6/22/2007
Families sundered after immigration raid getting help from parishes
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Ed Langlois
Religious groups, especially Catholic parishes, are mobilizing to support families separated after last week’s immigration arrests at a North Portland food processing plant.
“I ask you to put whatever political leanings you have aside,” Father Dave Gutmann told worshipers at Holy Cross Church Sunday. Members of the St. Vincent de Paul Society stood outside the doors of the North Portland house of worship, taking cash and checks for the families, many of whom have been left without a wage-earner.
Holy Cross, Holy Redeemer, St. Andrew and other Catholic parishes in the area are spiritual homes for many of the 167 workers detained after a raid of the Fresh Del Monte Produce plant for use of fraudulent Social Security numbers. Those arrested face possible deportation.
The arrests came after a six-month investigation by federal agents, who charge that American Staffing Resources, a North Carolina employment agency, conspired with Fresh Del Monte to hire illegal immigrants. About 600 people work at the Portland plant, most getting minimum wage for chopping vegetables and fruits used at restaurants and stores.
Immigration officers released 32 detainees for humanitarian reasons. Included were single parents and sole caregivers of dependent children or sick relatives. They still must appear at an immigration hearing.
“Several parishioners have already called to ask if it is safe to come to church,” says Father Charles Lienert, pastor at St. Andrew. “It has spread fear throughout the Hispanic community.” On Sunday, members of St. Andrew gathered to express support for immediate needs and advocate for more just immigration laws and practices. A meeting was set for Holy Redeemer early this week.
Ivonne, who preferred not to use her last name, is without her husband, who was arrested at the plant. Suffering panic attacks, Ivonne has refused to return home with her children, afraid officials will come to get her next. She is taking refuge with her brother.
“This week has been a nightmare for us,” she said through an interpreter. “We have no place to go. My children are very afraid.”
When her young son heard the police were nearby, he scuttled under a table.
Ivonne is pained that she cannot visit her husband in the detention center because she is not in the country legally and would be asked for documents.
“This is very hard for me, because I’m feeling like a criminal and we are here only to work and support our families,” she explained.
Portland Archbishop John Vlazny quickly denounced the raid by the federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency, calling it “an affront to a nation whose tradition has always welcomed the stranger.” Calling for a moratorium on raids until national immigration reform is complete, the archbishop said the arrests tear apart families.
Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon condemned what it called an “inhumane and unnecessary action.” While there are legitimate concerns about immigration, Ecumenical Ministries said, “honest and honorable” workers should not suffer. The group, which includes the archdiocese and mainline Protestant organizations, urged a “humane, respectful and family-centered approach to immigration reform,” and said it backs five principles for reform set out by the U.S. Catholic bishops: make family a priority in immigration, put protection for citizens and immigrant workers into any guest labor program, allow earned legalization, restore due process protection for immigrants and respond to the root causes of immigration.
Outrage came from secular leaders, too.
Portland Mayor Tom Potter, a former police chief, said criminal arrest warrants were justified for three employment agency managers who had played a lead role in the Social Security number scam.
“But to go after local workers who are here to support their families while filling the demands of local businesses for their labor is bad policy,” Potter said. “It also serves as a reminder of the failure of our national leaders to deliver an immigration policy that is both fair and humane to families and acknowledges the economic realities of our country.”
Oregonians for Immigration Reform said companies need to be held responsible for hiring illegal workers and “keep[ing] wages low and working conditions poor.”
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