In an important victory for the rights of immigrant workers and for the union movement, International Association of Machinists Local 695 member Maximo Londonio, with hand raised, was released July 11 from the Northwest Immigration and Customs Enforcement Processing Center in Tacoma, Washington, a free man. He was welcomed home by his wife Crystal, right, IAM members, people from the immigrant rights group Tanggol Migrante WA and others.
“We are incredibly thankful that Maximo is finally home with his family where he belongs,” IAM International President Brian Bryant said in a statement. “But the fact he was detained for two months without cause is unacceptable.” Londonio said he was put in solitary confinement for half of that time.
Londonio, who was born in the Philippines, has been in the U.S. since 1997 and holds a green card. He was arrested by the immigration police when he returned to Washington from a trip back to the Philippines to celebrate his 20th wedding anniversary. He thanked supporters outside the ICE lockup after a hearing ordered his release.
“We are grateful that our Brother is free,” IAM Western Territory General Vice President Robert “Bobby” Martinez stated on the union’s website. “But we will not stop fighting until every worker is protected from this kind of mistreatment.”
“The union also renews its demand for immigration and justice systems that respect the rights of all working people — regardless of where they come from or what they look like,” the national union said July 14.