[migrawatch-public] Immigration Sweeps in Orange County

Immigration Sweeps in Orange County:
Just the first of Many More to Come
by: D.L.

According to LA Times, a special immigration enforcement team began
operations June 1st, and is based in Laguna Niguel [OC Register]. This
new team is one of 61 enforcement teams operating across country, with
14 more teams expected to be operational by the end of this year.

This last week concluded what officials say is "the first operation of a
new fugitive-operations team in Orange County that is charged with
scaling back the number of illegal immigrants." [OC Register, 6/23/07].
This indicates that the 5-day sweep is the first of many more to come.

The name of the operation is "Operation Cross Check" whose goal is to
"reduce the number of people, especially those with criminal records,
who fail to follow court orders to deport." However, of the 175 people
arrested, only 27 had criminal records, and 26 (perhaps 26 of the 27?)
had failed to comply with court orders to leave the country.

This leaves the remaining 150 people arrested, approximately 85% of
those arrested this last week, according to OC Register, as being
"immigrants with no law-enforcement record who were picked up after
agents checked for identification on the house visits."

Questions that arise are--"house visits"? What strategy are they using
to determine which houses (or, let's be real--which street corner or bus
stop also) they are choosing to "visit"? Or, are they just randomly
stopping people as reports from the neighborhoods affected have
indicated? The same public report cooresponds with public interviews in
the communities affected, which is that--they simply stop you, and if
you are unable to provide documnetation at that moment of your
citizenship (such as California I.D.), then, you are arrested.

The task force is officially located in Laguna Niguel as Homeland
Security's California location for "U.S. Citizenship and Immigration
Services" [US CIS]. However, whether the team is located in Laguna
Niguel or not, the offices of US CIS has a sub-office in downtown Santa
Ana at 34 Civic Center Plaza.

Detention for arrestees "serving this area" are said to be held at
Westminster Office at 14560 Magnolia St., which supports the Detention
and Removal Unit of US CIS. To inquire about "aliens", you may call
(714) 372-3803.

It's important to note that this "service center" is "serving" both
Orange County and South Los Angeles County.

For Riverside and San Bernardino Counties, there is a US CIS office in
San Bernarndino at 655 West. Rialto Ave., San Bernarndino, with
detention facilities undeclared but information obtainable at (909)
386-3228 or (213) 830-5160.

However, at least one arrestee--a father who had just finished walking
his children to school in the morning, Sergio Tamayo, is being held in
Lancaster at a facility that is otherwise recognized as an L.A. County
Jaill who is contracted by the INS to "house illegal immigrants until
their immigration case is decided." This facility is called Mira Loma
Detention Center, 45100 60th West, Lancaster, CA, with inmate
information at (213) 473-6080.

It is not clear how many other contract facilities US CIS / ICE / or INS
may be using, but reports indicate they also will rent space inside
local city or county jails. The department ICE reports that the average
stay for inmates is usually around 30 days, but some will remain in
custody for years.

Conclusions are that--the last 5 days was not the first, nor the last of
such raids. There is now grounded evidence that the raids are in
fact--"RAIDS"--by virtue of the 85% arrested only being taken into
custody by ICE's "house visits" and not having proper identification.
The location of where these arrestees or detainees are being taken is
not clear or transparent, making it difficult to monitor or report on
their situations or well-being. Also, it appears that South Los Angeles
may be receiving similar raids from the same "team", perhaps all part of
the "Operation Cross Check."

Advocates for immigrant communities need to be increasing diligent in
following these "teams", and question whether this should take
precedence as primary struggles to align ourselves with. This would
mean--initiating or intensifying rapid response network to ICE raids,
increasing advocate or independent journalists' presence on the actual
streets and communities where the raids are taking place, and continuing
conversation within affected communities directly, supporting their own
desires for steps to take forward.

Such raids and invasions in our community must not continue to occur in
the dark. Families living in these communities are afraid, to scared to
walk out their doors at times with such heightened attacks. It is the
responsibiltiy of advocates to be stepping up, making ourselves visible
as allies, and making clear and definite statements denouncing these
attacks, and refusing to allow ICE to terrorize these communities
without being witnessed by outside communities.

_______________________________________________
Public_announce mailing list
Public_announce@migrawatch.org
http://migrawatch.org/mailman/listinfo/public_announce_migrawatch.org