordan Garcia from American Friends Service Committee for the information on sending donations and about the candlelight vigils in Greeley and Denver.)

Re: Immigration: Breaking News in Colorado

Erin Rosa — Wed, 13 Dec 2006 05:19:35 -0000

Homeland? And I take it you're purely indigenous?

Re: Immigration: Breaking News in Colorado

USA Citizen — Tue, 12 Dec 2006 19:57:58 -0000

Salazaar is an A-Hole Im so sick and tired of this illegal trash in the US. Failed

garbage from other countries India Korea Mexico SA

Makes me sick to my stomach. They breed like some

form of low life animals. Cant go to a motel without smelly

dot heads. No pride >>> All this garbage should be sent packing we dont owe them nothing!!!! No Immigrants

Legal or Illegal take care of 2nd and 3rd generation Americans. Roger Barnett and Trancredo are what we need

Not some idiot like Scwarzenneger who ran away from

Austria and turned his back on his homeland.

ABSOLUTELY DISGUSTING. KEEP LATINO S--T

OUT OF NA

Re: Immigration: Breaking News in Colorado

Wendy Norris — Tue, 12 Dec 2006 10:37:49 -0000

Rep. Tom Tancredo's statement on ICE raids Also, from the Rocky Mountain News:

"I congratulate all law enforcement agencies involved in the successful raid," Tancredo, chairman of the Congressional Immigration Reform Caucus, said in a statement. "My hope at this point is that the U.S. government has the courage to prosecute the Swift & Company executives who may have been complicit in their hiring."

Re: Immigration: Breaking News in Colorado

Wendy Norris — Tue, 12 Dec 2006 10:36:48 -0000

Rep. Mursgrave's statement on ICE raids From the Rocky Mountain News:

"I don't care who the employer is. I expect them to obey the law," Musgrave said in a telephone interview following the morning raids.

"No matter how high up it goes in Swift, (anyone) that is culpable in this needs to be gone-after to the fullest extent of the law," Musgrave said. "We need to know who knew what and when they knew it and what they did about it."

Re: Immigration: Breaking News in Colorado

Wendy Norris — Tue, 12 Dec 2006 10:17:43 -0000

UFCW press statement

FOOD AND COMMERCIAL WORKERS SEEKS FEDERAL INJUNCTION TO END ATTACKS AGAINST WORKERS IN MEATPACKING PLANTS

Washington DC-The United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW) is seeking an immediate injunction in federal court, today, on behalf of workers employed by Swift and Company packing operations in Texas, Colorado, Iowa, Nebraska, and Minnesota.

The workers were subjected to a wholesale round up, including detention, by Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents.

"Essentially, the agents stormed the plants, many of them in riot gear, in an effort designed to terrorize the workforce," said Mark Lauritsen, director of the UFCW Food Processing, Packing and Manufacturing division.

The UFCW represents workers at the Swift and Company plants, as well as other major packers around the country.

"This kind of action is totally uncalled for," said Lauritsen. "It's designed to punish workers for working hard everyday, contributing to the success of their companies and communities. They are innocent victims in an immigration system that has been hijacked by corporations for the purpose of importing an exploitable workforce."

For years, the UFCW has called for comprehensive immigration reform-reform that provides an orderly immigration process that protects worker rights, ensures good wages and benefits for all workers, and recognizes the contributions immigrants make to our society.

"We are advising all the detained workers to exercise their right to an attorney and remain silent until they confer with counsel. These actions today by ICE are an affront to decency."

###

The UFCW represents 1.4 million workers, 250,000 in the meatpacking and poultry industries. UFCW members also work in the health care, garment, chemical, distillery and retail industries.

Re: Immigration: Breaking News in Colorado

Jason Bane — Tue, 12 Dec 2006 08:54:16 -0000

This was apparently an identity-theft ring bust

Re: Immigration: Breaking News in Colorado

Leslie Robinson — Tue, 12 Dec 2006 08:39:15 -0000

Immigrants Shouldn't Be Short-Changed In Colorado law, a worker is entitled to be paid for a day's work. The courts do not discriminate against an undocumented worker regarding wages earned. Therefore, Swift should still compensate the workers being jailed by ICE for the work performed up to the time of incarceration.

Re: Immigration: Breaking News in Colorado

Wendy Norris — Tue, 12 Dec 2006 08:31:05 -0000

Sen. Allard statement Again, from the Coloradoan:

U.S. Sen. Wayne Allard expressed his appreciation to immigration enforcement agents for addressing the illegal immigration crisis affecting communities across the nation.

