Local Organizations and Families Embrace Holyoke’s Order on Civil Immigration Detainers Adam and Marina Velazquez with their children HOLYOKE, Mass. (WGGB) — Local organizations and families are speaking out in favor of an executive order that Mayor Morse signed Wednesday afternoon. The order directs Holyoke’s Police Department not to comply with civil detainer requests from Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to hold individuals past the point when they would usually be released. Just Communities — an organization based in Springfield — fights for immigrant justice in Western Massachusetts, in the state, and in the United States. The group’s work is centered on helping families who are affected by deportation and strict law enforcement. “It’s real sad when you see kids crying for their dad,” explains Catherine Vargas, Coordinator at Just Communities. “People, or women, go work in the farms because [they have] to support the kids because the dad is not there in the house.” Marina Velazquez, a member of Just Communities, shared her story with ABC40. Her husband, Adam, was deported to Mexico in May 2014 — after police arrested him for not being able to provide a social security card. Marina, Adam, and her five children have been separated for five months now. “The only people who pay are the children,” Velazquez says. Both Velazquez and Vargas believe the executive order signed by Mayor Morse is a step in the right direction for the people of Holyoke, as it aligns with the mission at Just Communities. “We want to protect public safety, but at the same time, we want to keep families together and focus on more pressing issues,” says Mayor Morse. Morse continued by saying this has always been an “unspoken” policy within the police department. He hopes this order will enhance the trust of the immigrant community in the law enforcement. For Mayor Morse’s full statement, click HERE.
Posted on: Thu, 20 Nov 2014 03:56:22 +0000
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