Community event examines immigration raids

By Jack Nicas

Local organizations dedicated to strengthening the rights of all immigrants combined efforts last week to discuss how community members can respond to federal immigration raids.

Centro Presente, Voices of Immigrants in Somerville, the city's Human Rights Commission, and the Somerville Community Corporation met with more than 50 city residents on Thursday at the Capuano School and unveiled plans for an Immigrant Support Network.

The model for the network included a nucleus called “The Coordinators,” with five branches stemming outward. The five arms of the network consisted of “the community, the media team, the legal community, government liasons, and translation services.” The network would serve as a support center for immigrants affected by raids by providing legal, political, and financial aid.

“The network is necessary because there are families devastated when these raids happen, and as a community we need to stand up for those families because they themselves won't be able to,” Ify Mora, one of the event's organizers, said.

Some concern was expressed at the meeting over the network serving simply as a reactionary step rather than a preventative one. Centro Presente Executive Director Elena Letona agreed with the need for steps of prevention, but said that “federal raids are legal, there is little we can currently do.”

Last year federal agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement swooped into Somerville and other surrounding communities and arrested alleged MS-13 gang members. Letona said the operation was “a mask.”

“They may have a search warrant for one person, but when they get into the house, they're taking everybody there,” she said.

Those raids came six months after a bigger ICE raid at Michael Bianco Inc., a New Bedford factory where workers, mostly undocumented immigrants from Guatemala and El Salvador, were taken into federal custody.

Thursday's event included a screening of “Detained,” a documentary on the New Bedford raids, and an open-mic discussion on how to help those families affected. The film depicted the struggles of two immigrant families directly affected by the New Bedford raids. One storyline involved a mother being torn away from her ill 8-month old daughter, which was juxtaposed with a clip of an ICE official stating that no children were left in inappropriate situations. 

The film evoked much emotion in the crowd. Consuela Perez, a 20-year Somerville resident, pleaded with the audience. She asked them to imagine their family members being detained and said, “we must protect our children; they are our future!”

Her cries were met with sympathy from the crowd, as hands went up to offer solutions to the problem. Suggestions included fundraisers in advance to help those affected by the raids, a better relationship with local police, investigation into possible unlawful action by ICE, and raised awareness among Somerville's youth.

Mora said she was pleased Somerville residents were tackling the federal immigration issue: “[Thursday night] was a successful event because people voiced their opinion on what's going on, how it impacts our city, and what we can do about it.”

No raids have been reported in recent months, but organizations such as Centro Presente and the Voices of Immigrants in Somerville maintain they are an ongoing problem. Mora said, “We are continually hearing stories, [these raids] are a constant thing.”

Comments

[JPM]

I really cannot understand how these"do gooders" think they are helping anyone by assisting people in breaking the law. Federal law determines immigration law, not state or local law.

I am for legal immigration and I understand why people come here to make a better life. Do it legally please!

[ILLEGAL]

I'd like to know why agencies funded by our tax dollars, such as Somerville's Human Rights Commission, and the Somerville Community Corporation, are spending OUR money helping people who have broken the law. Why aren't they worrying about legal residents who might need help??? I'd also like to know why they are allowed to use one of our school buildings for this purpose, and if they paid for the use of the building as other groups do.Also, why is Centro Presente allowed to work within our schools, influencing our young people with their agenda?
It is unfortunate that ILLEGALS are 'detained' and their families split, but that's the chance you took when you came here illegally - you should have worried about your children then. If you return to your country, you can certainly take the children with you, and no families will be 'torn apart'.
Perhaps we should have such a meeting to decide what to do when bank robbers, drug dealers, and pedophiles are 'detained' and their families are 'torn apart'! What exactly is the difference? If they are here illegally they have no right to be here.
Thank you, ICE, for finally stepping up and addressing this huge problem!

