Washblog || Worksite Raid in Bellingham: Welcome to the Bush Legacy.

Worksite Raid in Bellingham: Welcome to the Bush Legacy.

By rachelfirm
Wed Feb 25, 2009 at 09:07:08 AM PST
Section: Diary Topic: Alternative and Community Media

Yesterday in Bellingham, Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents surrounded an engine remanufacturing plant and hauled off 28 undocumented workers. This marks the first worksite raid conducted under the Obama administration. It also marks a very real and very scary extension of Bush-era policies.

"They arrived in force," said Asiff Dhanani, a co-owner of the company at 2020 E. Bakerview Road. "They surrounded the whole perimeter." Most of the workers detained were taken off in handcuffs, Dhanani said, except for three women who apparently were processed and released because they had children in local schools or daycare centers. The 28 made up about one-third of the engine remanufacturing company's production force.

In this time of economic hardship it is completely unacceptable for the Obama administration to be executing raids on our workers, businesses and communities.

Not to mention that in recent weeks, we've seen the damning evidence of Bush's broken immigration policies in story after story. The Washington Post wrote about the wrong turn taken by the DHS in their enforcement tactics, indiscriminately targeting Latinos to fill quotas. The Migration Policy Center released a report exposing the dysfunction of the Department of Homeland Security. We have even seen Obama speak openly about his desire for Comprehensive Immigration Reform and his commitment to the issue. But yesterday, the cold hard reality was this: Obama is continuing Bush-era enforcement tactics, disrupting our communities and separating our families. While we came to expect these failed tactics from the Bush Administration, we do not expect an Administration that campaigned-and won the lion's share of the Latino vote-on a platform of Hope and Change to continue them.

< Brian Baird Gaza visit | A Big Plan - For DWE >

Worksite Raid in Bellingham: Welcome to the Bush Legacy. | 3 comments (3 topical)

Were these not ILLEGAL immigrants?

If I decided to do something illegal I would expect to suffer consequences if I am caught. If the workers arrested were illegal, as I suspect they were, then I applaud my government for doing what I expect it to do.

Yes, this is a time of economic hardship. But given the large and ever growing number of legal citizens out of work, it is completely acceptable for the Obama administration to be executing raids against businesses that support illegals. Trust me, these businesses do not do this out of the goodness of their hearts. I must admit that I am disappointed that the co-owner of the business apparently was not also hauled off. I have to believe that he knew that these undocumented workers were working illegally.

Look folks, we have to decide if'n we want our laws enforced or not. We supposedly are a nation of laws. I believe that those laws should be enforced until such time as they are changed. So if you are upset with these laws, work to change them and learn to live with them until they are changed.

by leduc on Wed Feb 25, 2009 at 12:44:12 PM PST

* 1 none 0 *

Obama's new approach?

As you can read here President Obama's new Homeland Security Secretary has ordered a review of the Bellingham raid and indicated that the Obama Administration will place more emphasis on the employers than on the workers.

Peace,
Chad (The Left) Shue

by The Left Shue on Thu Feb 26, 2009 at 04:11:20 PM PST

* 2 none 0 *

Chad, thanks for covering that - n/t

by noemie maxwell on Fri Feb 27, 2009 at 08:24:59 AM PST

* 3 none 0 *

Worksite Raid in Bellingham: Welcome to the Bush Legacy. | 3 comments (3 topical)

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