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Join
Interfaith Worker Justice
To Protest Last Week's Sting Operation
In Goldsboro,
NC
Last
week immigrant workers gathered to attend mandatory safety training
they thought was being held by the Occupational Safety and Health
Administration (OSHA). It turned out to be a sting operation by the
Homeland Security's Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement
(ICE).
Click
here to send a letter of protest to the immigration bureau with
copies to your legislators.
After
serving coffee and doughnuts, an official announced that he had bad
news -- the immigration office had called the meeting, not OSHA, and
immigration agents filled the room.
Forty-eight
workers, hired by subcontractors at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base
in Goldsboro,
North Carolina, were
arrested on charges that they were illegal immigrants. At least one
person was later released upon proof of
citizenship.
OSHA had
no knowledge of the Immigration Bureau's plans. It has protested the
Bureau's misuse of its name and
reputation.
The
Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement claimed it was
protecting us from terrorism and that "ruses" are part of its
standard way of operating.
Interfaith
Worker Justice is outraged! It has requested a meeting with ICE, is
mobilizing its affiliate groups to contact local ICE officials and
is organizing outreach to national media
outlets.
Click
here to make a donation in support of IWJ's work to protest this
action.
At a
time when workplace safety is a critical issue for millions of
low-wage workers, this action:
- Undermines OSHA's
ability to do its job to protect workers
- Undercuts religious
and community efforts to encourage immigrant workers to file
complaints about workplace problems with appropriate government
agencies
- Destroys
partnerships between the Department of Labor and faith-based and
community organizations around the
country
- Violates the spirit
of the nation's labor laws, which protect the rights of all
workers - regardless of immigration status-- by guaranteeing
freedom of association, collective negotiation, fair wages for
work performed, safe working conditions and adequate
compensation
Let
ICE and your elected officials know that you oppose this type of
activity. Click
here to send a letter of protest to the immigration bureau with
copies to your legislators.
Help
Interfaith Worker Justice respond to this latest affront to workers'
rights. Click
here to make a donation on our secure
website.
In peace
and justice,
Kim
Bobo
Executive Director
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