[ILLEGAL]

I'd like to know why agencies funded by our tax dollars, such as Somerville's Human Rights Commission, and the Somerville Community Corporation, are spending OUR money helping people who have broken the law. Why aren't they worrying about legal residents who might need help??? I'd also like to know why they are allowed to use one of our school buildings for this purpose, and if they paid for the use of the building as other groups do.Also, why is Centro Presente allowed to work within our schools, influencing our young people with their agenda?
It is unfortunate that ILLEGALS are 'detained' and their families split, but that's the chance you took when you came here illegally - you should have worried about your children then. If you return to your country, you can certainly take the children with you, and no families will be 'torn apart'.
Perhaps we should have such a meeting to decide what to do when bank robbers, drug dealers, and pedophiles are 'detained' and their families are 'torn apart'! What exactly is the difference? If they are here illegally they have no right to be here.
Thank you, ICE, for finally stepping up and addressing this huge problem!

[Kate]

I consider myself a sympathetic person, but I don't understand how they think they have any rights, either.

Illegal - you stated your case well, except for this line: "Perhaps we should have such a meeting to decide what to do when bank robbers, drug dealers, and pedophiles are 'detained' and their families are 'torn apart'! What exactly is the difference?" We all know exactly what the huges difference. Illegal immigration is, in itself, a victimless crime. I'm sure I'll catch a lot of heat, but you all know what I mean.

[Kate]

I meant, "what the huge difference is."

[Victimless?]

Victimless? Have you ever been the victim of identity theft? If you find someday that someone is using your social security number, even collecting YOUR benefits, you won't be so quick to term it victimless.
The other victims include legal residents and immigrants who can't find a job because companies paying illegals less than minimum cash wages aren't hiring Americans who expect a decent wage and benefits.
Just becuase you haven't been impacted personally yet, it's far from 'victimless'.

[back it up]

hey, victimless
i dare you to name one company in somerville or massachusetts who is paying illegal immigrants below minimum wages.

c'mon, you said it. just give us one name . . . . .

or stfu.

[Grog29]

You don't think businesses (restaurants, landscapers, private contractors etc.) are hiring these illegals at lower costs by paying them under the table, off the books, or using fake documents not having to pay for workman's comp, social security, unemployment insurance, and taxes???
When all those employer savings are added up it's WAY below what they would pay someone even at minimum wage. You are either clueless or you think the American people are very gullible.

"Victimless"?
Identity theft, selling fake documents (3 of the 9/11 hijackers got driver's licenses using fake documents provided by the illegal alien document peddlers), insurance fraud, hospital costs, overcrowded schools, mortgage fraud, police costs, higher rents for housing, higher garbage removal costs, prison costs, gangs, rapes of disabled little girls etc...etc...
not to mention the extra costs for enforcement of immigration/visa laws (which the vast majority of Americans are in favor of).

Think again Katie.

[back it up]

sounds like you're madder at companies that don't pay workmens comp and unemployment insurance, than you are at their employees who are doing the job and trying to feed their families.

sounds good!

i think that your one of the few here that really get how much someone like dibruzzio's electric is screwing america when they do a cash job and not report it as income. or when o'flaherty's plumbing hires their cousin stevie for the summer, and doesn't pay into our nations social security pool like everyone else.

[Imux]

The Somerville Human Rights Commission needs to be disbanded. There is zero reason for Barry and company to be running amuck spending our tax dollars in some misguided (and illegal) effort to assauge his white guilt. And what the hell is the Somerville Community Corporation and this Welcome Massachusetts bullshit all about? How the hell can this small group of flaming moonbats continue to push their Godless, hug-an-illegal, love-your-criminals, pro-terrorist, drug-pushing agenda down the rest of our throats? Using our tax money!!!!!

I've told Barry and his wingnut friends over at SHRC that if they want to break the law by assisting illegals then they can stick a bucket outside their office (ala the salvation army), but they need to stop stealing from taxpayers. I have also reported their activities (as I do anyone that helps illegals) to the local ICE office. I recommend everyone does the same.

Throwing the SHRC/PDS members in chains is the only thing that will stop them from breaking out nation's laws.

[Kate]

Victimless and Grog29 - you, both, fail at reading comprehension. I said that illegal immigration, e.g.: the act of crossing U.S. borders without inspection, or overstaying one's visa, is a victimless crime. THAT is what I'm talking about. Of course all those other things you mention are crimes, but not all illegals perpetrate those crimes. How many U.S. citizens do you know that would like to work 40 hours per week, on their feet, painting for $8.00? None, they would rather collect unemployment.

