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Shuya Ohno, MIRA (617) 821-8990
Ali Noorani, MIRA (617) 835-1402Massachusetts Congressional Delegation Shocked at Extent of Raid’s Harm to Children, Families, and New Bedford Community
New Bedford-MA On Sunday, March 11, 2007, in the basement of Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish at St. James Church, Senators Edward M. Kennedy and John F. Kerry, Congressmen Barney Frank (4th District) and William D. Delahunt (10th District), and Mayor Scott Lang of New Bedford, met with hundreds of families devastated by the recent immigration raid in New Bedford. The delegation listened to personal accounts and learned about children and infants whose mothers have been taken away by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on Tuesday, March 6, 2007.Senator Kennedy listened compassionately to Ana, who recounted how she explained to the authorities that she had a young girl under the age of two at home but that ICE agents yelled back at her that they did not care.
“I pleaded with them to listen to me, that I was worried for my baby,” Ana said to Kennedy through a translator. “They finally released me after they replaced the shackles with this,” she said, showing the shocked Senator the electronic monitoring bracelet around her ankle.Ana had been detained from 8:30am Tuesday morning until after Governor Deval Patrick visited New Bedford, and insisted to federal authorities to release of mothers with young children on Thursday, March 8th.
Mildred, 16, who has grown up in New Bedford since she was 4 years old, spoke to Senator Kerry. “They took my father away. He has been working in the factory for years, working all the time, working so hard for me.” Mildred broke into tears as she pleaded to the Senator, “I need my father back.”Kerry comforted Mildred in an embrace, and tried to reassure her. “This is a horrible and sad situation,” Kerry stated. “We have to enforce our laws, but we should not be violating human rights.”
Congressmen Barney Frank and William Delahunt expressed dismay that the children were not protected and called for an investigation.“There was no excuse,” said Frank, “for their not being absolutely 100 percent certain that children would not be victims.”
When aides tried to escort Senator Kennedy out of the church basement, the Senator rebuffed their attempts, saying, “I want to hear what these people have to say,” and insisted on giving his full attention to the families who gathered to speak with him.Later, in front of the church, Kennedy spoke to the media.
“This immigration system is terrorizing women, men, and families. Denying information about where parents are, where families are, this is not American,” he said. “If the Congress of the United States would come to New Bedford, they would pass immigration reform tomorrow.”The Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition, representing over 100 community and service organizations across the state, has been working to aid the affected children and families, in collaboration with and in support of a number of New Bedford community organizations and churches including but not limited to the Community Economic Development Center, the Immigrant Assistance Center, Maya Kiche, Cosdesal, Immigration Pastoral Center, United Interfaith Action, Catholic Social Services, Community Connections, Central Labor Council, Southcoast Legal Services, UMASS Dartmouth Labor Extention, Our Lady of Guadalupe at Saint James Church, and other groups and individuals.
Read MIRA’s March 11, 2007 MEMO to the MA Congressional Delegation here.### MIRA works to advocate for the rights and opportunities of immigrants and refugees. In partnership with its members, MIRA advances this mission through education, training, leadership development, organizing, policy analysis and advocacy.