Blue Mass Group

Reality-based commentary on politics.

  • Shop
  • Subscribe to BMG
  • Contact
  • Log In
  • Front Page
  • All Posts
  • About
  • Rules
  • Events
  • Register on BMG

ICE Raids again – in Rhode Island Court Houses on July 15th

July 27, 2008 By AmberPaw

A clerk tipped off ICE that someone copied an ID card at the court house.  No criminal charges have been filed – only what ICE calls administrative charges for illegal entry.

12 of the at least 31 people taken by ICE were immediately released on humanitarian grounds.  The others were sent all over.  ICE refused to say where ICE sent these people because that is “too sensitive an issue”.

 

Please share widely!
fb-share-icon
Tweet
0
0

Filed Under: User Tagged With: detainee, detention-center, ice, immigration, legal-services, raid, right-to-counsel

Comments

  1. eaboclipper says

    July 27, 2008 at 6:22 pm

    criticize ICE for doing it’s job.  Finally we are attacking the problem of Illegal Immigration through enforcement. I for one am very happy.

    • sabutai says

      July 27, 2008 at 6:54 pm

      The law is one of the very, very few societal resources accessible to illegal immigrants, and apparently the new policy is to further isolate them by making them afraid to deal with justice issues within our legal framework.  I’m sure the xenophobes who drive the Republican Party will be much happier with the idea of illegal immigrants taking the law into their own hands.  Makes it easier to scapegoat them.

      <

      p>Perhaps next time ICE agents can be stationed at schools.  That way, when illegal immigrant parents come to pick up their American student at school, they can be arrested then.  That’ll teach the swarthy folks to try to integrate!  

      <

      p>Seems that the policy is to make sure that illegal immigrants are isolated from anything but exploitative “employers” who break more laws than their workers.  Not that matters — such people aren’t criminals in BushWorld.

      <

      p>

      • tedf says

        July 27, 2008 at 7:56 pm

        Sabutai, you correctly point out that taking illegal aliens into custody at courthouses decreases access to justice, since it will make those who are here illegally less willing to assert their rights in court. For this reason, ICE, as a matter of policy, should not detain people who have business in the courthouse while they are in the courthouse–e.g., ICE shouldn’t keep an officer in the small claims session and ask the non-English-speakers for identification, etc.

        <

        p>That being said, ICE didn’t detain civil rights plaintiffs here. It detained people who worked as courthouse janitors for a contractor. So while the headline undoubtedly will create a chill, there is a pretty good case to be made that this was a workplace raid, not a courthouse raid. No doubt the gung-ho folks at ICE had the chill in mind when they chose the courthouse contractor as their target, but I don’t suppose a contractor or its employees should be exempt from enforcement of the immigration laws just because the place of business is in a courthouse. This is a close case, in my book.

        <

        p>TedF

        • amberpaw says

          July 27, 2008 at 8:20 pm

          Remember:  http://www.miracoalition.org/p…

          <

          p>While Mr. Clipper is glad ICE is doing its job, must that job be done in a callous and ham-handed way?

          <

          p>Does America look like “the land of liberty” when a litigant is spirited away in the dead of night?

          <

          p>How do we know those taken to undisclosed destinations – when already represented by counsel are actually safe?  Isn’t this like internal rendition?

          <

          p>In “I’ve Got a Home in Glory Land”, by Karolyn Smardz Frost [a book I highly recommend] the point was made repeatedly that the “free” American Republic passed the fugitive slave laws, and the Monarchial British abolished slavery – and African Americans had to flee the USA for Canada to be free.  See:  http://booksxyz.com/profile308…  By the way, “I’ve got a home in Glory Land” is NOT a historical novel, but the discussion of an archeological excavation in Canada of the home of Thornton and Lucie Blackburn, who fled to Canada to escape slavery in the USA.  Speaking of callous and ham-handed and what happens when the oppressed cannot find any protection in a court of law.

          <

          p>While I am not claiming that Canada, the “Promised Land” of the Underground railway is a similar haven for illegal immigrants, their policy is still far more humane than the Gestapo-flavored tactics of ICE:  http://www.sptimes.com/2007/09…

          <

          p>Disclosure:  I lost most of the maternal side of my family to Hitler’s Gestapo and ethnic cleansing.  

