[nyfoil-l] {Sin Fronteras} Press Release for Friday morning vigil of support for Raided workers from WI

[Main Office]

 TO ALL MEDIA: For Immediate Release

*From: Centro Sin Fronteras*

*Contact: Emma Lozano 773/671-1798 or Roberto Lopez 773/671-1727*


PRESS CONFERENCE



WHERE:  55 E. MONROE

(In front of the Immigration Office)



WHEN: FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 22ND



TIME: 8:30 A.M.

*(Court Begins at 9:00am)*



*3 White Water, Wisconsin Star Packaging workers facing their 1st court
appearance.*



*On Friday, September 22nd 3 Star Packaging workers will face their first
court appearance in front of an immigration judge.   We will join them along
with supporters and community leaders from Wisconsin outside of immigration
court in a prayer Vigil. *

* *

*"We don't want special treatment, we want justice and respect for these
workers" said Jorge Islas of the Sigma America the organization based in
White Water Wisconsin that is assisting 9 workers arrested and in
deportation proceedings. *

* *

*"This is another example of how workers are being scapegoated so that we
will stop marching and asking for our rights.   We demand that our families
stop being separated." Said Flor Crisostomo former IFCO worker
supporter.  Today
we as a community will hold a vigil for the Star Packaging workers and will
also again call on President Bush to establish an immediate moratorium on
all raids, deportations and separation of families. *

* *

* *

* *

* *

*(30)*

* *

*Associated Press Article Attached on this case*

* *

* *

* *

* *

* *

*Whitewater factory workers arrested for being illegal immigrants*

*The Associated Press *
WHITEWATER — Local and federal authorities have arrested a business owner
and 25 of his workers who are alleged illegal immigrants, police say.

Acting Whitewater police chief Lisa Otterbacher said the 26 people were
arrested at about 10 a.m. Tuesday at a packaging business.
Whitewater police were to ask the Walworth County district attorney to
charge the owner with party to conspiracy to commit misappropriation of
identification.

The 47-year-old owner is accused of employing people without proper
documentation, Otterbacher said. Otterbacher said the owner's arrest came
after "a number of meetings between the company owner and the
investigators."

She said the owner was told many times that he couldn't employ illegal
immigrants.

Officers from Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Chicago and Walworth
County deputies assisted Whitewater police in executing a search warrant at
the business.

The raid followed a long investigation that began in February, Otterbacher
said.

The workers, including 13 women, were taken to the Dodge County Jail, where
they were kept pending deportation proceedings, Gail Montenegro, an ICE
spokeswoman, said Wednesday. The proceedings could take as little as a few
days or a couple weeks, she said.

All of the immigrants are from Mexico, Montenegro said.

The owner was released on $50,0000 signature bond Wednesday.
His attorney, Frank Lettenberger, said Thursday his client hired the workers
from a temporary agency.

The warrant affidavit said his client was allegedly party to identity theft,
likely involving Social Security numbers, Lettenberger said.

He questioned why the local police department was handling such an issue.

"The last time I checked the people who regulated that are the federal
authorities," he said.

"It's not their position to say who they can and can't hire," he said.