In the past three weeks California has been cracking down on immigration violation. Over 900 people have been arrested and 300 of which were from Los Angeles. Most of the immigrants being arrested have committed minor crimes, ignored deportation orders, or returned to the US after previously being removed. Half of those arrested have already been deported to their native countries and the other half will most likely soon to follow.

The majority of those arrested were from Mexico or Central America. It kills me that these men and woman are being called “fugitives” and “criminals.” People don’t seem to understand that immigration is what this city was built on. Immigrants coming into California today, are coming here for the same reasons many families came here years ago, for oppurtunity. There is no difference, only a separation in time. The Gold Rush was only in 1848 and chances are all the locals around here don’t go back more than 20-50 years, if that.

Yet many people do not feel this way, they feel proud for kicking people out of this country.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement has regularly sent out “fugitive operations” teams since the program’s inception in 2003, but this was the first time all 13 teams in California had traveled the state together, said Brian DeMore, acting field office director of detention and removal operations in Los Angeles. “Overall it was a great success,” DeMore said. [LA Times]

They treat each person like a number and each number as a step closer to “success.” Success being what exactly? Many of the people they are arresting have criminal records from the distant past and are now law-abiddin, tax paying, active members of the community that are being removed and taken to a place that is no longer there home. This is their home and they are taking them out of it. How could anyone be pleased or find satisfaction in that?

Immigrants rights advocates criticized the operation, saying that many non-criminals were swept up. During the operation, from May 5 to May 23, arrestees included dozens who did not have criminal records or outstanding deportation orders.

“This is one of the most shameful things our government is doing,” said Angelica Salas, executive director of the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles. “In many instances they don’t get the people they are looking for, so one of the things they do to up their numbers is arrest bystanders.”

Advocates also say that the immigrants’ criminal records may be from decades earlier and that they are now working, paying taxes and contributing to society. Some were green card holders whose residence was revoked because of the crimes. [LA Times]

Anyone who lives in Los Angeles knows that the Hispanic culture is a huge part of the city. If we got rid of all the Hispanic people in this city it would collapse. They are part of our workforce and they are a part of who We are. Los Angeles is a complete mix of every nationality, religion, and ethnicity and that is what gives us our culture. Many people say that Los Angeles has no culture, but I believe we do, and it stems out many different types people bringing their heritage to one place and then living together under one roof. We are the ultimate fusion culture and we need to stop trying to push that away and start excepting it.

Photo by Swanksalot 

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