Grog - you are the one that needs to think.

[You're so naive.....]

Kate, you're so naive. Have you been drinking Kool-Aid?
How is it possibly a victimless crime to cross into our country illegally (and by the way, it's an irrelevant argument. Many have always considered prostitution to be 'victimless')?
In order to stay here once you have crossed the border ILLEGALLY, you must work. You are then either committing identity theft (the 'victim' is the owner of that identiy) and/or fraud. You are then taking the job of an American citizen or legal immigrant, REGARDLESS of what job it is. Talk to the small contractors and landscapers who are going out of business because they can't compete with the companies who hire illegals. Talk to the high school kids who can't get part-time jobs anymore because illegals have taken all of the jobs at gas stations, convenience stores, coffee shops, etc. How about the money being spent on education, lunch programs, government food benefits, health benefits, etc., etc.?
Need I go on? We are all victims when someone breaks the law, because someone who will break the law once will often do it twice. If they have no respect for our immigration laws they probably have no respect for our other laws either.

[Kate]

You don't have to steal someone's identity, to work in the U.S. Health benefits! Are you serious? These people don't have health benefits. You're angry with the wrong people. Your beloved American businesses are hiring these people. (Dear Illegals, it's all your fault - stop coming here because U.S. companies just can't control themselves from hiring cheap, illegal workers.)

"because someone who will break the law once will often do it twice." Where do you come up with this?

"You are then taking the job of an American citizen or legal immigrant". Dishwasher, busperson, housepainter? These are not the jobs to which Americans and other legals aspire.

[Imux]

Kate, I liked the beginning of your first post where you said "I consider myself a sympathetic person, but I don't understand how they think they have any rights, either", but now you've gone off the deep end (again) by bending over and wanting to sympathize with the criminal illegals.

I agree with you that the employers who hire the illegals should be fined and face mandatory jail sentences. I don't agree that the poor illegals are the victims here. They knew when they came and stayed that they were violating the laws of the land. That these moonbat morons (SHRC, Welcome Mass., PDS, and other law breaking, tax-stealing organizations) want to help them does not in any way shape or form bring any sympathy to them. It only brings more anger and more calls to ICE.

There are plenty of teenagers, low-income americans and legal immigrants that will work as dishwashers, buspeople and housepainters. For you to say there aren't is just wrong and simple-minded.

If someone flaunts the law by coming here and staying here illegaly then chances are that they will skirt the law again and again. Have you ever gotten into an accident with an illegal? Try getting the damage repaired.

The good news is that the wave of illegals is subsiding now. They're starting to crawl back to the s$!tholes that they fled here from. Tougher immigration, many of us getting in ther faces, ICE raids and the weak dollar translates to the best illegal immigrant repellant money can buy.

[Kate]

Imux - actually, you are the one that goes off the deep-end, regarding anything to which you respond. Perhaps people could take your comments more seriously, if you didn't go so batshit crazy. You sound incapable of seeing another side to any story, except yours. You come across as a very angry man; it's apparent in almost all of your posts.

I didn't use the word victim, you did. I think you're heartless, therefore you can't understand why I, or others, can feel sympathy and compassion for those less fortunate. I don't, necessarily, agree with illegals, but as a fellow human being, I can understand their plight; you can't and don't want to.

"Have you ever gotten into an accident with an illegal? Try getting the damage repaired."
That's a ridiculous statement - What, you don't have auto insurance - hmmm that's illegal.

"There are plenty of teenagers, low-income americans and legal immigrants that will work as dishwashers, buspeople and housepainters."
No there are not. You don't know what you're talking about.

