||| FROM CONGRESSMAN RICK LARSEN |||
MOUNT VERNON, WA – Rep. Rick Larsen (WA-02) released the below statement on the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention of Alfredo Juarez Zeferino and several other community members:
“Today Alfredo Juarez Zeferino and several other Northwest Washington community members were taken into custody by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
“In arrests across the country, the Trump Administration and ICE have claimed that they are going after “the worst of the worst” — but there is no indication that Alfredo Juarez Zeferino and the other people detained today represent the worst of the worst. Immigrating to the United States is legal. Union organizing is legal.
“I am working with community leaders to gather information. Senator Murray’s office is taking the lead coordinating the delegation’s work and my office will work with her team.
“As of 7:45 p.m. PT, I know that ICE transferred Alfredo Juarez Zeferino to the privately-run ICE facility in Tacoma. My office will share updates as we learn more.”
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Thank you for this important information. It’s heartening to know that Senator Murray is taking action to protect these immigrants who appear to be innocent of causing any harm to anyone, and that Representative Larsen is aiding in this effort.
Mr. Zeferino is a farmworker’s union activist, and has been referred to as a “political detainee” by his associates, and his arrest termed an attempt to silence him.. Scanning local news sources, there have been a number of recent ICE arrests in Washington, including the detention of a long-time resident and green card holder working as a lab technician for the University of Washington. According to the Department of Homeland Security website, “In the first 50 days of the Trump Administration, Immigration Customs and Enforcement (ICE) has made 32,809 enforcement arrests) nationwide.”
This is what one arrest looked like (cell phone video): https://youtu.be/NFJk4Ph7Gg4
It is deeply disturbing that we are now watching people being ‘detained’ and deported for their political, union, and justice beliefs. That they are being detained in for profit private detention centers adds to the disgust. Who seriously believes there is a good faith effort to get these folks out? Clearly, this administration is targeting people who disagree with their politics. Since when did that become a crime? And how soon will a post like this get me added to the enemies list???
In that no-warrant violent arrest by ICE in Spokane, it sounds like the wife is crying “I’m pregnant” – did others hear that as well? Those ICE agents were absolute thugs. They obviously feel entitled to abuse anyone they please, to the degree they please.
Our state needs to heavily regulate so-called private detention centers. It’s not just that our people are being detained, it’s also that they are being horribly abused for no purpose other than gratifying their sick jailers need to feel superior.