          <

          p>To whisk a human being off into the darkness, leaving children and spouses and grandparents without any idea where they are is NOT why my people came to the United States of America – and not my idea of a government of laws not of men to quote John Adams,

          <

          p>Further, my read is that ICE costs me, as a taxpayer, far more than economic migrants do – and but for illegal immigration Massachusetts would probably lose one and maybe two congressmen.

          • tedf says

            July 27, 2008 at 8:40 pm

            AmberPaw,

            <

            p>Did you read my comment? I pointed out that the people who were detained were not litigants, but courthouse janitors. This may or may not make a difference–I think it does, because it makes the raid less of an “access to justice” issue than it otherwise would have been–but I am not sure I understand why you assert, in your response, that “litigants” have been “spirited away.” Have I got the facts wrong?

            <

            p>That being said, while it wasn’t the topic of my comment, I mostly agree with your main point, which is that the government should not manipulate prisoner transfers to deprive prisoners of their right to counsel. It sounds to me as though there is some anecdotal evidence that that is occurring, and if it is, it’s wrong. Of course, a prisoner has no right, I think, to be held at any particular facility.

            <

            p>TedF

            • amberpaw says

              July 27, 2008 at 9:00 pm

              • at least in my book.  Read what Attorney Sniffin, quoted at the link and in my original post SAID.

              <

              p>Just because someone is grabbed by ICE does not mean that there is not and cannot be an attorney/client relationship and certain legal rights.

              <

              p>That “grabbed person” is transformed into a “litigant” at least in my opinion as soon as the “litigant” has an attorney, or asks for an attorney and disputes the actions of ICE [or DCF, or DMH on a Section 12, etc.]- or any official government employee or authorized agent thereof.

              <

              p>I don’t care WHERE they were born or HOW they got here in that regard, at all.

              <

              p>To quote Benjamin Franklin, “Those who give up essential liberties to obtain temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.”

              <

              p>Once ICE is granted impunity from even responding an attorney who says “where is my client” – this is a threat to everyone.

              <

              p>Legal immigrants and citizens have been whisked over seas by ICE following these “ham-handed” raids.

              <

              p>All one has to do is “look like an illegal alien” and you can be whisked away.  Want the links?  It HAS happened.

              <

              p>There is a reason for due process and the rule of law – and that reason is liberty, fundamental freedoms, part of why the Bill of Rights was needed and passed.

              • amberpaw says

                July 27, 2008 at 9:10 pm

                U.S. citizens who are mistakenly jailed by immigration authorities can get caught up in a nightmarish bureaucratic tangle in which they’re simply not believed.
                An unpublished study by the Vera Institute of Justice, a New York nonprofit organization, in 2006 identified 125 people in immigration detention centers across the nation who immigration lawyers believed had valid U.S. citizenship claims./blockquote>

                For the rest of that story http://www.mcclatchydc.com/227…

                It took Thomas Warziniak, the subject of this story, over a year to get out of ICE’s clutches and he was born in Minnesota.

                Just because someone is grabbed by ICE and treated as an illegal alien does not mean that this fellow human being is in our country illegally, or has no valid claims, and – sometimes – the human being snatched up by ICE is a natural born citizen.

                So yes, anyone with an asserted and cognizable claim and an attorney trying to find them is a litigant in by book.

                Because of the current hysteria and xenophobia of the Bush administration, ICE agents claim they never make mistakes, but they sure do.

                It took  

                • amberpaw says

                  July 27, 2008 at 9:32 pm

                  …and the help of a senator and YES an attorney who could find him, his sisters, his parents….Sorry about all the typos above, I got really steamed on this one.

                  <

                  p>I HATE the
                  “guilty until proven innocent” holier than thou attitude of some.

                  <

                  p>Just doing their jobs.

                  <

                  p>Just following orders.

                  <

                  p>There is a REASON for the rule of law and basic due process.  

                  <

                  p>EABO it could happen to YOU.

              • tedf says

                July 27, 2008 at 9:14 pm

                AmberPaw,

                <

                p>Oh! You were using the word “litigant” because the people detained were challenging the government’s attempts to deport them, not because they were actually litigants at the courthouse where they were taken into custody. Then I guess we don’t disagree, though I still am not sure whether you would draw the distinction I’ve drawn, namely, the distinction between a raid of litigants at a courthouse and a raid of employees who work in a courthouse.

