Out of Public Limelight, U.S.War on Immigrants IntensifiesRandy Shawbyline‚ Jul. 21‚ 2008In the past month, the netroots and much of the political left has been outraged by congressional passage of a new Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA). Critics claim the bill opens the door to wiretapping and other privacy invasions, endangering our civil liberties. But while concerns are raised over FISA, or waterboarding and torture at Guantanamo, massive violations of the human rights of working immigrants in the United States are ongoing. In fact, for much of 2008, the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency (ICE) has systematically terrorized undocumented immigrants to a degree that would prompt national outcry if these same acts were occurring in other nations. Hard-working immigrants are being rounded up like cattle and subjected to mass arrests, and a woman nine months pregnant, stopped for a traffic violation, was taken into custody and then handcuffed to her bed while giving birth. Politicians and activists have put FISA and Guantanamo on the national radar, but where is the national outcry necessary to end this systematic brutality against immigrant families? |