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News Release

HOME OF THE FREE OR LAND OF THE RAIDS?

Administration’s Actions Illustrates Need for Comprehensive Immigration Reform

Philadelphia (May 1) – The American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) calls on the Bush administration to immediately stop all raids or the detention of immigrant workers employed at companies, businesses, factories and other job sites throughout the country. Furthermore, AFSC questions the reasoning behind the U.S. Senate’s recent approval of an amendment to allocate additional funds to continue the militarization of the nation’s southern border.

Border communities already experience a high level of tension and feeling of containment that diminishes their quality of life and hinders a sense of personal safety.

"The amendment represents a step backwards in working for humane and fair immigration reform," according to Pedro Rios of the American Friends Service Committee U.S./Mexico Border program in San Diego. "If approved by Congress, it will cast a dark shadow over whatever future legislation is approved as part of an immigration reform package."

In addition, the troubling and punitive actions recently undertaken by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) unit taint efforts that urge a forward-thinking legislative dialogue. These actions disturb the spirit and tone of myriad community-led actions that encourage just immigration reform policies.

Despite these recent raids, however, it is unlikely that the spirit of hopefulness and calmness demonstrated by millions across the nation will easily dissipate. Communities throughout the nation will continue to exercise their constitutional rights.

ICE’s recent actions do not contribute to the national discourse and in fact, create tension and confusion in immigrant communities. These deplorable actions come on the heels of peaceful public actions and policy advocacy efforts organized by an extensive umbrella of non-partisan national groups, grassroots organizations and immigrant and non-immigrant communities. ICE’s actions appear to be designed to lessen the participation of immigrants and refugees in what is a truly historic moment.  It has been decades since this country has had a national immigration debate with the contribution of the people who are most affected. 

AFSC believes that the wisdom of these communities, both in finding appropriate methods for their voices to be heard and holding public officials accountable for fair and just immigration reform, is an essential part of the debate, and any efforts to silence their voices are detrimental to the best interests of the United States.  

"Measures that welcome immigrants as part of the social and economic fabric of our nation have gained support in non-immigrant communities," states Joyce Miller, assistant general secretary for justice and human rights. "Rather than embrace efforts that embody our nation’s founding principles and bring these communities together, the Bush administration has responded with hostility, and has taken steps that contradict them. These actions are unnecessary and must be challenged."

The American Friends Service Committee’s nine regions provide social services, referral resources, public advocacy support and educational programs to immigrant and refugee communities and the general public. AFSC has been working with community leaders and residents to minimize confusion and misinformation the raids have incited. Specifically, the Service Committee hosts community information gatherings and Know Your Rights sessions to ensure that the legal and civil rights of immigrants and their families are protected. In addition, AFSC will also work with communities, allies and advocates to ensure that forthcoming community assemblies, public demonstrations, rallies and other peaceful forms of actions are respected and protected.

AFSC therefore calls on the Bush administration to immediately end its recently unveiled, Secure Borders Initiative, which includes the aforementioned multi-state raids, increased militarization of the southern border, and the harassment and intimidation of immigrants. The administration’s initiative does nothing but disrupt the quality of life of immigrant communities. It puts the civil rights of every citizen at risk and exacerbates the possibility of unwarranted retribution on workers. It obstructs a historical moment through which the nation’s legislators can exert visionary leadership that charts the course for comprehensive and just immigration legislation.

In a country that prides itself as one of the world’s largest democracies, the groundswell of calls for immigration reform must not be thwarted by actions that disrupt communities, divide families and continue to keep 12 million immigrant workers marginalized in a legal limbo.

The American Friends Service Committee supports the rights and dignity of all people, regardless of legal immigration status.  AFSC’s Project VOICE works to uplift immigrant voices and strengthen efforts of immigrant-led organizations to set an agenda for national policy that supports immigrants’ rights. Backed by an 88-year history working for peace, justice and reconciliation in troubled areas of the world, the American Friends Service Committee is a faith-based organization grounded in Quaker beliefs respecting the dignity and worth of every person. The search for regional peace has been a major focus of the Service Committee’s highly regarded international affairs work.  The AFSC has worked in Mexico on rural and urban development projects and with migrant farm workers in California since 1940. In 1977 AFSC’s U.S./Mexico Border Program was created to address economic imbalances and document systemic human rights abuses in employment, housing, education, services and law enforcement.

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The American Friends Service Committee is a Quaker organization that includes people of various faiths who are committed to social justice, peace and humanitarian service. Its work is based on the belief in the worth of every person and faith in the power of love to overcome violence and injustice.

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