Against the Rise of ICE Raids
On Wednesday, Jan. 29, we conducted a press conference outside the Border Patrol office in Murrieta, CA. in response to a rise in raids across the region. Hotline and community reports from the Coachella Valley, Riverside and the Low Desert have cited roaming Border Patrol vehicles cruising day labor corners in Corona, Temecula, Indio and Murrieta.
The testimonies at the Jan. 29 event presented an array of stories. The press conference also focused on the abuses of due process by Border Patrol agents and the systematic coercion and intimidation of those detained into signing a voluntary departure.
In mid-January 2014, a video surfaced of a Border Patrol agent beating an undocumented worker. The video clearly showed the agent beating the man while he was lying on the ground. The agent involved in that video was based out of the Murrieta station, which responded to our press event by saying, “that was 14 days ago, we’ve moved on.”
Last year, the Justice For Immigrants Coalition conducted a similar press event at the same Border Patrol station. A request for policy changes, as well as a Freedom of Information request have yet to be answered. The lack of accountability and oversight of the Border Patrol has created problematic practices and policies. This has led immigrant rights groups, including the ACLU to begin the process of litigation against the Border Patrol for change in policies.
The organizations that participated in the press conference included Comité Latino of the Coachella Valley, San Diego Immigrant Rights Consortium, Warehouse Workers United, TODEC, Rapid Response Network, Pomona Economic Opportunity Center among others.
For Help Call:
Immigration Raids Hotline
(Linea Gratuita Para Denunciar Redadas De Immigration)
(951) 345-4043
Immigration Rapid Response Network
(866)946-9594, (909) 54-MIGRA
Los Defensores Del Inmigrante
(951) 665-8782
Centro del Inmigrante
(951) 201-8992
