Vol. 81/No. 14 April 10, 2017
‘Fight against deportation is a labor issue’
The permanent U.S. resident moved here from Guyana in 1992 when he was “just shy of 13 years old,” Hoseine said. Like many young workers, “he had some run-ins with the law.” In 2007 he was convicted of attempted burglary and served six months in prison.
In 2008 ICE detained Palandiandi for a month and then released him. After his release “we carried on with our life,” Hoseine said. Her husband worked and started his own business. “We traveled outside the country, we went to Canada.” Hoseine and Palandiandi started Immigrant Outreach, a community organization, and joined the New Sanctuary Coalition.
Then in 2015 ICE detained him again. They learned the ICE case had been “terminated without prejudice” seven years earlier, meaning ICE could refile deportation proceedings at any time. After a year Palandiandi was released but required to wear a GPS ankle bracelet.
On March 9, when Palandiandi reported for his monthly check-in, ICE grabbed him again. They said his deportation order appeal had been exhausted.
“If you’re convicted of a felony, a misdemeanor or whatever, you do your time,” Hoseine said. “Should someone be punished for the rest of their life just because they’re an immigrant?”
Hoseine joined a March 21 protest organized by the Service Employees International Union Local 32BJ against the detention of Juan Vivares, an undocumented worker from Colombia. Vivare’s wife Yaharia Burgos is a member of 32BJ.
“What is happening to immigrants is a labor issue,” Local 32BJ President Hector Figueroa told the press. “All of labor needs to stand with familes like Yaharia and Juan’s.”
“I told Yaharia to stay strong,” Hoseine said.
Related articles:
Pa. protest: ‘I won’t let you disappear my neighbors!’
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