Email Warns of Illegal Immigration Crackdowns in Classrooms

04/26/06

An email is being sent to Austin teachers telling them how to respond if immigration agents show up in their classrooms to pick up kids.

But some people say it's one example of the federal government going too far, profiling Hispanics and breaking the law itself.

"I think in view of what immigration has been doing, and the less than candor they are putting forth about what they're doing, I think it is a very real possibility that we will see them around the schools doing stuff. I think that would be terrible, but I regret to say not unexpected," says Jim Harrington of the Texas Civil Rights Project.

This is what the email being sent to Austin teachers says:

"Tell the students they are safe. That they have rights to not answer questions and to request to speak to attorney if they are picked up."

Then,

"Some parents have come and withdrawn their children (students) today. We can't stop a lawful investigation, but we can certainly inquire as to their credentials and to the existence of a lawful investigation. We also must abide by any court orders, such as warrants, they present."

Harrington also says the feds are illegally targeting adults.

"What they're doing is very clearly illegal and against the law. They're doing searches without probably cause. They're stopping people in parking lots. They're profiling basically if you're Hispanic. They're going to stop and ask you to prove you're a citizen, and they don't have any right to do that," says Harrington.

"I hope that if this is indeed an action that immigration has taken, that they will rethink this and that the federal government will take decisive actions to stop this, and to begin a sincere dialogue to resolve the problems rather than by making people felons or through fear and intimidation," says Reverend Ed Gomez of El Buen Samaritano.

US Immigration Enforcement says they won't target students.

"The only time ICE would be on a school campus would be if the parents were arrested, and they had to go pick up their children and they could be escorted," says Nina Pruneda, Spokesperson for US Immigration.

They say they will target illegal adults but not without a prior investigation.

"Our agents are going to go after them. They're going to locate them, arrest them and prosecute those that we can, and deport those, all those other individuals. We understand America is the melting pot, but they have to abide by our laws," says Pruneda.

But some civil rights advocates disagree.

"It's profiling, clearly illegal. It's got to stop. If it doesn't stop on their own free will, we need to get to federal court and stop it," says Harrington.

Harrington is asking anyone who comes across an illegal immigrant bust to take pictures, get video.

They say they'll need that proof if this does go to court.