                <

                p>TedF

    • johnd says

      July 28, 2008 at 12:09 pm

      I support the tactics used by ICE to find, identify and deport all and any illegal immigrant residing the US. I do wish the State of MA would grow some balls to also hand out some serious fines to companies who are illegally hiring people who do not have legal rights to work in the US. Arizona is doing it and illegal immigrants are fleeing the state in large numbers.

      <

      p>Many legal Americans need help and many new Legal immigrants help, let’s coordinate our efforts to help these fellow Americans.

Recommended Posts

  • No posts liked yet.

Recent User Posts

Predictions Open Thread

December 22, 2022 By jconway

This is why I love Joe Biden

December 21, 2022 By fredrichlariccia

Garland’s Word

December 19, 2022 By terrymcginty

Some Parting Thoughts

December 19, 2022 By jconway

Beware the latest grift

December 16, 2022 By fredrichlariccia

Thank you, Blue Mass Group!

December 15, 2022 By methuenprogressive

Recent Comments

  • blueeyes on Beware the latest griftSo where to, then??
  • Christopher on Some Parting ThoughtsI've enjoyed our discussions as well (but we have yet to…
  • Christopher on Beware the latest griftI can't imagine anyone of our ilk not already on Twitter…
  • blueeyes on Beware the latest griftI will miss this site. Where are people going? Twitter?…
  • chrismatth on This site (will be disabled on) December 31, 2022I joined BMG late - 13 years ago next month and three da…
  • SomervilleTom on Geopolitics of FusionEVERY un-designed, un-built, and un-tested technology is…
  • Charley on the MTA on This site (will be disabled on) December 31, 2022That’s a great idea, and I’ll be there on Sunday. It’s a…

Archive

@bluemassgroup on Twitter

#mapoli

shocks legitimate businessman @shocks ·
18m

we’ve fucked up housing policy so badly that it’s making fuckin worcester expensive #mapoli #bospoli

Reply on Twitter 1620373810259312641 Retweet on Twitter 1620373810259312641 Like on Twitter 1620373810259312641 Twitter 1620373810259312641
headlineoptics Headline Optics @headlineoptics ·
29m

You’re paying for it: Massachusetts abortion hotline now offers free legal advice https://www.masspolicyreport.com/2023/01/31/youre-paying-for-it-massachusetts-abortion-hotline-now-offers-free-legal-advice/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter @masspolicy #MApoli #Massachusetts

Reply on Twitter 1620371068514111488 Retweet on Twitter 1620371068514111488 Like on Twitter 1620371068514111488 Twitter 1620371068514111488
projectbread Project Bread @projectbread ·
1h

Thank you, @senjehlen, for cosponsoring HD766/SD1013 and investing in the health and future of our children. Passing #SchoolMealsforAll is key to increasing equitable access to healthy, nutritious food for all students –so no child goes hungry. #FeedKidsMa #mapoli

Reply on Twitter 1620362251491315713 Retweet on Twitter 1620362251491315713 Like on Twitter 1620362251491315713 Twitter 1620362251491315713
headlineoptics Headline Optics @headlineoptics ·
2h

New jails are popping up coast to coast. These activists share how to fight back. https://www.masspolicyreport.com/2023/01/31/new-jails-are-popping-up-coast-to-coast-these-activists-share-how-to-fight-back/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter @masspolicy #MApoli #Massachusetts

Reply on Twitter 1620343385658916870 Retweet on Twitter 1620343385658916870 Like on Twitter 1620343385658916870 Twitter 1620343385658916870
massgopdaily Daily GOP News @massgopdaily ·
3h

Another one in the L column for Lyons as his last ditch effort to rid a vote against him (through appeal) fails. #mapoli

Reply on Twitter 1620335349993201664 Retweet on Twitter 1620335349993201664 Like on Twitter 1620335349993201664 Twitter 1620335349993201664
legislataapp Legislata @legislataapp ·
3h

Tweet summary for MA State House for 2023-01-30: 140 tweets from 46 legislators. Top words: jamieeldridgema, senjehlen, repjimoday, reproequity_now, progressivemass, senjasonlewis, erika4rep, legal, juliancyr, abortion. #mapoli

Reply on Twitter 1620332764472942592 Retweet on Twitter 1620332764472942592 Like on Twitter 1620332764472942592 Twitter 1620332764472942592
Load More

From our sponsors




Google Calendar







Search

Archives

  • Facebook
  • RSS
  • Twitter




Copyright © 2023 Owned and operated by BMG Media Empire LLC. Read the terms of use. Some rights reserved.