RICHMOND GLOBE
April 2 - 8, 2008

McLaughlin, ACLU Representatives Discuss Immigration Reform with Residents

By Clifford L. Williams
Globe City Editor

Mayor Gayle McLaughlin recently joined ACLU representatives and community members to discuss immigration reform and immigrant rights during a public forum at the Richmond library.

Approximately 50 people attended the event, which was designed to inform the public about current immigration laws, how it affects them and what to do in the event they are faced with an immigration problem.

“In 2007 we experienced a wave of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids in Richmond and throughout Contra Costa County,” said McLaughlin.

“These ICE raids were called Operation Return to Sender. The name itself is shameful. It constitutes such discrimination, hostility, abuse, violence and exploitation.”

These ICE activities prompted McLaughlin to draft a resolution calling for an end to the immigration sweeps in Richmond and to the abuses and misrepresentation of ICE officers. It also reaffirmed Richmond’s determination not to inform, assist or cooperate with any future sweeps and called for a comprehensive immigration reform. The resolution was passed unanimously by the City Council. “Bringing forward this resolution was an affirmation of the rights of all immigrant people of Richmond, who constitute one in four of our residents,” said McLaughlin. “This racial profiling has created a massive impact on families and children.

“These ICE raids must be halted and the debate on comprehensive immigration reform must be allowed to be carried out in good faith, rather than against a backdrop of fear, repression and intimidation,” she said. “My office is currently engaged with Concilio Latino to research and build a grassroots movement to issue local IDs, regardless of immigration status. Such IDs would be proof of identify for library cards, opening a bank account and conducting basic business as residents — basic needs that right now are impossible for residents with immigration status to achieve.”