March 6, 2007

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:

Boston:

Shuya Ohno, MIRA (617) 821-8990

Maria Elena Letona, Centro Presente, (617) 497-9080 x11

New Bedford:

Ali Noorani, MIRA (617) 835-1402

Corrin Williams, Community Economic Development Center (774) 451-8687

Helena Marques, Immigrant Assistance Center (508) 735-1953

Paul Graham, United Interfaith Action (617) 960-7465

A Community in Crisis: New Bedford and Boston Response to Raids that Destroyed Families

When and Where:

Wednesday, March 7, 2007

Boston, MA: 12:00 PM (JFK Federal Building, Government Center)

New Bedford, MA: 2:00 PM (Our Lady of Guadalupe at St James Church, 233 County Street)

Who: Immigrant families and community leaders

Why: To call for the immediate release of approximately 350 mothers and fathers detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement at the Michael Bianco Inc. factory in New Bedford on March 6, 2007.

Early reports show the raid destroyed hundreds of families and left dozens upon dozens of babies and young children without a home. Somewhat coincidentally, the raid led to the arrest of a handful of unscrupulous employers.

In New Bedford (2:00 PM, Our Lady of Guadalupe at St James Church, 233 County Street) local leaders will gather to update media on the humanitarian crisis in the New Bedford immigrant community.

In Boston (12:00 PM, JFK Federal Building, Government Center), leaders will deliver a letter to the Boston District office of U.S. ICE calling for the immediate release of all detained workers, the provision of legal representation to workers and their families, and a moratorium on all such raids.