[migrawatch-public] Children Stranded After Immigration Raid

> Children Stranded After Immigration Raid
>
> By RAY HENRY, Associated Press Writer
> Wednesday, March 7, 2007
>
> (03-07) 13:59 PST New Bedford, Mass. (AP) --
> Dozens of young children were stranded at schools and
>with baby
> sitters after their parents were rounded up by federal
>authorities who
> raided a leather goods maker suspected of hiring illegal
>immigrants,
> authorities said Wednesday.
> Gov. Deval Patrick said the children of the detainees -
>most of whom
> are from Guatemala and El Salvador - might not be
>receiving proper
> care.
> "We are particularly concerned about the Guatemalan
>community and the
> risk that they may be fearful about disclosing the
>existence or
> whereabouts of their children given their history with
>government
> agencies," Patrick wrote in a letter asking U.S. Rep.
>William Delahunt
> to ensure federal authorities allow social workers
>access to the
> detainees.
> Immigration officials said 327 of the 500 employees of
>Michael Bianco
> Inc., mostly women, were detained Tuesday for possible
>deportation as
> illegal aliens.
> About 100 children were stuck with baby sitters,
>caretakers and
> others, said Corinn Williams, director of the Community
>Economic
> Development Center of Southeastern Massachusetts.
> "We're continuing to get stories today about infants
>that were left
> behind," she said. "It's been a widespread humanitarian
>crisis here in
> New Bedford."
> U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement said no
>children were
> stranded and that authorities released 60 detainees for
>humanitarian
> reasons, most related to child care issues. Spokesman
>Marc Raimondi
> said the agency coordinated with the state officials on
>Monday
> afternoon, and those still in custody were given the
>option of letting
> their children stay with a guardian or putting them in
>state care.
> "We had an agreement in place," he said. "We are not
>aware of anyone
> who had any children that weren't being cared for."
> Social service officials said they were working with
>local officials
> and community activists to help families. The department
>found 29
> foster homes for children and matched 35 children to
>families affected
> by the raid, authorities said.
> Carlos Miranda said his girlfriend, Marisela Inestroza,
>was detained
> because she didn't have a proper work permit. He was
>taking care of
> their 9-month old daughter, and she was trying to
>breastfeed from him
> when he holds her, he said.
> "If you feel you don't want us here, just deport us and
>let us go,"
> the Honduras native said through an interpreter.
> Company owner Francesco Insolia, 50, and three top
>managers were
> arrested. A fifth person was arrested on charges of
>helping workers
> obtain fake identification.
> Authorities allege Insolia oversaw sweatshop conditions
>so he could
> meet the demands of $91 million in U.S. military
>contracts to make
> products including safety vests and lightweight
>backpacks.
> Investigators said the workers toiled in dingy
>conditions and faced
> onerous fines, such as a $20 charge for talking while
>working and
> spending more than two minutes in the bathroom.
> "The whole story will come out, and at that point it
>will be a very
> different scenario," said Insolia's lawyer, Inga
>Bernstein.
> An Army spokesman did not return a call seeking comment
>about the
> status of the company's contracts.
>
>
> --
> ________________________________________________________________________
>
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