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Immigration supporters rally at detention facility in Batavia

By Howard B. Owens

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Immigration rights supporters were at the Buffalo Federal Detention Facility in Batavia this morning to protest the detention of José Coyote Pérez, an immigrant who had been cleared to work in the United States but has been held in detention since Feb. 24 without explanation, according to his supporters.

The Worker Justice Center of NY released the following statement from Pérez:

“Last September a judge administratively closed my case, and I had so much hope to finally be a part of the community – I had a work permit, I was about to get my driver’s license, I was part of the community and represented my colleagues and I felt free finally, after living in fear for so long. People know me, I speak up, I am not hiding, and when they called me to go in and sign I went, I didn’t hide. It is so upsetting what is happening to immigrants. I’ve been here in jail for more than a month, without the chance to see a judge, and I don’t know why, not even my lawyer knows why. I have gotten phone calls, visits (from) the organizations I am a member of and even the students at Geneseo, too. This is what keeps me strong, the people who are fighting for me and helping me.” 

Pérez had been working in the United States for 15 years and has three children, all U.S. citizens. He's active with the Worker Justice Center in support of farm labor and immigrant rights.

Pastor Chava Reddonet, speaking in the top photo, said she came out to the protest today because she feels farmworkers are not treated fairly and now face new challenges with seemingly increased immigration enforcement.

She said farmworkers work harder than she can imagine.

"They do this day after day so they can send money home to their families and help them all to survive and then we punish them for being here," Reddonet said.

Jaqueline Travis, from the Syracuse area (second photo), came to the United States from Bolivia in 1997. She said she is proud of the farm work she and her fellow immigrants do. 

"I enjoy apples and my daughter loves cheese and yogurt and my husband loves milk in his coffee and we really do have great products," she said. "It’s a shame — (how) we are treating (farmworkers), these are my brothers and sisters, just like you are, and we are putting all of that aside ... These are the people who are making so much money for these farmers and I can’t make sense (of it). It makes me so sad that we can treat people like this and we can be OK with that and as a society we don’t even want to think about it. When you mention things like this, people get uncomfortable. 

She said people need to know what's going on.

"If this is what makes America great, then, I am sad and I’m so afraid for our farmworkers and everybody who brings food to our table," she said.

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Ed Hartgrove

I think that one particular sign, being held by one of the "Immigration supporters" conveys what they all believe in.

Which sign am I speaking of? The one that reads, "No More Borders".

Wouldn't that be great? Why stop at No More Borders? How about No More Property Lines? We're all merely humans. Shouldn't we just be allowed to go wherever we please? Why should I give a damn whether someone has "worked their tails off" to be able to procure a piece of land?

While we're at it, how about No More Private Property, of any kind? I've got a date tonight. But, I really would like to impress my dating partner. The seats in my '92 Ford Ranger aren't nearly as comfortable as the seats in your 2016 Lexus. So, why can't I just use your (Oops! I mean, what you THINK is "your") vehicle?

WHAT? You're saying that it's YOURS? Why, how can that be? I thought everything belongs to everyone.

Oh, by the way. After my date tonight, I'll be stopping by to bring back our Lexus. Please try to leave some homemade cookies on the counter. There's a good movie on OUR Netflix channel tonight, and, I don't wanna starve.

Mar 30, 2017, 2:10pm Permalink
Brian Graz

I find it strange that Perez is in a Federal Detention prison "without explanation". The explanation could be simply that he is and has been in the USA "illegally" for 15 years. Wasn't that sufficient time for him to become a citizen if he wanted to continue to live and work here?

Mar 30, 2017, 2:16pm Permalink
david spaulding

It seems to me that America is going to become a third world country ruled by an elite few. When people on American soil can be detained without explanation for as long as an authority deems, then America has become a country without justice.
It seems to be all fine and dandy until they come looking for you.
Feb 24 it was Jose Perez, which one of us will be next ?

Mar 30, 2017, 3:14pm Permalink
david spaulding

Brian, I read the article 4 times and did not see anything mentioned about Jose being in this country for 15 years illegally. Our president would call your statement that he was, fake news.
Everybody else please scroll up to the first sentence and read the part about an immigrant cleared to work in the United States. Not too much illegal going on there.

Mar 30, 2017, 3:25pm Permalink
Howard B. Owens

We did previously report that ... and reported he was the one who called police after being attacked. That's one side of the story, but we have reported it.

