BY JOHN VOTAVA
CHICAGO - Immigration cops are continuing a series of raids in this area under the auspices of the Justice Department's "Operation Jobs." On May 9 at 5:00 a.m., immigration agents raided Bradrock Industries and Lefebvre Intergraphics in Des Plaines, Illinois, arresting 61 workers. It was the 11th raid in the Chicago area since February 1. The workers were thrown into the Broadview Detention Center, and by 2:00 p.m. 54 of them were shoved onto buses to the airport to be deported or sent to detention centers in other parts of the United States.

Resistance to attacks on immigrants' rights is also mounting. By noon on the day of the raid, 40 people had joined a picket line outside the immigration offices. Two days later at the Association House, a local community center in a Puerto Rican neighborhood, about 50 people met to hear reports on the sweeps and plan further protests. Moreover, the arrested workers themselves have increased their resistance because they have been learning more of their rights and because of the support and publicity that has been generated. Twenty-four of those arrested refused to sign affidavits claiming they were being deported willingly.

Susan Compernolle, a Legal Assistance Foundation lawyer, was able to get to the Broadview Detention Center within a few hours of the raids. "At first the officials seemed quite reasonable," she said. "Then, one of the officials I had been working with came up and said, 'Look, I don't want you to think that I was lying to you before, but we just got a call from downtown and everything has changed.' Then their attitude became as uncooperative and nasty as I have ever seen it." The lawyer said she thought the change in attitude resulted from the number of workers who refused to sign the affidavits provided by the cops.

Compernolle said immigration officials are distorting information to the press. For example, they state that people are allowed a phone call and communication with relatives. "But in practice there is one small room with a single phone, a line to use it, and it's hit-or-miss whether you will get to it in the time allotted," she said.

She noted that those who demanded to see a judge and refused to sign the affidavit were required to provide a $5,000 bond. The detainees were allowed no further communication with family or legal representation. Those who couldn't pay the $5,000 were shipped off - men to El Paso, women to Denver - for hearings.

Weekly vigils are planned for Fridays at noon in front of the downtown Chicago immigration offices to protest the raids. A picket is also planned to take place in front of the home of A.D. Moyer, regional head of the Immigration and Naturalization Service.  
 
 
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