LULAC Concerned by Immigration Raids, Urges DHS to Stop Deportation of Victims of Central American Violence

January 6, 2016

WASHINGTON, D.C. – WASHINGTON, D.C. – Over the past week, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) implemented a controversial enforcement change regarding its efforts to apprehend undocumented immigrants. In the past, efforts to apprehend undocumented immigrants were focused on their place of employment. Pursuant to the shift in DHS enforcement, the agency is now intensifying immigration sweeps to include individual’s homes and other locations. In addition, although DHS announced that it would be apprehending people from Central America who arrived during the summer of 2014 and had final deportation orders, there is evidence that the sweeps are broader in scope. In an effort to raise concerns regarding the new enforcement policy, LULAC reached out to the Department of Homeland Security and requested a meeting with Secretary Jeh Johnson.

Below is a statement from LULAC National President Roger C. Rocha, Jr.:

“There are several issues regarding the recent raids being conducted under the authority of the Department of Homeland Security that are troubling to LULAC. The majority of families who flee Central America are eligible for asylum in the U.S. because they fear for their lives. These families have been the subject of raids resulting in the apprehension of women and children who were not permitted to have proper legal representation. This denial of due process adversely impacts an individual’s ability to make a case for asylum and is contrary to law. In addition, the recent raids which have taken place in neighborhoods and homes have had a chilling effect on the immigrant community, leaving many in fear that they could be next. LULAC is concerned that these aggressive tactics on a targeted vulnerable population have resulted in additional harm to the Latino community. We hope that our meeting with Secretary Johnson will clarify these issues and result in the reduction of such aggressive tactics.”

The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) is the nation’s largest and oldest civil rights volunteer-based organization that empowers Hispanic Americans and builds strong Latino communities. Headquartered in Washington, DC, with 1000 councils around the United States and Puerto Rico, LULAC’s programs, services and advocacy address the most important issues for Latinos, meeting critical needs of today and the future. For more information, visit www.LULAC.org.