Immigrants Speak Out
Updated: April 5, 2007
62 people were arrested at the Cargill Meat Solutions plant in Beardstown. Now three women who were arrested are speaking out. One says they were treated like animals, a claim that Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials deny.
The workers don't deny that they are illegal immigrants. But through their translators, they say they don't feel like they've done anything wrong. A 26-year-old Mexican woman who does not want to be identified says, "I understand that being here without papers is an offense. But we try to do the best we can. We pay our taxes and we try to obey the law." She has two kids and that's reason she came to America. She says, "I came to give a better life for my children. Because unfortunately we don't have such opportunities in our own country." These women say they don't know what they'll do now with no work. An unidentified immigrant says, "We don't know how we're going to support our kids."
A Catholic priest says federal officials should have known most of the people they arrested were Catholics observing Holy Week. And they should have been more respectful. Brey says, "It has a greater impact on the human family obviously on the human family during this most sacred of times. And I believe our government knows that and unfortunately is probably using that to their advantage."
An ICE official says to suggest that this raid was intentionally done during Holy Week is absurd. He says their obligation is to enforce the law 365 days a year. And they will not apologize for doing so.
Supporters of the workers say they would like to see an expansion of the guest worker program.
The workers don't deny that they are illegal immigrants. But through their translators, they say they don't feel like they've done anything wrong. A 26-year-old Mexican woman who does not want to be identified says, "I understand that being here without papers is an offense. But we try to do the best we can. We pay our taxes and we try to obey the law." She has two kids and that's reason she came to America. She says, "I came to give a better life for my children. Because unfortunately we don't have such opportunities in our own country." These women say they don't know what they'll do now with no work. An unidentified immigrant says, "We don't know how we're going to support our kids."
A Catholic priest says federal officials should have known most of the people they arrested were Catholics observing Holy Week. And they should have been more respectful. Brey says, "It has a greater impact on the human family obviously on the human family during this most sacred of times. And I believe our government knows that and unfortunately is probably using that to their advantage."
An ICE official says to suggest that this raid was intentionally done during Holy Week is absurd. He says their obligation is to enforce the law 365 days a year. And they will not apologize for doing so.
Supporters of the workers say they would like to see an expansion of the guest worker program.
