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225 6th Street, Suite B Executive Director: Flora Archuleta Immigrant Advocate: Education/Outreach Coordinator: Mennonite Voluntary Service Member: Emmy Lou Helmuth Community Coordinator: Antonio Sandoval Cross Cultural Communication Specialist: Ren Carbutt |
Raid ResponseSan Luis Valley and CIRC Respond to ICE Raids in Center, CO
Prayer Vigils held in Alamosa and DONATE TO "FAMILIA FUND" TO SUPPORT FAMILIES!
The San Luis Valley Immigrant Resource Center (SLVIRC) and community partners are leading a united and effective response to last Tuesday's ICE raids in Center, CO. CIRC's Raid Rapid Response Team joined SLVIRC in providing legal and logistical support for families in the San Luis Valley and for workers brought to the detention center in Aurora. Two community forums attended by 75 and 100 persons and two candlelight vigils were organized in the San Luis Valley. A vigil was also held in Denver the night of the raids following Rights for All People's successful community forum. Press releases denouncing the raids were sent the afternoon of the raids (PRESS SUMMARY BELOW).
Legal teams continue to provide counsel and support for detained workers and families. Special thanks to: Companeros in Durango, the Rocky Mountain Immigrant Advocacy Network, Durango immigration attorney Shea Fitzekam, and active members of Rapid Response Team (Centro Humanitario, SEIU Local 105, AFSC/Coloradans for Immigrant Rights).
"Familia Fund" established for families affected by ICE Raids at the Alamosa State Bank in Alamosa, Colorado
Monetary Donations:
Made payable to: "Familia Fund" and mailed to:
“Familia Fund” c/o SLV Immigrant Resource Center, P.O. Box 1534, Alamosa, CO
81101.
Donations can also be made by calling the Alamosa State Bank at:
719-589-2564, to send money directly to the “Familia Fund”.
All money will go to families affected by the raid to help pay rent, utilities, food,
clothing and basic necessities.
Press Summary from ICE Raids
In what appears to be a repeat of the humanitarian crisis in New Bedford, Massachusetts earlier this month, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has raided another factory, Tuesday morning in Center, Colorado. Immigrant rights advocates brought communities together Tuesday night in Alamosa and Denver, CO, to support those affected. ICE reported that they have arrested 19 administrative immigration charges - 17 employees are from mexico and two are from Guatemala. There were eight women, ten men, and one juvenile. Those detained were transported to Canyon City, Colorado, and then moved to the Aurara Detention Center (GEO). "These ICE Raids have to stop. Children are being terrorized and families ripped apart by these humanitarian offenses," says Flora Archuleta, Executive Director of the San Luis Valley Immigrant Resource Center. "We need real solutions that will serve our communities, economy and families." Harold Lasso, Policy Director at The Humanitarian Center for Workers concurs. "This far reaching raid and others like it have disrupted lives and caused panic amongst communities. We are at a crossroads as a nation in deciding what kind of country we want to be and how we value family unity, community, and human rights." "These actions do not resolve the root causes of migration to the United States, but further polarize how immigrants are perceived and treated." For the full AFSC Call to End Immigration Raids, click here. 'This is a disturbing indictment of our nation's priorities as many immigrant families await federal legislation that might potentially allow them to adjust their immigration status in the United States," states Julien Ross, Coordinator for the Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition. "Furthermore, the current raids undermine community cohesion, family unity and imbue fear and uncertainty in the nation's immigrant communities." In Alamosa, a public forum on the raids was held at Valley Wide Health Systems, 128 Market Street, at 4:30 pm, followed by a candlelight vigil at 6:30 pm. In Denver, a candle light vigil was held at 8:15 pm in solidarity. On Wednesday, advocates were stationed at the St Francic Jerome Catholic Church in Center as a safe resource for families to go to. A community rights training and vigil were held at the church on Wednesday. For more information or questions please call Flora Achuleta at (719) 466-1383 or Julien Ross (720) 290-1125
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