The responsibility for the racist violence against immigrants lies first and foremost with the U.S. government, which has spearheaded a bipartisan anti-immigrant campaign on behalf of the wealthy employers. Under the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigration Responsibility Act of 1996, the Clinton administration has increased the powers of the Immigration and Naturalization Service to deport people, and has hired a record number of immigration cops. Their job is to terrorize working people born outside U.S. borders. Washington has stepped up INS factory raids, including in meatpacking and other plants where immigrant workers are helping lead fights to organize unions.

The capitalist rulers of the United States scapegoat immigrants for unemployment and other problems caused by their own system. Their goal in stepping up deportations, and their attempts to terrorize workers born in other countries is not to drive out immigrants. Just the opposite. U.S. capital keeps drawing in immigrant labor for its own economic needs, both in agriculture and industry. In coming years it will do so at an accelerated pace. The employers' goal is to maintain immigrants in a permanent second-class status of superexploitation and fewer rights, while using this setup to pit working people against each other.

Ultrarightist groups like "Sachem Quality of Life" get a green light for their chauvinist poison and thuggish behavior from the actions and "America First" policies of the Democrats and Republicans in the government. This outfit has waged an aggressive campaign against workers of Mexican and Central American origin who live and work in Long Island. They blame immigrants for crime, disease, the housing crisis, and other social ills of capitalism.

Such rightist thugs are a deadly threat not only to immigrants but to the entire working class. The courageous stance by workers in Farmingville in standing up to the ultrarightists and capitalist politicians by organizing demonstrations, press conferences, and other protests, sets an example for all working people.

The protest actions by these workers underscore why the labor movement should embrace--and organize--workers coming from other countries as new potential battalions in the struggle against the U.S. employers. Immigrants have strengthened the working-class movement, as can be seen in numerous union-organizing and other battles around the country today, from California, to Washington State, to the Midwest and Florida.

Arrest the thugs who assaulted Pérez and Estruda! Stop all deportations and INS factory raids! Equal rights for all immigrants!