The Way Things Are Now
Last Friday, there was a vigil for sanctuary and solidarity at the Hudson Islamic Center. Today, the following urgent notice just appeared on Facebook:
ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) officers began carrying out raids in Hudson, NY sometime late this morning and are currently still conducting operations in the area. They have already detained a family member of an organizer with the Columbia County Sanctuary Movement, and were last rumored to be headed to Wal-Mart to conduct further raids.
This is the time for immediate, concrete, and escalated solidarity action in support of our allies and community members who may be targets of these raids.
Columbia County Sanctuary Movement organizers are asking for anyone able to engage in direct actions aimed at disrupting or protesting these raids and/or contribute to a legal defense fund for those affected contact them IMMEDIATELY by emailing sanctuarycolumbiacounty@gmail.com.
Update: At approximately 3:50 p.m., Mayor Tiffany Martin Hamilton posted the following comment, relating to the above notice, on Facebook:
I confirmed with HPD that they were contacted late this morning by ICE. ICE was in Hudson to detain an individual who had returned to the United States after prior deportation due to a conviction. HPD has in no way been engaged, and we are not aware of any additional activity.
Update: See account of what transpired in the Register-Star: "ICE detains man in Hudson."
My experience with ICE is that they pick you up one day and have you on a plane exiting the U.S. the next. Have attorneys on the ready.
ReplyDeleteWhen there's a break in the action, could someone explain the difference between Executive Order barring citizens from the 7 countries from entering the U.S. and the dragnet ICE is now engaged in? Was there an order (by whom?) to increase arrests under the ICE regs? If so, I missed it.
ReplyDelete"Dragnet" is a bit of an overstatement. See the comment from the mayor regarding what happened in Hudson today.
DeleteThanks. But I'd still appreciate an explanation of the difference between the Executive Order ban on refugees and the sanctuary city-inspired protests. Even if the new incident -- accompanied by an "urgent" appeal -- is now being downplayed, I'd appreciate an answer if anyone has one.
DeletePeter there were 2 immigration enforcement EOs the Wed before the Muslim ban EO. Read the LAtimes article: http://www.latimes.com/politics/la-na-pol-trump-deportations-20170204-story.html
DeleteI'm an immigration advocate in DC - we're wondering if you have any more information on this. Feel free to email me at if you have info: messaheb@advancingjustice-aajc.org
Peter, there were 2 other immigration EOs before the Muslim ban. Read the LA Times article.
Deletehttp://www.latimes.com/politics/la-na-pol-trump-deportations-20170204-story.html
I'm an immigrants' rights advocate in DC and am looking for more info on whether there were more raids. Please let me know if you hear anymore.
This is not a comment on the individual involved, nor on the alleged crime for which he was convicted.
DeleteAccording to the Hudson Police Department which was not involved, the individual was deported in 2000 on the basis of a misdemeanor conviction.
The deportation proceeding was likely based on President Clinton 1996 Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act.
To then be caught reentering the US unlawfully, most courts would extend minimal due process. This poor fellow is less likely to placed on an airplane than be put away for a long time.
Whatever the L.A. Times might hope to wring from this example, the story does more to corroborate the administration's stated aims than it does to expose any hidden agendas.
Not agreeing or disagreeing, just sifting the facts from the hysteria.
Was ICE going after one individual with apparently a criminal record, or "carrying out raids in Hudson?" Raids suggest something of much broader scope, and of course is infinitely more disturbing than seeking out one individual, with a criminal history. Leave undocumented law abiding citizens alone! Ferret out criminals, irrespective of their status. This one really isn't that complicated. But I hope there is some clarification of the reports on this one. It makes a huge difference.
ReplyDelete" deportation due to a conviction" do we even know what thats about ? "criminal history?"
ReplyDeleteremember the pizza delivery dude that was deported (after spending 4 years in jail) for having his pic taken with Hudson as the backdrop after 9/11 … !!!
Yes I do, Ansar Mahmood. ICE has to be taken very seriously, no matter who is president.
ReplyDelete