[Absurd]

Kate's arguments are so baselss that it's almost laughable:
~"You don't have to steal someone's identity, to work in the U.S." You can't work legally without a SS# or a green card. Illegals can't
get either.
~"Health benefits!These people don't have health benefits." Really? They use the emergency room as their doctors' office and get everything from a headache to major surgery fixed for free! They won't let me through the door without my insurance card.
~'Have you ever gotten into an accident with an illegal? Try getting the damage repaired.',
"That's a ridiculous statement - What, you don't have auto insurance-hmmm that's illegal." He probably refers to the fact that the illegals don't have insurance. Therefore, if you were cheap enough or broke enough to have basic coverage and someone hits you....their insurance company pays...except when they don't have an insurance company! Try just getting the information with someone who speaks no english!
~'There are plenty of teenagers, low-income americans and legal immigrants that will work as dishwashers, buspeople and housepainters.'
"No there are not. You don't know what you're talking about." I wish you could walk around with some kids I know who would take any job they could get. Except oops, someone already has it, and they're working illegally.
~Most people, myself included, sympathize with their plight. However, would you advocate that all poor people come here? Would you advocate that all poor Mexicans come here? How about all poor Latin Americans? Reasonable people must realize that at some point there is simply no more room. It's unfortunate, but true, we can't help everyone. Perhaps they should work on the corruption within their own country which is keeping them so poor.

~Your beloved American businesses are hiring these people. (Dear Illegals, it's all your fault - stop coming here because U.S. companies just can't control themselves from hiring cheap, illegal workers.)

"because someone who will break the law once will often do it twice." Where do you come up with this?

"You are then taking the job of an American citizen or legal immigrant". Dishwasher, busperson, housepainter? These are not the jobs to which Americans and other legals aspire.

[Imux]

Kate, I am not heartless at all. I just believe that we have enough deadbeats and others that were born here that we don't need to ship any more in and then support them. Does that make sense? Or do you want to become a member of the moonbat SHRC and provide taxpayer subsidized services to criminals (illegal immigrants) too?

When an illegal slams into you with his/her car -remember in most cases they don't have insurance and/or valid licenses - then it is your insurance company that takes the burden. You don't think that raises rates and impacts all of us? You can't possibly be that dumb and/or naive.

When someone comes into this country illegally, it starts a tradition or culture. They come in illegally; then everything they do from that point on is illegal. It's almost impossible for illegals to get a driver’s license or insurance so they just start breaking one law after another. It becomes seductive. They don't pay too much attention to the rule of law that this country was established on, so they, and those who coddle them (SHRC, PDS, you), need to be thrown in jail.

I see nothing "heartless" about my position at all. I see a lot "senseless" about your's though. Please note that many of us at the grassroots level in this city intend to make this as law-abiding a city as possible by reporting the illegals (and those who emply them) to ICE every chance we get. It's working already. They're starting to leave in (or get tossed out) droves.

Now, if I can just figure out a way to get rid of the moonbats too..... life would be so good, soooo gooooood.

[Imux]

You know the more I think about it the more I have to ask when will someone sue the city for coddling these criminals? There has to be a good shyster lawyer out there that realizes that the city's support for illegals (through SHRC and other taxpayer subsidzed agencies) leaves them vulnerable to a massive class action lawsuit.

We are forced to obey the laws, but the city willfully decides to circumvent federal law through their coddling of illegals. Why and how is that possible? A class action lawsuit against the city - just using the SHRC as the example - would be a no-brainer. Anyone who has been robbed, had their ID stolen or been in an accident involving an illegal can and should sue Mayor Curtatone, the city, the PDS and anyone else that supports illegals.

If anyone knows of a good lawyer please post his/her names and feel free to sign up on the suit. This city's stupidity is going to cost them more than they think.

[Kate]

Absurd, absurdly states - "You can't work legally without a SS# or a green card. Illegals can't
get either." No sh__t, they're illegal, they're working illegally; they work for contractors who pay them cash. Now, do you get that?

Call the Police if you're involved in an accident with someone who speaks no English.

Imux In any accident, there's always some insurance company paying. Call the Police, if you're involved in an accident and the drive cannot provide a valid registration. You know, it's obvious your pulling these comments, that you pass off as truths, out of your backside - you couldn't possibly be even casual acquaintances with anyone in the illegal community, that would give you these crazy ideas. You're passing this tripe off as facts.

"It becomes seductive". That's BS; there's nothing seductive about living illegally, to anyone illigal, that I've ever known.

I do not support illegal immigration, I don't support asylum for illegal immigrants; why can't you get that.

