Vol. 76/No. 18      May 7, 2012

“As an exercise of discretion, ICE granted a one-year stay of removal after reviewing all factors of the case,” said Immigration and Customs Enforcement spokesperson Ross Feinstein.

“Why are they still trying to deport those arrested in the New Bedford raid?” asked Nataly Castaño, at the rally of some 40 people. Castaño is an organizer of the Student Immigration Movement, one of the rally sponsors.

Ramos had been arrested by ICE in March 2007 when hundreds of armed cops stormed the Michael Bianca Inc. plant in New Bedford, arresting 361 workers, most of whom were women and sewing machine operators.

ICE had instructed Ramos to report to immigration authorities April 18 with a ticket to Honduras where she would be deported. She has a two-month-old son and a four-year-old girl who were born in the United States.

The Student Immigration Movement held a vigil on the steps of the Arlington Church throughout the week to draw attention to the fight.

Also speaking at the program was Reina Rivas, another worker who had been arrested in the New Bedford raid five years ago and faces deportation proceedings, and Peter Lowber of the Boston New Sanctuary Movement.

“If we fight, we can win,” Lowber said. “We only have to remember Vinny and Denis.” Last fall the Student Immigration Movement waged a fight in Boston that stopped the deportation of Vinny Quirino and Denis Lemos, two young Brazilian immigrants.

Sponsors of the rally included Presente.org, United We Dream, Centro Comunitario del Trabajador and United Interfaith Action.
 
 
Related articles:
Oppose gov’t assault on immigrant workers!
Join May 1 actions to fight for rights of immigrant workers  
 
 
Front page (for this issue) | Home | Text-version home