On Sept. 7 and 8, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the immigration division of the Department of Homeland Security, raided the central coast communities of Santa Cruz, Watsonville, Hollister and San Benito. ICE agents arrested 107 undocumented immigrants. As of now, around 87 of these individuals have been deported without ever having legal representation.
The remaining victims of these raids remain in federal custody along with over 1,000 others who have been detained
 Photo: Amanda Paulson |
The ICE initiative began on May 26. It officially ended in July, but the raids have not stopped. The ICE has detained over 2,400 undocumented immigrants since May. The raids are racist attacks on immigrant communities under the guise of protecting “national security.”
Homeland Security head Michael Chertoff has praised the racist raids: “The fugitives captured in this operation threatened public safety in hundreds of neighborhoods and communities around the country. This department has no tolerance for their criminal behavior and we are using every authority at our disposal to bring focus to fugitive operations and rid communities of this criminality.”
But immigrants and their allies are fighting back.
Organizing, taking to the streets
On Sept. 15 over 100 people gathered at the county building in Santa Cruz to oppose the unjust detainment and deportation of immigrants. Many people shared stories about those detained and immigrant families talked about their loved ones. People spoke of the need for immigrants, especially those from Mexico and Central and South American countries, to protect themselves against future raids.
Following the rally, members of the Watsonville Brown Berets, along with other concerned residents, militantly took to the streets of Santa Cruz. Marching through the main commercial thoroughfare they chanted pro-immigrant slogans and denounced the ICE raids.
The Brown Berets, the Party for Socialism and Liberation, Youth and Student ANSWER (Act Now to Stop War and End Racism) and others have had several meetings following the demonstration. These groups have created a community response network to the violent raids.
The community network, entitled “Operation Postage Paid,” includes a “la migra” hotline and a justice network system.
If the raids continue, there are many central coast activists who are willing to fight back against the arrest and detention of undocumented immigrants. They are pledging to stand together against the racist persecution of the capitalist state.
