INS targeting immigrant rights groups,
Minnesota Hispanic activists say
By MELISSA JONES
Hispanic community organizers in Minnesota claim the Bush
administration used the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service as an
attack dog to eliminate activism among immigrants rights groups when INS
agents arrested Milagros Jimenez on March 19.
Jimenez was a leader of Isaiah, a faith-based Minneapolis
coalition that works for immigrants rights. She had crusaded to help
undocumented immigrants obtain state IDs and drivers licenses in
Minnesota. She organized a March 23 event where Mexican citizens could obtain a
Mexican identification card from the consul general. The U.S. Department of
Treasury, the U.S. Bank and Wells Fargo recognize this card. Isaiah member Jim
Kielkopf said despite the arrest the event was a success with about 700 ID
documents distributed.
Plainclothes INS agents intercepted Jimenez at the Isaiah office.
There was confusion about the identities of the agents, and Isaiah members
filed a kidnapping report with the Minneapolis police. Kielkopf said, The
police were very helpful in tracking what happened to her, and were fairly
disgusted with the INS.
Curtis Aljets, INS district director, told NCR the
officials carried clearly labeled badges and identification. Jimenez is being
held at the Sherburne County Jail near Elk River, Minn.
Jimenez is a single-mother, with a 14-year-old son. According to
Isaiah, she is a Peruvian who entered the United States legally in 1997.
Kielkopf said that Jimenez immigration documents fully complied with the
law when Isaiah hired her two years ago. Aljets said he had not seen the legal
documents submitted by Jimenez, but said there are many ways to obtain such
documents.
Aljets said Jimenez entered the United States without
inspection in 1995 and later filed for a benefit to stay. This was
denied. A hearing regarding this case was scheduled in 1997, but Jimenez failed
to appear, and an order to deport her was issued. When asked how he became
aware of Jimenez, Aljets said he could not discuss investigative
techniques.
Although Kielkopf said he could not speculate about whether
Jimenezs immigration record was spotless, We think she was targeted
for her political activism, especially because she is dealing with gaining
rights for undocumented workers.
Aljets said he had met with Jimenez several times in the past
regarding immigration issues but did not question her legality. I
dont screen documents when Im meeting with people and doing
community outreach programs, he said.
Melissa Jones is a freelance writer living in
California.
National Catholic Reporter, April 5,
2002
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