New Wave of Immigration Raids Includes LEGAL Immigrants!

Over the last few days I have received several emails from concerned friends and organizations trying to alert different immigrant communities about the latest wave of immigration raids taking place in MA and other states. The difference now is that people being picked up include green card holders...
Please read below and help create awareness. The Mira Coalition is trying to activate rapid response networks.

FYI- TODAY - LEGAL CLINIC IN LOWELL
There will be a Legal Clinic and Education Session for Community Members detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Lowell police. Attorneys will be available to answer questions.

3:00pm-6:00pm, Friday, August 8th
Metta Health Center
135 Jackson Street
Lowell, MA

Provided by: MIRA, LCHC, GBLS, Deported Diaspora, and others…
Contact: Sidney Liang
Email: Sidneyli@lchealth.org
Website: http://www.myspace.com/deporteddiaspora

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Hello Boston area MIRA members and allies,

We are getting reports that people are being picked up all over that state that have criminal convictions (including misdemeanors) who have a range of immigration statuses (including green card holders). MIRA, in coalition with our partners, is in the initial stages of responding to this raid. If you have any information about who has been detained, please send as much of the following information that you have to Sarang Sekhavat at ssekhavat@miracoalition.org.

Name:

Date of birth:

Country of origin:

Where the person is being held:

A # (Alien registration number):

Thank you so much for your assistance. We are compiling this list and will be sharing it with lawyers who are putting together a legal team to respond to this. Now is the time to activate the rapid response networks to respond to the legal and humanitarian needs that will arise in response to this raid.

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Ellen Gallagher Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition

Live in a Welcoming Massachusetts!
To learn more and sign the pledge go to:
www.welcomingma.org

Become a MIRA member
www.miracoalition.org/membership

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Article from Today's Lowell Sun Newspaper
http://www.lowellsun.com/local/ci_10113212

Dozen are arrested on immigration warrants

By Robert Mills, rmills@lowellsun.com

Article Last Updated: 08/06/2008 06:36:31 AM EDT

LOWELL -- A dozen people across Lowell were arrested on immigration-related federal warrants during a 26-hour span ending last night.

The spate of arrests began Monday at about 6:40 p.m., and concluded with an arrest Tuesday night at about 8 p.m., according to police arrest logs.

Lowell police referred questions about the arrests to U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement, where spokesman Paula Grenier would say only that all the arrests targeted "specific individuals," all of whom had prior criminal records.

More than half of those arrested had previously been arrested in Lowell, including one man, identified as Dang Sy, 28, of 25 Dover St., who had previously faced home invasion and drug-trafficking charges in Lowell, according to previous arrest logs.

Officials from ICE, including the agency's regional director, Bruce Foucart, were in Lowell in March to address the city Race Relations Council and ensure residents that ICE agents do not set out on random sweeps for immigrants. That news was meant to assure local immigrants that they would not be targeted for immigration enforcement if they reported a crime or were simply going about their daily business.

"We do not do willy-nilly stops on the side of the road," Foucart told the council. "Our focus is on investigating and prosecuting criminal investigations."

The statements made before the council seemed to hold true with the arrests this week, with all 12 people being arrested on warrants, which would have been obtained from a federal court prior to the arrests. All those arrested on the warrants were held without bail and turned over to the Middlesex County Sheriff's Office, which typically houses local prisoners held on federal charges.

In addition to Sy, those arrested were Chanvesna Pech, 27, of 106 Westford St., unit 3; Sokon Cheurm, 28, of 30 Angle St., unit 45; Chamroeun Mao, 26, of 34 S. Loring St., first floor; Song Sao, 28, of 132 Mt. Washington St., third floor; Sarin Chhoeun, 25, of 4 Glidden Ave.; Torn Kim, 28, of 28 Leverette St.; Vicheth Ang, 29, of 135 Franklin St., fifth floor, Stoneham; Soknon Chan, 25, of 46 Canton St.; Thy Toch, 36, of 119 Warwick St.; Sacha Tang, 27, of 62 S. Walker St.; and Chan Chum, 31, of 22 Claire St., unit 2.

It was not immediately clear when the suspects would appear in federal courts.