Millien spoke here at a press conference organized to demand an end to immigration raids, held as part of a national week of protests October 11-18. These activities were endorsed by a range of organizations including the American Civil Liberties Union, the American Friends Service Committee, the National Council of La Raza, Pax Cristi, and the Union of Needletrades, Industrial and Textile Employees (UNITE).

The National Network for Immigrant and Refugee Rights released a 63-page report that week documenting 235 immigration raids across the country since 1996. It denounces the violation of human rights, the shattering of families, and the negative impact raids have on workers' organizations. In the last few months Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International have also issued reports critical of the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS).

Starting October 9, the immigration cops were mandated under new immigration laws to begin arresting thousands of noncitizens convicted of crimes for which they received sentences of more than one year.

At the press conference, Angel Ramírez and Heriberto Albarrán testified about an INS raid in Crescent City, 80 miles north of Orlando, on Jan. 29, 1997. Both work in the fern industry. "What we are asking for is to be allowed to live and work honorably, with dignity," said Albarrán, "We're tired of living in fear."

"There are now more INS agents than FBI or Border Patrol," said Cheryl Little, an attorney with the Florida Immigrant Advocacy Center. "And they work in concert with the police. If the police stop someone they turn them in to the INS." Little stated that there was a 133 percent increase in deportations in the Miami area from 1996 to 1997.

Samedi Florvil, representing the Haitian Refugee Center, said, "The United States steals land and forces them [the peasants] to leave their country, come here and work for the U.S. for cheap."

Florvil testified about his own battle for political asylum. When he arrived in the United States several years ago, INS agents sent him to "a hotel named Krome" which turned out to be the Krome Detention center, notorious for abuse of immigrants. Florvil was kept there 17 months.

He added, "The same people who are paid to kill you in your country are the first ones to get residency in the U.S."

Tirso Moreno, the director of the Farmworker Association in Florida, told the press that these new laws impact on all those who "look Latino."

Also testifying was Esperanza Fernández, a 28-year-old of Mexican descent who was born and raised in the United States. Fernández was detained at a dance in Homestead that was raided by the INS three years ago. The agents surrounded the place, closed the doors, and forced everybody onto the floor. They demanded papers and checked to see who spoke English. A friend of hers who didn't have identification on her was taken away. "I was born here, but because I'm brown, not white, I know I will always be harassed," she said.

Monica Russo, the organizing director of UNITE in the southern district, also spoke at the conference endorsing the week of protests.

Janet Post contributed to this article.  
 
 
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