June 12, 2007
In a long overdue raid in Portland, Oregon, this morning, ICE agents rounded up and detained about 165 illegal immigrant workers from two offices of American Staffing Resources and a Fresh Del Monte Produce plant.
Arrested in the raid were Jose de Jesus Zarazua-Lopez, accused of re-entering the United States illegally after being convicted of heroin charges and deported to Mexico; Jose Dejesus Buenrostro, accused of encouraging an illegal immigrant; and Margarita Amezcua-Salvador, accused of possessing counterfeit alien registration documents, identity theft, selling a Social Security card, and encouraging an illegal immigrant.
Workers without proper identification were supplied false identification and counterfeit Resident Alien cards by an employee from the plant. ICE agents said about 90% of the workers in the plants had false identification.
In what may sound shocking to those not familiar with Portland, Oregon’s Mayor, Tom Potter, but known all too well to those of us living nearby Portland, the raid angered Potter. It not only angered Dictator Potter, but he refused to allow any Police Officers from the Portland Police Department to participate in the raid.
In a statement released from his office, Potter said,
"I am angered by this morning's arrest by federal officers of approximately 150 Portland residents who were working at a local produce company.
I certainly understand why federal officials executed criminal warrants against three individuals who stole and sold Social Security numbers. But to go after local workers who are here to support their families while filling the demands of local businesses for their labor is bad policy. It also serves as a reminder of the failure of our national leaders to deliver an immigration policy that is both fair and humane to families and acknowledges the economic realities of our country.
Our nation would be better served if this kind of energy was focused on creating a comprehensive approach to immigration reform that provides a path to citizenship; addresses the immigration backlog that keeps families apart; and provides a safe and legal way for workers to enter our country and be productive workers and taxpayers. Immigrants provide more than mere labor in our community.
They have long enriched our history, our culture and our city. My heart goes out to families dealing with the aftermath of this morning.
In this morning's raid, no Portland police officers participated, and our Crisis Response Team was activated to help families affected."
Apparently to Potter, their illegal status is meaningless, they were just residents. And, activating the city’s “Crisis Response Team?”
Tom Potter is also known as the mayor that withdrew the city’s cooperation with the Joint Terrorism Task Force. That his City hosted the infamous Portland 7 must have slipped his mind, if he has one.
He also stood by as Schumacher’s Furs, a long time establishment and tax paying business in Portland, was harassed and protested out of business, spurring the now defunct business to file a lawsuit against protesters and the city of Portland for lost revenue.
Back in March 2007, a group broke away from a “peace protest” in his city and burned a soldier in effigy and one defecated on a burning American Flag. Mayor Potter has yet to issue a statement against this action.
But, let a large group of criminals in violation of our immigration laws be apprehended and Potter not only speaks out against the raid, but sends a “Crisis Response Team” to care for the families. Makes me wonder who he would send out to sympathize with murderers, pedophiles and bank robbers.
I can only say I am so happy to not be a resident of Portland, Oregon. Living just across the Columbia River, though, still allows the stench of Portland to drift over.
Lew
UPDATE: Both the Archbishop of Portland and the President of the Portland AFL/CIO have issued statements on yesterdays illegal immigrant raid.
Said the Archbishop, [the raid is] "an affront to a nation whose tradition has always welcomed the stranger in search of the security and livelihood which he cannot find in the country of his origin."
The President of the AFL/CIO said, "The ICE raid on working men and women is a shameful illustration of what's wrong with our nation's trade and immigration laws."
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6 comments:
"...but sends a “Crisis Response Team” to care for the families..."
Question. Did the ICE Team follow the crisis folks around and get the rest?
This mayor is a moron.
Good 'ole Tom Potter - of course, with our equally idiotic governor, what else can we expect.
This is also the town that has stood by and done nothing as protestors have blocked the recruiting offices and broken windows, etc.
I detest even going to Portland - of course, I have to go to Eugene next week and that is like the "Peoples Republic"
The northwest is loosing it.
Gazer, it sure isn't the same Northwest I first saw landing at McChord AFB in 1970 or the one I moved to in 1977.
My work as periodic schools for us in Tualatin and I have to cross the I-5 bridge for that. Otherwise, I rarely venture beyond Jantzen Beach
Mayor Tom's a far cry now from the cop who used to pester young girls in Portland's Sellwood neighborhood in the '70's. But then, controlling illegal immigration wasn't what was foremost on his mind in those days either.
Del Monte, huh? Isn't that the corporation in which Mr. Nancy Pelosi has about $17 mil of stock?
How can we separate predjudice, hate, and emotion from logic, when trying to determine the best policy?
Is it even possible?
Is predjudice and hate actually serving to prevent the congress from coming up with a good policy?
How does the number of unemployed, currently looking for work, of the sort being done by the illegal immigrants, compare the number of illegals currently doing such work?
Do we even know?
Were the illegals, working for the fruit company, being paid below minimum wage?
If they were, I think some back wages are owed to them.
I heard some kids, chanting a rhyme on a bus the other day. It was rather interesting.
It went something like:
"I don't want to go to Mexico no more; big fat officer knocking at my door; grabbed me by the collar, asked me for a dollar ..."
I can't remember the rest of it. But it sort of reminded me of the origins of the London Bridges rhyme kids often use.
It was a reflection of kids dealing with their fears.
These kids were not even Mexican looking, they looked more African American.
America sends a message to illegals that they do not have to pay any attention to our laws,
1. They enter our country illegally
2. They obtain a job illegally
3. They drive with no license
4. They drive with no insurance
I am sure there are more injustices, drugs, prostitution and more heinous crimes that they can get away with because of the first crime they committed, entering illegally.
I believe what. Teddy Roosevelt said
The year is 1907, one hundred years ago......
'In the first place, we should insist that if the immigrant who comes here in good faith becomes an American and assimilates himself to us, he shall be treated on an exact equality with everyone else, for it is an outrage to discriminate against any such man because of creed, or birthplace, or origin. But this is predicated upon the person's becoming in every facet an American and nothing but an American...There can be no divided allegiance here. Any man who says he is an American, but something else also, isn't an American at all. We have room for but one flag, the American flag... We have room for but one language here, and that is the English language... and we have room for but one sole loyalty and that is a loyalty to the American people.' Theodore Roosevelt 1907
Every American Citizen needs to read this!
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