 "Photo: Michelle Connolly")
Protesters carried a large banner demanding "dignity, justice and equality" during a demonstration supporting immigrant rights Tuesday in front of the Travis County Jail.
The demonstration, hosted by the Workers Defense Project, was held in response to the recent decisions by the Travis County Sheriff's Office to expand its collaboration with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Protesters said the organization is the source of much controversy within the immigrant community.
Collaboration with ICE will undermine the trust between local law enforcement and the immigrant community, said Cristina Tzintzun, a representative for the Workers Defense Project, an immigrant workers' rights organization.
"We are presenting a letter today to the Travis County Jail signed by a broad base of community organizations, churches and immigration organizations to let them know there is large support for this cause," Tzintzun said.
Many of the protesters spoke of the importance of cooperation between local law enforcement and the immigrant population.
"A number of people have had their homes broken into, but they don't report it because of their legal status, and that causes a threat to all of us," said Rev. John Korcsmar of the Dolores Catholic Church.
Though many protesters are worried about the inability of immigrant families to report crimes or domestic violence to local authorities, ICE officials say their programs are designed to keep communities safe.
"Many of the victims of criminal aliens are illegal aliens themselves," said ICE spokesman Carl Rusnok. "One of our highest priorities is to target aliens with criminal convictions who target those in their community."
Rusnok said the agency has many programs that partner with local law enforcement to combat crime.
However, fear of imprisonment and deportation deters many victimized immigrants, including victims of domestic violence, from cooperating with local police, Tzintzun said.
Roger Wade, a spokesman for the Travis County Sheriff's Office, said the expanded collaboration with ICE is not a new program. Though he said he could not comment on specific arguments from the protest, Wade said the organization has been working in the Travis County Jail for the past 28 years to check on inmates who are illegal immigrants.
"We will continue to work with all federal, state and local law enforcement agencies," Wade said.
Be the first to comment on this article!