[here i am]

VICTIMLESS? overstaying your visa, or entering illegally - You are using the government services I pay for. Paved roads, snow removal, emergency services - i pay for all that stuff every week when it's subtracted from my wages. When you call an ambulance, or visit an ER, and have no insurance, I pay for that. When it happens in the large numbers it is right now, my taxes and fees go up to pay for it. we all share the expense of citizens who can't work, but when you quadruple that number with people living here illegally, you are taking money right out of my pocket and that makes me -- a victim!

there's an influx of special ed students here from other countries. if you have a child with a disability, moving here gets you all the services, medical supplies, and care you need. doesn't happen in other countries. so a family that has never paid into our system takes a huge chunk of money out of it. you can argue forever, but you can't squeeze the middle class any tighter to pay for all this.

[Kate]

Yes, VICTIMLESS.

- You pick up a gun and shoot someone, there is a victim.
- You cross the border illegally, you overstay your visa, PERIOD - there is no victim.

Paved roads? Not very well paved?

[somebody]

Kate: I normally don't agree with the people you are arguing with, but this time... I have to say you are way off. There are victims.

I have been in an accident where the guy rear ending me drove off, because he didn't have proper documentation (registration, insurance). I can't say for sure that he was illegal. He might have been. But I can say that if someone is here illegally, he/she won't have proper docs probably, and either you or your insurance will have to pay damages.

It doesn't matter how well the roads are paved. What matters is that tax payers paid for them. Would you think it is ok for our tax payers money to pay for services in another country? Would you want to pave roads in other countries with our money? No? Well, having our tax payers pay for services for illegals is essentially doing the same thing.

One of the reasons that Somerville's schools don't perform as well as other cities/towns, is that they are constrained by a tight budget to educate students at MANY different levels. Some that are in honors courses, and some that are just learning English. That is fine, if that's what the student population needs. However, if the number of illegal students creates even more need for ESL classes, then that isn't fair to the other students.

[priorities?]

we taxpayers are spending over a billion and a half dollars a week paving roads in iraq.

and the iraqis aren't fixing our cars, painting our houses, watching our kids, or filling our churches.

[Imux]

we taxpayers are spending over a billion and a half dollars a week paving roads in iraq.

and the iraqis aren't fixing our cars, painting our houses, watching our kids, or filling our churches.

Posted by: priorities? | May 19, 2008 at 05:00 PM

What a dumb statement. ok... let's get the Iraqi gov't to pay for their own damn roads. There... I agree. Now what the hell are we going to do about all the illegals sucking off the public teet???

[somebody]

priorities: what's your point?? i'm confused.

[priorities?]

i can tell.

[somebody]

enlighten me then.

[priorities?]

why can't you do that yourself? what ever happened to personal responsibility?

[Grog29]

Since I've been away over the past week it's refreshing to see Kate being
slapped around like a wet rag doll here. Someone should tell her that a large percentage of Massachusetts drivers have the state MINIMUM MANDATORY auto insurance coverage for their cars which does NOT pay for COMPREHENSIVE COVERAGE for their cars in a hit and run or if you are HIT by an illegal alien (even if he/she graciously decides to stay at the accident scene). I can't believe she said that illegals have no medical coverage. They are the only ones "exempted" from the state mandatory
medical coverage. They get to go FREE OF CHARGE to any emergency
dept. that they choose. Low income Americans have been told that they can no longer do that. But illegals? They get the FREE CARE POOL (passed on to everyone else whoi is LEGALLY in the country) money to pay for their coverage. No "fines" for not having coverage for them. No questions asked, no "immigration status" questions allowed.

Which brings me to New York City, which has ended it's SANCTUARY CITY status a few years ago because of LIABILITY for lawsuits by crime victims;
who were victims of illegal alien perps that were released by the city after committing crimes and NEVER BEING ASKED about their immigration status (because it's not allowed) and then they AGAIN went on crime sprees. Victims of their 2nd, 3rd, 4th crimes have decided to SUE the city
which have the policy of NOT ASKING IMMIGRATION QUESTIONS before they release these criminals. Somerville and many other cities and towns are aware of their liability now. Sanctuary cities' days are numbered.

Kate, I wonder if you even work or drive or pay insurance. If you did, you'd know theses things. Are you living off the system?
Seems to me your mindset and agenda for illegals betrays you life situation and it seems like you can afford to be sympathetic because you don't pay for anything.