Thursday, August 25, 2011

Demonstrators, Local Residents Demand End to 'Secure Communities'

Hello, Yupette,

Last evening a large and vocal group of demonstrators demanded an immediate end to the Department of Homeland Security's so-called 'Secure Communities' program at a meeting of the Homeland Security Advisory Council. The meeting was held at Founders Hall of George Mason University, on Fairfax Drive. At least 30 uniformed police officers were present to monitor approximately 200 demonstrators. The demonstrators moved indoors and the Council members heard about 50 speakers.

The speakers overwhelmingly denounced 'Secure Communities' and called for an immediate end to the program. Several Arlington activists spoke on both sides of the issue. The most appalling statements came from attorneys who represent immigrant defendants regarding significant and serious abuses in the 'Secure Communities' program. Several local residents detailed the kafkaesque experiences they and their relatives endured after being apprehended by the police and sent to detention centers operated by Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Tom

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

According to the immigration attorneys you don't have to actually commit a crime to be swept up and sent to an ICE detention center.

Anonymous said...

The statements by the immigration attorneys were troubling.

So what has Nada Tejada done, besides talk, and pass a resolution?

Anonymous said...

I almost died laughing when Mary Beth Zimmerman related her experiences growing up in a segregated Cleveland suburb and then stating how happy she is to live in Arlington. Same Mary Beth Zimmerman who lives in racially segregated Douglas Park.

Anonymous said...

Douglas Park? Isn't that the park across the street from Chris and Mary Beth Zimmerman's home where the police show up 2 minutes after Latinos and Latinas who try to use the park?

Anonymous said...

Where is Congresssman Moran on this issue?

Anonymous said...

Go to arlingtonva.us and see Moran's exchange with Tejada on April 11th.

Anonymous said...

Correction, Douglas Park is the wilderness preservation area across the street from Chris's and Mary Beth's home.

Anonymous said...

Ask yourself, ten years after 9-11, who is terrorizing whom?

Anonymous said...

If half of what the immigration attorneys who spoke at last night's meeting is true (and I don't doubt that all of what they said is true) President Obama should act to rescind Secure Communities.

Anonymous said...

ICE and Homeland Security are proposing to construct even more detention centers.

Anonymous said...

It is interesting to contemplate the statement by an African American at the meeting: U.S. foreign policy causes illegal immigration to the USA because of the tyranny of regimes the USA supports.

P.K. said...

It's not only tyranny, Mexico is a miserable oligarchy with greater petroleum and mineral reserves than the U.S. that affords its citizens little economic opportunity.