"I'm glad that ICE is enforcing our immigration laws in light of the illegal immigration crisis we face across the country," Allard said in a statement. "I am grateful that ICE agents are appropriately targeting illegal aliens whose prior record of criminal behavior may present a risk to the citizens of Colorado."

Allard has worked closely with Weld County District Attorney Ken Buck to address illegal immigration con-cerns and commended his work on this issue.

"It is my understanding that Ken Buck played a key role in the investigation that led to today's raid at the Greeley facility," said Allard. "Once again, District Attorney Buck has demonstrated his commitment to ensur-ing that individuals involved in criminal behavior will be pursued to the full extent of the law.

That sounds like a statement made by retiring senator. The political repercussions of this raid will be felt far and wide by anyone dependent upon Weld County voters.

Re: Immigration: Breaking News in Colorado

Wendy Norris — Tue, 12 Dec 2006 08:15:19 -0000

another eyewitness report From the Northern Colorado Business Report:

Business Report co-publisher Chris Wood, driving northbound on U.S. Highway 85 past the Swift plant at about 10:35 a.m., reported by phone that two white buses with Immigration and Naturalization Service markings, escorted by Greeley Police vehicles, left the plant. They traveled southbound toward Greeley in a northbound traffic lane that police had cordoned off.

"There are between 100 and 200 people at the plant gate," Wood said as he passed by the entrance on the east side of U.S. 85. "There are women with their children, others talking on cell phones. A priest just walked toward the gate, holding someone's hand."

Wood said two additional INS buses parked just north of the plant on the east side of the highway. Cars were pulling into the median, and traffic in both directions of U.S. 85 was choked for more than a half mile. Wood later reported seeing a steady stream of people, in cars and on foot, on 11th Avenue in north Greeley heading in the direction of the plant.

Re: Immigration: Breaking News in Colorado

Wendy Norris — Tue, 12 Dec 2006 07:12:49 -0000

Senator Salazar's statement on ICE raids

"ICE's action at multiple Swift plants today is a clarion call for the nation to complete its work on comprehensive immigration reform. We need to have laws in place to take us from today's chaos and lawlessness to law and order. That law and order system must include: increased border security, strict enforcement of immigration laws including a sound employer verification system, and a realistic method of dealing with the human and economic reality of millions of undocumented workers in America.

"This past year, the Senate passed bi-partisan legislation to address our broken borders. The House of Representatives had an opportunity to enact a law and order system. Unfortunately, they chose not to. The impact of their inaction is not limited to the immigrant community. Today's action at Swift will have a strong ripple effect on the rest of the livestock industry. Weld County is the most profitable agricultural county in Colorado, with over $1 billion in agricultural sales. Today's move by ICE will greatly impact the economy there.

"The tragedy of continual inaction towards comprehensive immigration reform has both human and economic consequences. It is what happens when we have a do-nothing Congress which refuses to act. What is happening at Swift today sends a strong signal to Congress that we must act with all due speed to enact comprehensive immigration reform. When Democrats take control in January, I hope today's occurrences will motivate us to act."

From OnTheIssues.org, Sen. Salazar's record on immigration:

<ul><li> Give benefits to children of longtime illegal immigrants. (Oct 2004) </li>

<li>Opportunity for undocumented workers to gain legal status. (Aug 2004) </li>

<li>Decrease illegal immigration; stronger border enforcement. (Jul 2004) </li>

<li>Voted YES on allowing illegal aliens to participate in Social Security. (May 2006) </li>

<li>Voted YES on giving Guest Workers a path to citizenship. (May 2006) </li>
</ul>

Re: Immigration: Breaking News in Colorado

Wendy Norris — Tue, 12 Dec 2006 07:02:49 -0000

arrest warrants The Greeley Tribune is posting ICE complaints that were filed with the Weld District Court late yesterday afternoon on its website.

Re: Immigration: Breaking News in Colorado

Wendy Norris — Tue, 12 Dec 2006 06:57:02 -0000

Other immigration news More stories from Colorado Confidential here, including this week's cover stories:

Immigration: Resort Areas Dependent on Latino Labor

by Leslie Robinson

Link

Immigration: Working in Denver

by Erin Rosa

Link

Immigration: Migrating Views from Rural Colorado

by Wendy Norris

Link