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For Immediate Release Press contact: Miguel Ayala |
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| (Washington D.C.)- Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) Members today provided details of their recent trip to Postville, Iowa and its outrage regarding the consequences that a recent escalation in ICE raids has caused. They call on the President to commit to his promises to the American people and remind him of his words, “we must always remember that real lives will be affected by our debates and decisions, and the every human being has dignity and value no matter what their citizenship papers say.” “The images of the raids continue to haunt the mind of 11 year old Maritza, who saw both her parents, who worked for Agriprocessors, be detained, as well as her aunt,” said Congressman Joe Baca, Chair of the CHC. “She is only one of the many cases of young children whose families have been divided. Some men in town, who see ankle bracelets as scarlet letters and a sign of limited livelihoods, subject women to sexual harassment. This is not the American way of life. I call on the Administration to enforce the law on the employers, and to consider the humanitarian needs of these children and their parents.” In a trip to Postville last Saturday, Members heard stories such as that of a 16-year-old, working 17-hour shifts, six days a week, without overtime on the kill floor of a meat packing plant; a floor supervisor who blindfolded an immigrant worker with duct tape, then hit him with a meat hook; and women in the slaughterhouse whose male supervisors demanded sex in return for decent hours, decent pay, and decent treatment on the job. They endured this victimization only to be herded to cattle grounds when ICE swept the plant and left their assailants with no punishment. "President Bush promised the American people that 'America can be a lawful society and a welcoming society at the same time,” said Congressman Luis V. Gutierrez, Chair of the CHC Immigration Task Force. "But the raids in Postville have plainly shown that the Administration is acting neither 'lawfully' nor 'welcomingly.' We are not 'lawful' when we interrupt investigations spearheaded by our own Department of Labor. We are not lawful when we implement fear-tactics and deportation-only policies, or railroad men and women through the judicial process, without adequate representation or a full understanding of their rights. And we are most certainly not 'welcoming' when hardworking mothers and fathers are not allowed to raise their US Citizen children in the country of their birth, or when those who work the longest hours at the most undesirable jobs are treated like terrorists, simply for waking up and going to work." "Our immigration laws were not 'enforced' in this raid; what this raid did was set a dangerous precedent for our country and highlights the inhumane treatment of immigrants in our nation,” said Congressman Albio Sires, Chair of the Economic Development Task Force. “Without substantial reform that requires undocumented immigrants to become legal, businesses can continue to exploit this workforce and the frequency and intensity of inhumane raids will increase." (###) |
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The Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) is comprised of Members of Congress of Hispanic descent. Since 1976 the CHC has been addressing the needs of the Hispanic community in all areas of American life. For more information on the CHC, call (202) 225-2410. |
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