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Workers began meeting at a local church to discuss how to get Signal to refund their contractor fee, which they said the company promised to do, and to protest their working conditions. They organized a group called Signal H-2B Workers United. When the company learned of it, it responded harshly calling the workers unqualified and cutting their already lower than promised pay. In addition, eight were declared completely incapable and told they were being sent home immediately. Outside the yard, dozens of workers and community supporters protested denouncing the firings and mistreatment. So far, nothing is resolved, but the Mississippi Immigrant Rights Alliance and Southern Poverty Law Center are going to court on behalf of the fired workers to stop their deportations. Other workers still employed are continuing their actions challenging Signal to refund their contractor-paid money they're entitled to receive with that issue possibly heading for court as well.
Plants like Signal's involved Indian workers and wasn't raided because workers in it were legally recruited by the company. Others, however, employing Latino immigrants, are savagely assaulted, and so are communities with programs for day laborers like the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles targeted in January by ICE sweeps in Southern California Latino neighborhoods. Coalition leader Antonio Bernabe told Reuters "The police didn't just take people with deportation orders, they took anybody--guys who were just hanging out in the street and even from a Jack in the Box restaurant....and now people are afraid to go out." The sweep aimed mainly at Latinos, mostly Mexican nationals, sent a message following George Bush's State of the Union address calling for "comprehensive immigration reform" combining a (mean-spirited) guest worker (bracero) worker program with tougher workplace and border enforcement meaning it's open season on Latinos and working people overall.
Immigrant Communities and Supportive Organizations Respond
Immigrant communities and organizations are fighting back against ICE rampaging terror raids and are rallying their members and supporters to take a stand. The Immigrant Solidarity Network is promoting May Day 2007 and a National Mobilization to Support Immigrant Workers Rights calling for a "national day of multi-ethnic unity with youth, labor, (and) peace and justice communities with immigrant workers and building (a)new immigrant rights & civil rights movement."
Proudly and boldly they proclaim "We are all human! No one is illegal! It's call to action stands for:
-- No anti-immigration legislation or criminalization of immigrant communities.
-- No militarization of the border with fences or other barriers.
-- No more immigration detentions, deportations or funding for immigrant detention centers.
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