Vol. 71/No. 19      May 14, 2007

The sweep, which continues, is being organized under the federal Homeland Security’s “Operation Return to Sender.” Cops are using local arrest warrants to search apartments.

In the process, other undocumented workers residing in the same apartments are also arrested, according to the Montgomery County Reporter. At three apartments, 21 workers were grabbed under the cover of “code enforcement” for “overcrowded rental units.”

A garment worker from Mexico here, who asked that her name not be used, reported that a friend was arrested and sent to an immigration detention center last week after his apartment was raided for an unpaid traffic violation.

In the adjacent borough of Bridgeport, an anti-immigrant ordinance—modeled after a measure passed in Hazleton, Pennsylvania, 80 miles northwest—was approved by the Borough Council in October. Bridgeport’s ordinance, the “Illegal Immigration Relief Act,” would ban renting apartments to undocumented immigrants or employing them in the borough.

Michael Churchill of the Public Interest Law Center plans to challenge implementation of the measure. He told the Militant that authorities in Bridgeport are waiting to see the outcome of the federal court ruling on the constitutionality of the Hazleton law, which is expected this spring, before trying to put their measure into effect.

Meanwhile, the Norristown borough council has decided against pursuing a similar ordinance at this time. But an editorial in the March 14 issue of the local daily Times Herald, headlined “Hazleton’s stand is one to watch,” said, “If companies quit hiring illegal immigrants, illegal immigrants will stop coming here in search of work. There won’t be a need to fine landlords, because there won’t be any illegal immigrants looking for a place to stay.”

Eddie Cruz, executive director of Montgomery County Latin American Community Action, organized a town meeting in December at a bilingual church here to discuss the Bridgeport ordinance. At the standing-room-only event, a heated debate ensued over "immigration reform."

Those opposing the law outnumbered its supporters. One resident, an immigrant himself, said from the floor, “We are all human beings. We have done nothing wrong but have come to this country to help.” Others said such ordinances are leading to a tense atmosphere of intimidation and need to be publicly fought.

Janet Post is a garment worker in Norristown, Pennsylvania.
 
 
Related articles:
‘Stop raids and deportations! Legalize undocumented now!’
• 150,000 in Chicago
• L.A. cops attack rally
Free Cuban 5! Extradite Posada!
NBC cameraman in Houston disciplined for flying Mexican flag at May Day rally
May day actions in the United States  
 
 
Front page (for this issue) | Home | Text-version home