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<blockquote data-quote="Channahon" data-source="post: 191148" data-attributes="member: 7666"><p><strong>Here's an example where immigrants feel they have rights in America, although not here legally. </strong></p><p> </p><p><strong>Activists Protest Arrest Tactics</strong></p><p>As CBS 2's Kristyn Hartman reports, the raid drew heated protests in the Little Village neighborhood on Tuesday, and those demonstrations continued outside the Dirksen Federal Building downtown on Wednesday.</p><p> </p><p>But U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald said the arrests were a matter of national security.</p><p> </p><p>The protesters complained about the use of SWAT teams and machine guns, and the sealing off of the discount mall. Fitzgerald said it was done for the safety of those nearby and the agents working on the case, because the people allegedly involved in the fake ID ring are dangerous.</p><p> </p><p>He emphasized that he focus of the arrest was the fake ID ring rather than immigrants in general.</p><p> </p><p><strong>But many said they are offended by the display of force and the number of officers who conducted the operation in a shopping mall in the middle of the afternoon.</strong></p><p> </p><p><strong>“This could've easily turned into a very explosive, deadly situation with the kinds of weapons on the street, with the number of troopers, enforcement officers,”</strong> said Dr. Juan Andrade of the U.S. Hispanic Leadership Institute.</p><p> </p><p>Some protesters said the saw the arrests as an attack on the community. Many people complained that others who had nothing to do with counterfeiting were also arrested. </p><p> </p><p>“They kind of targeted a whole bunch of people in a very large space and then kind of checked everybody for immigration status,” said civil rights attorney Chris Bergin. “That's not an American ideal.”</p><p> </p><p>"We ask you to be with all of the families who've been agitated by this act of aggression in our community," an activist said during a protest on Tuesday.</p><p> </p><p>They took issue with the show of force, and they way they said they were treated.</p><p> </p><p>"They came out here and they had these big guns and they were looking for people under cars and in the stores," said witness Jesus Figueroa.</p><p> </p><p>The local alderman also took issue with the methods used in the raid.</p><p> </p><p>"It's a show of force. We believe it was done to intimidate this community. We can’t see it any other way," said Ald. George Cardenas (12th). "The number of people involved in this operation is just overwhelming."</p><p> </p><p>Witnesses say up to 200 agents stormed the mall, locking it down and asking everyone inside and in the parking lot for IDs.</p><p> </p><p><strong>"(They were) selling illegal papers to immigrants so we can work, basically. That’s all we buy them for, is to work," said Little Village resident Luz Nolasco. "But apparently that’s against the law and God forbid we help America!"</strong></p><p> </p><p>A release said, "Their actions are clear – (to) disrespect our community and children and to intimidate us."</p><p> </p><p>As CBS 2's Rafael Romo reports, the site of the operation looked like a ghost shopping mall Wednesday. Merchants say people are still terrified, especially those who witnessed the raids.</p><p> </p><p>“And when they came in, looking to see if perhaps some of them had hidden inside here, that caused more panic; that caused more fear, with those machine guns walking around,” said merchant Rosanna Jimenez.</p><p> </p><p>“This was not an effort to send any message to anyone other than those people who traffic and counterfeit documents, who make a living by exposing the vulnerability of our country,” Fitzgerald said.</p><p> </p><p><strong>Fitzgerald says he understands people's frustration, but agents have to go where crimes are being committed.</strong></p><p> </p><p>“We can't just say we're not going to arrest people ever in a shopping mall and we're not going to arrest people ever in the public streets if they're carrying out crimes in the public streets,” Fitzgerald said.</p><p> </p><p>Immigration activists say the operation was an effort to intimidate people the week before an immigration rally planned for May 1.</p><p> </p><p><strong>But federal officials say the investigation into the counterfeiting ring started long ago and has nothing to do with the immigration debate. </strong></p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Channahon, post: 191148, member: 7666"] [B]Here's an example where immigrants feel they have rights in America, although not here legally. [/B] [B]Activists Protest Arrest Tactics[/B] As CBS 2's Kristyn Hartman reports, the raid drew heated protests in the Little Village neighborhood on Tuesday, and those demonstrations continued outside the Dirksen Federal Building downtown on Wednesday. But U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald said the arrests were a matter of national security. The protesters complained about the use of SWAT teams and machine guns, and the sealing off of the discount mall. Fitzgerald said it was done for the safety of those nearby and the agents working on the case, because the people allegedly involved in the fake ID ring are dangerous. He emphasized that he focus of the arrest was the fake ID ring rather than immigrants in general. [B]But many said they are offended by the display of force and the number of officers who conducted the operation in a shopping mall in the middle of the afternoon.[/B] [B]“This could've easily turned into a very explosive, deadly situation with the kinds of weapons on the street, with the number of troopers, enforcement officers,”[/B] said Dr. Juan Andrade of the U.S. Hispanic Leadership Institute. Some protesters said the saw the arrests as an attack on the community. Many people complained that others who had nothing to do with counterfeiting were also arrested. “They kind of targeted a whole bunch of people in a very large space and then kind of checked everybody for immigration status,” said civil rights attorney Chris Bergin. “That's not an American ideal.” "We ask you to be with all of the families who've been agitated by this act of aggression in our community," an activist said during a protest on Tuesday. They took issue with the show of force, and they way they said they were treated. "They came out here and they had these big guns and they were looking for people under cars and in the stores," said witness Jesus Figueroa. The local alderman also took issue with the methods used in the raid. "It's a show of force. We believe it was done to intimidate this community. We can’t see it any other way," said Ald. George Cardenas (12th). "The number of people involved in this operation is just overwhelming." Witnesses say up to 200 agents stormed the mall, locking it down and asking everyone inside and in the parking lot for IDs. [B]"(They were) selling illegal papers to immigrants so we can work, basically. That’s all we buy them for, is to work," said Little Village resident Luz Nolasco. "But apparently that’s against the law and God forbid we help America!"[/B] A release said, "Their actions are clear – (to) disrespect our community and children and to intimidate us." As CBS 2's Rafael Romo reports, the site of the operation looked like a ghost shopping mall Wednesday. Merchants say people are still terrified, especially those who witnessed the raids. “And when they came in, looking to see if perhaps some of them had hidden inside here, that caused more panic; that caused more fear, with those machine guns walking around,” said merchant Rosanna Jimenez. “This was not an effort to send any message to anyone other than those people who traffic and counterfeit documents, who make a living by exposing the vulnerability of our country,” Fitzgerald said. [B]Fitzgerald says he understands people's frustration, but agents have to go where crimes are being committed.[/B] “We can't just say we're not going to arrest people ever in a shopping mall and we're not going to arrest people ever in the public streets if they're carrying out crimes in the public streets,” Fitzgerald said. Immigration activists say the operation was an effort to intimidate people the week before an immigration rally planned for May 1. [B]But federal officials say the investigation into the counterfeiting ring started long ago and has nothing to do with the immigration debate. [/B] [/QUOTE]
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