The Real Cost of Prisons Weblog

Despite the drastic drop in crime related to gang violence, the gang problem has been portrayed as a national crisis. No one disputes the need to respond to violent crime. However, overbroad dragnet enforcement policies that do not respect the interests of communities, families, and refugees are ineffective, unjust, and violate human rights.

Operation Community Shield, a joint venture between local and state police and ICE, has resulted in the apprehension and deportation of 1,600 alleged gang members. These numbers don’t include local ICE dragnet actions, like Operation Mission Possible, a joint action by ICE and the San Francisco Police Department. Many of these individuals were deported within days of their arrest, foreclosing any meaningful assessment as to their eligibility for relief from deportation. We have examples of individuals being targeted who do not fit the profile of a “violent gang member.” Some have been rehabilitated and engage in gang rehabilitation work, others are lawful permanent residents with extensive ties to family in the U.S., and others are fleeing violence in their home countries. Gang violence is a community problem. Making deportation and detention leading strategies to combat gang violence will not end it.

Speakers from legal and community organizations will speak about the impact of these policies on our clients, our youth, and their families. Growing collaboration between local law enforcement and ICE has a detrimental effect on community policing and public safety. We demand information from our local police about their involvement in Operation Community Shield and similar programs.

A press kit with stories of individuals affected by these dragnet policies will be provided. See below for more information on the actions taking place in Washington, D.C. San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Florence, Arizona.

CITY ACTIONS:
Los Angeles Contact: Rocio Santa Cruz (213) 383-7484
Location: outside LAPD Headquarters, Parker Center, 150 N. Los Angeles St., Los Angeles, CA 90012
Time: 10:00 a.m. PST
Homies Unidos, Sin Fronteras, Raza Graduate Student Association; Institute for Policy Studies fellow; and two family members affected by Operation Community Shield, Homeboy Industries, Salvadoran American Leadership and Education Fund (SALEF), Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles, ADELANTE, Los Amigos of Orange County, National Immigration Law Center

San Francisco Contact: Angela Junck (415) 255-9499 ext. 586
Location: Immigrant Legal Resource Center (ILRC), 1663 Mission Street, Suite 602m, San Francisco, CA 94103
Time: 1:00 p.m. PST
Speakers: Angie Junck (ILRC); Wilbert Anibal Castillo, an asylum seeker affected by Community Shield; Karl Krooth, chair of National Lawyers Guild Bay Area Immigration Committee and immigration attorney representing Wilbert Anibal Castillo; Ilyce Shugall (Van Der Hout, Brigagliano & Nightingale); Gabriel Morera, former District Safety Coordinator for the San Francisco Neighborhood Safety Partnership (invited)

Washington, D.C. Contact: Paromita Shah (617) 227-9727 ext. 1
Location: Pigeon Park, Corner of 16th Street NW and Harvard Avenue, Washington, DC Time: 10:00 a.m. EST
Speakers: Paromita Shah (National Immigration Project); Juan Pacheco (Barrios Unidos); Christina Wilkes (AYUDA, Inc.) and her client; Brittney Nystrom (CAIR Coalition); Valerie Burch (Pennsylvania Immigrant Resource Center) (invited); Andrea Black (Detention Watch Network)

Florence, Arizona Contact: Holly Cooper (520) 868-0191 ext.102
Location: Florence Immigrant and Refugee Rights Project, 300 S. Main Street, Florence, AZ 85232
Time: TBA PST
Speakers: Holly Cooper and staff of the Florence Immigrant and Refugee Rights Project