Mar 30, 2017, 4:54pm Permalink
Bob Price

Just being "cleared" to be here doesn't mean jack sh*t. Why does it take 15 years to get a green card and become a citizen? He sure had time enough to get someone knocked up 3 times to have 3 kids that will be on our dime now. I work my a** off for years and years and when it'll be time for me to collect what I've paid in,it's not gonna be there. Tired of all these freeloaders coming over the borders and being here for years and years and not becoming citizens and get a legit SS # and contribute to OUR country for once......

Mar 30, 2017, 5:54pm Permalink
Christopher Putnam

Let me spell it out for you real clear.

The reason he is locked up, and they are not going to let him out, is that he BROKE THE LAW, by entering our country illegally 15 years ago.
This is a crime. He committed a crime. He is a criminal. He made himself one by sneaking in. I dont care if it was yesterday or 50 years ago. You broke the law.

Mar 30, 2017, 6:17pm Permalink
Ed Hartgrove

Mr. Price. Please note that it isn't YOUR a** anymore. We ALL own everything, equally! Except, of course, the super-rich, left-leaning Hollywood types, who cry fake crocodile tears when touting that they are all for the "suppressed human beings" in our society, yet, will not hesitate to sic their Rottweilers on a homeless person, should they step one foot on their multi-million dollar estates.

I'm still waiting for the 17 Hollywood celebrities that said they were going to move out of America if Donald Trump became President. Who knows? Maybe they couldn't find a country that would accept THEM.

Mar 30, 2017, 6:19pm Permalink
david spaulding

I re-read the article and it clearly states that Jose is cleared to work in the U.S..lol clearly ? get it ? The key word is WORK. No where in the article did I read that Jose was a freeloader collecting Bob's retirement. .. cough slander cough...So much fake news going on in the comments. I love this place...

Mar 30, 2017, 6:23pm Permalink
Brian Graz

​​David, you might be wise to do some additional research for all the details. Other reports have stated that Perez has in fact lived in the US for 17 years. I would guess that Mr. Perez was considered a "guest worker" in this country. Guest workers are not permanent immigrants. Besides, there are some qualifications for guest workers. I know that there is a time limit for how long these temporary workers can stay in the US, I'm pretty sure it is nowhere near 15+ years.​ ​Plus, employment of these guest workers must not adversely affect the wages and working conditions of similarly employed U.S. workers.

Pérez was an outspoken activist pushing for​ ​driver's licenses for non-citizens,​ ​a $15 minimum wage, and also had recently called for Rochester to become a "sanctuary city". I'd say that's not a good way to conduct one's​ ​self who should be trying to stay out of harm's way.​ ​Also​ ​I'd suggest that the protection of such activities afforded by the Constitution under the 1st Amendment, do not apply to non-citizens, just as does the Constitutional requirement of Due Process not apply to non-citizens​.

I do agree that Perez's incarceration is a bit extreme if we have all the details, and likely wouldn't have happened when Barry Obama was Pres... but there is a new sheriff in town and it would be reasonable to assume that activist folks like José Coyote Pérez have set themselves up to be targets of the new implimentation of rounding up illegal aliens. ​

Mar 30, 2017, 6:28pm Permalink
david spaulding

Christopher, are those alternative facts? how about a copy and paste from the article to back up what you are stating.?

Mar 30, 2017, 6:30pm Permalink
david spaulding

Brian, whatever it is you are trying to argue about is meritless...My comments pertain to the above article about Jose Perez. I made a statement about him being detained and not charged with a crime. I am very concerned with that simple fact. Now you and Bob and Christopher are coming on here making statements and claims, that are nowhere in the above10 paragraphs, to back your argument against this man.
I can tell you all are getting very irate about this guy and that's fine. It's very easy to join in a mob and spew non-sense to make yourself feel better.
Do any of you see anything wrong with the way this man has been arrested and detained? For if they (government) can do this to him, they can do it to you..

Mar 30, 2017, 6:59pm Permalink
Howard B. Owens

Brian, the 14th Amendment extends due process and equal protection under the law to all persons, citizens or not, within the jurisdictions of the states.

Mar 30, 2017, 7:19pm Permalink
Brian Graz

It appears that I stand corrected as Howard states, and most agree, that the Constitution applies to all persons including illegal aliens. BUT NOT SO FAST... not all experts agree. Here is one... Jennifer Gordon, Fordham Law School professor of immigration law claims: "Non-citizens don't share all the rights of citizens under the U.S. Constitution. They're subject to immigration law, under which the executive branch has broad authority to determine whether it wants them in the country or not. And 'ntil they've passed through immigration control' they aren't technically on U.S. soil".

