August 27, 2008 8:31 AM
A massive ICE raid in Mississippi has led to the detention of 595 immigrant workers. The headline grabbing sweep at an electrical assembly plant is part of a campaign to convince the American public that "something is being done" to round up and jail hardworking people trying to support themselves and their families.
Most of those arrested at the Laurel, Mississippi factory were immediately shipped nearly 200 miles away to Jena, Louisianna. Yes, that Jena. There they are being held ina detention facility.
This sort of rapid separation of of detained immigrants away from the place where they live makes it virtually impossible for their families and supporters to provide them with legal assistance in fighting their deportation. Since most of those arrested do not have prior deportation orders, the immigration courts would normally consider their cases individually. However, without access to a supportive community, the detainees are likely to quickly sink into despair and surrender any rights they might have.