LULAC Urges Immediate Moratorium on Immigration Raids Pending Congressional Action on Immigration Reform

“ADVISORY for Thursday, December 21, 2006

WHAT:
The League of United Latin American Citizens National President, Rosa Rosales will hold an important press conference in San Antonio, TX, this Thursday, condemning the unnecessary worksite raids that took place last week at six Swift & Co. meatpacking plants. Over 1,300 employees were arrested and families were separated from their children in the towns of Greeley, Colorado; Grand Island, Nebraska; Cactus, Texas; Hyrum, Utah; Marshalltown, Iowa; and Worthington, Minnesota.

LULAC plans to challenge any violations of the workers constitutional rights in court. We have joined with other national Hispanic organizations, including the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund MALDEF, the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials NALEO and the Hispanic National Bar Association HNBA in sending letters to U.S. Homeland Secretary, Michael Chertoff urging for a temporary halt on the raids. There is growing concern that some arrested in Minnesota were denied access to an attorney in violation of federal law. Of the 1, 200 individuals arrested only 65 have criminal charges pending against them. The rest have been placed into administrative proceedings.

LULAC calls upon Congress to take action. Raids are unfair to the immigrants, their employers, their communities and our economy and disruptive to towns where immigrants have settled and contribute to the growth of local communities. Congress must overhaul immigration law in the first quarter of 2007 and create a process for hardworking immigrants to strengthen our economy legally rather than forcing them to work in the shadows and terrorizing them with ineffective work place raids.

WHO:
Rosa Rosales, LULAC National President
Luis Vera, LULAC General Counsel
Jaime Martinez, President of San Antonio Labor Council for Latin American Advancement LCLAA
Petra Mata, Director Fuerza Unida

WHEN:
Thursday, December 21, 2006 – Time 10 a.m. local time

WHERE:
LULAC San Antonio Headquarters
2806 Fredericksburg Rd. – Conference Room
San Antonio, Texas 210 733-5454 “

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