A former San Diego Union-Tribune reporter recently wrote about an immigrantion flashpoint in northern California. She reports that the case of two undocumented immigrants taken into custody by ICE agents contradicts the stated immigrantion goal of targeting people with criminal records.
The two men are long-time U.S. residents employed in the construction industry. Supporters say the men are being unfairly detained and are in an expedited deportation process.
“I want people to know that we are good people,” one of the man said in a phone interview from the facility where they are being detained. “We don’t take anything from this country. On the contrary, we give to this country. It’s not fair to deport us.”
The men — both come originally from Jalisco, Mexico — were taken into custody at Travis Air Force. They were to begin work on a hospital construction project on the base.
Friends, supporters and immigrantion activists say the men were picked up even though the recent surge in enforcement actions was supposed to be focused on felons, rather than contributing members of society.
The article in the San Jose Mercury News states that U.S. immigrantion and Customs Enforcement agents have arrested 41,318 immigrants since President Donald Trump took office. That’s up 37.6 percent over the same time last year. Three out of four arrested have criminal records, the article states.
However, the enforcement surge also includes arrests of nearly 11,000 immigrants with no criminal records.
If you or a loved one is faced with detention or deportation, you can speak with an experienced San Diego immigrantion attorney who will help you wage a fight for freedom.