Big Raid in Sodus - Children, Women, and Men Terrorized

Dear Friends of Immigrant Rights and Economic Justice,
I just heard from our friend, social worker Alina Diaz, who has reported on a particularly aggressive raid of farm workers in Sodus, New York.
We are still trying to put together the facts, but this is what we know so far:

At 6 a.m. this morning, a group of armed men (presumably ICE agents), without warrents, stormed trailers in Sodus, where families were living. There was screaming and crying and fear. The men and women in the families were workers in the apple orchards of the region. According to Alina Diaz and Roberto Resto, the "Latino people around here are absolutely terrorized," and afraid to sleep in their homes. The children who were siezed are U.S. born. What will happen to them is as yet unknown. Please keep our brothers and sisters in your thoughts and prayers.

No one knows for sure where the captives were taken. The people who were seized were performing jobs that American citizens will not do, at low wages, for long hours, reaping the bounty of "our fruited plain," bringing food to our tables. As far as we know, the growers/farmers who employed them have suffered no repercussions.

There will be a meeting tomorrow night (Monday) at the Church of the Epiphany in Sodus, 105 West Main Street at 7 p.m. to figure out what can happen. Please let me know if you would be able to attend this meeting. It is about 50 miles away, so it would be good to carpool if possible. We would also welcome your suggestions about how best to respond to this situation.

Solidarity in perpetuity,
Pat Rector
(315) 432-8899, Ext. 27 or
(315) 446-2380

p.s. Roberto Resto and Alina Diaz are on the scene right now trying to offer what help they can.