Mar 30, 2017, 9:35pm Permalink
Bob Price

Irate??? Hardly. Yes I read the article above. He's cleared to work. Big deal. Become a citizen,then this would all be a moot point. Seems like a few of these people have been brought to these immigration centers recently and everyone's getting their panties in a wad. This guys 3 kids are U.S citizens,but he's not. Great. Hardworking? Great. Get a green card and be here and contribute,so you can be with your children.If he's such a hard worker,he should've made becoming a citizen a #1 priority. I'm tired of people wanting to give all the people that have been here for years "cleared" or whatever else they want to call it a "break". Tough. Go to another country and see how long you can get away with it. At least this post is generating some comments,something I haven't seen too much on here recently.

Mar 30, 2017, 9:38pm Permalink
Howard B. Owens

Brian, does that really make sense to you, as a libertarian, that an executive order or any law would outweigh the Constitution?

Further, Trump has had two executive orders in a row struck down on immigration for Constitutional flaws. Clearly, the president is not above the Constitution on questions of immigration.

http://thehill.com/blogs/pundits-blog/immigration/255281-yes-illegal-al…

Cites relevant Supreme Court cases.

Mar 30, 2017, 10:25pm Permalink
Brian Graz

Howard, first of all, I am not a Libertarian, I realize that I don't agree with too much of their ideology. And especially their stubborness of non-compromise... IMO they will never realize their utopia, and likely won't make much impact on the political scheme. A Rand Paul libertarian, now that's a different story... I'm good with that mostly.

I don't see the context I provided from the Fordham professor as promoting executive authority outweighing the Constitution. Just because some lower court judges who likely have a partisan axe to grind have over-ruled Trump means only a temporary stop. How often has the Circuit Courts of Appeals been overturned by the SCOTUS? The 9th Circuit, which is in play right now, has had 80% of it's cases that went to the SCOTUS over-turned.

We will see.

Mar 30, 2017, 11:06pm Permalink
John Roach

It seems this guy would not be in this mess if he had not had some sort of altercation with a co-worker. I understand that he is the one who called the police, but as we have seen a number of times, that does not mean he was not the one who started it (and it does not mean he did either). But lately, if you are not a legal immigrant and have police contact, you can be in trouble with ICE.

Mar 31, 2017, 6:04am Permalink
Howard B. Owens

Brian, the first judge (I don't know about the Judge in Hawaii) was a Republican appointee.

And both judges found the same defect -- the background of the orders demonstrating First Amendment flaws in the reason for the orders.

Mar 31, 2017, 7:57am Permalink
Brian Graz

The first judge was a GW Bush appointee... you know, the same GW Bush(whacker) who voted for Hillary. That judge, James Robart made a statement that pretty much shows his lack of concern for protecting the safety of the American people. In response to the Trump 'temporary ban' of immigrants from the 7 countries most directly responsible for exporting terrorrist... Robart said "The federal government was arguing that we have to protect the U.S. from individuals from these countries, and there’s no support for that". WHAT! So which side is he on?

Mar 31, 2017, 3:03pm Permalink
Tim Miller

Brian - concerning comment #17... please research statistics you use rather than simply parroting whatever you hear. That 80% figure is a mis-characterization intended to make the 9th Circuit seem incompetent. In fact - based on that mis-characterization, ALL the Circuit Courts would be incompetent as the range of REVIEWED cases overturned is between 68-83% for the various Circuits. Many MANY of their rulings are NOT reviewed by the Supreme Court because there was nothing wrong with them.

http://www.snopes.com/ninth-circuit-court-most-overturned/

Mar 31, 2017, 3:47pm Permalink
Mary Finnegan

I see the world as our home and the people as its global citizens. I love animals, nature and every human being as they realize we are all ONE! If nations were individuals, they would be considered psychopaths and committed. They draw borders, kill people, both as punishment and in wars and they let little children starve and die of preventable diseases. While you argue about the law, think about the !% that own 99% of the wealth and assk yourself, are you stupid? Immoral? No, we are all spiritual beings. THE ERIE IS COMING.

Mar 31, 2017, 9:20pm Permalink
Brian Graz

OK, here we go some more. Tim, I'd suggest that you learn how to read, count, and interpret, before you think to criticize and reprimand others. Firstly, Comment #17 was NOT me. Secondly, I said very succinctly that "The 9th Circuit, which is in play right now, has had 80% {OF IT'S CASES THAT WENT} to the SCOTUS over-turned." NO misrepresentation at all... and I'd suggest that that is still a pretty poor track-record.

Besides IMO, 68-83% [your numbers] of the various Circuit Court cases that have gone before the SCOTUS being overturned is a total expose of the incompetence and/or partisanship of the Circuit Courts.

Apr 2, 2017, 12:29am Permalink

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