By Aurelia Fierros
December 18, 2009
AMLA Border and Immigration Examiner
Citing the Greyhound bus stations in San Bernardino and Claremont as target sites for immigration raids, activists said Border Patrol agents have increased the incidence of their operations during this holiday season, utilizing racial profiling against individuals with a Latino appearance.
At a press conference in front of the San Bernardino station Thursday, immigrant rights advocates said they will call for a nationwide boycott of Greyhound if the raids continue.
“Private businesses have the right to ask Border Patrol agents not to conduct operations on their property,” said Emilio Amaya, executive director of the San Bernardino Community Services Center, which has provided legal assistance to people arrested. “Unfortunately, if these transportation companies do not take measures to protect their passengers, who are being faced with racial profiling and deportation on the way to visit family for the holidays, they will lose the trust and business of one of their most faithful customer bases, the Latino community.”
The community leaders, part of a group known as the Immigration Raids Response Network have launched a campaign to inform the immigrant community of the Border Patrol raids while Greyhound issued a statement responding to the group's concerns.
"Greyhound only recently became aware of these practices," said Maureen Richmond, spokeswoman for Dallas, Texas-based Greyhound Lines, Inc. "We plan on reaching out to (immigration) officials for further information. Greyhound seeks to balance the lawful and reasonable activities of law enforcement with the dignity and privacy of our valued customers."
Immigrant advocates plan to distribute fliers at churches, swap meets and other public sites to advise undocumented immigrants of their rights if they are detained.
http://www.examiner.com/x-9270-LA-Border-and-Immigration-Examiner~y2009m12d18-Activists-denounce-raids-at-bus-stations-and-racial-profiling-against-Latinos
