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There was frustration, there was anger, there were tears but, understandably, no laughter at last night’s ACLU People Power meeting in Long Beach. The group gathered to assess the month’s progress with regard to assisting Hispanic neighbors as they struggle with the continuing ICE crackdown in our area.
First was a report about particular families who have been targeted – those whose members have already returned to Mexico – either voluntarily or by deportation – those who have been bonded back to the community, and those who have been recently arrested. The two latest arrests were both grandfathers – men who have been here long enough to raise children and whose children now have children. According to the report, there has been no let-up in the surveillance of the Peninsula by ICE. The number of those taken to date is 32 – “perhaps more.” Over half have been arrested since January.
At the Northwest Detention Center – Photo by Stephanie Serrano
Another report dealt with those who had joined in a protest earlier this month at the Northwest Detention Center in Tacoma. Again, for the benefit of first-time attendees, the ‘process’ of arrest/detention/deportation was reviewed and it was pointed out that all of those arrested here are taken first to the Portland ICE office, for reasons that are unclear. The Seattle office has no apparent presence in the process for our neighbors who are under arrest…
That discussion led to the article in yesterday’s Chinook Observer by Amy Nile. “I’m so embarrassed by it,” said the ACLU volunteer who writes press releases for the group. “I can’t tell you how many conversations she and I had. Even so, there was information that was printed in the paper that was wrong. Don’t they realize that we’re talking about people’s lives here? I feel so responsible…”
“But at least they are doing some investigative reporting,” said another person. “It’s just too bad they couldn’t get all the facts right. Hopefully, they’ll do more and it will get better.” Especially disturbing to the group was the statement in the article that arrests were being made in South Bend. As far any South Benders at the meeting knew, there have been NO arrests in North County – a fact which has been noted many times at previous meetings “and even in the Observer’s own ‘Stories from the Heart’ series. All the ICE arrests have been on the Peninsula. I spoke to the reporter and she did correct the story online but, of course, it’s too late for yesterday’s print version.”
Screen Shot – An Investigative Report by Amy Nile
There were questions, too, about the coverage given to Seattle and the statistics out of that office. “As far as we know,” said one of the ACLU members, “any statistics concerning our area, would logically come from the Portland office of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. That’s where our detainees are first taken for ‘processing’ and for all the initial ‘paperwork.’ They are taken there in handcuffs but leave from there for Tacoma in shackles – wrists, waist, ankles, chains.”
The need for money, for Spanish-speaking attorneys, for assistance with guardianship papers were discussed. There will be another meeting next month, date yet to be decided. Those interested in attending or who can help in other ways are asked to contact Ann Reeves at annreeves721@gmail.com.
Thank you, Sydney, for your account of Wednesday’s meeting. You summarized so well the many points in a long, sometimes rambling discussion. I was especially glad to see you referring interested readers to Ann Reeves. She mentioned in her email to the group that the families of the two grandfathers just taken are needing help with paperwork and follow up support. I hope we can help them.
Sandy