A Town of Immigrant Farm Workers Says No to ICE Detention Centers

New York Times via Yahoo! News ^ | February 20, 2020 | by Miriam Jordan, The New York Times

[Oldeconomybuyer]

McFARLAND, Calif. — As an immigrant in the country illegally, Maribel Ramirez does not officially have a say in the affairs of the small agricultural town in California’s Central Valley that she has called home for 20 years.

But late into the night Tuesday, she stood with hundreds of field workers and other residents outside McFarland’s City Council chambers, a bullhorn in her hand. “No ICE! No GEO! We’re farmworkers, not delinquents,” they chanted in Spanish, led by Ramirez, 42.

At issue was a multibillion-dollar corporation’s proposal to convert two state prisons slated for closure into detention centers for immigrants in the country illegally, operated under contract with Immigration and Customs Enforcement — a plan that city leaders said could provide this impoverished town with a financial lifeline.

A new law in California outlawing private prisons will cost the city $1.5 million a year in taxes and other fees paid by the prison corporation, the GEO Group, unless the company can convert the two facilities it has operated there into immigration detention centers.

McFarland, which gained its only previous measure of fame in the 2015 Kevin Costner movie, “McFarland, USA,” is home to thousands of workers like Ramirez, who toil in the vineyards and the almond, pistachio and citrus orchards that stretch out in every direction. Up to half of the city’s 15,000 residents, according to private estimates, are in the country illegally.

[Oldeconomybuyer]

[Bell Bouy II]

Oh well, laws suck

[econjack]

We’re farmworkers, not delinquents...

Maybe...maybe not. It depends upon whether you're here legally or not.

[Gman]

She had 20 years to apply and didn’t?

[NativeSon]

The criminals need to be rounded up and tossed back to their own countries- let them protest back home.

So much for the democrat claims of them “living in the shadows/living in fear”.

[BuffaloJack]

Well it’s either the ICE detention center or the ICE euthanasia center. Take you pick.

[NobleFree]

“No ICE! No GEO! We’re farmworkers, not delinquents,” they chanted in Spanish

No detention centers needed for them - just trebuchets.

[NobleFree]

she stood with hundreds of field workers and other residents outside McFarland’s City Council chambers, a bullhorn in her hand. “No ICE! No GEO! We’re farmworkers, not delinquents,” they chanted in Spanish

This is who Big Agri's "temporary visa laborers" will be, BTW.

[datura]

Wuhan needs workers right now, let’s start some flights!!!

[rktman]

Immigrant workers (trespassers) oppose immigration laws. Let me think................

[rktman]

Well, toiling in the fields 200 hours a week doesn’t leave much time for trivial stuff.

[SaveFerris]

Let's go to AOC

[skimbell]

Did she start demanding stuff?

I love it when they "demand" chit.

I think they all learned that from the muzzies.

[NobleFree]

I guess we could go to Oregon or Washington. There are farm jobs there.”

Or - just a thought - you could go somewhere you have the legal right to be.

[SpaceBar]

These are just the nests that need removal.

[EinNYC]

Tuff. Go farm back home. Get outta here.

[boop]

"they chanted in Spanish, led by Ramirez, 42."

TWENTY f'ing years in the USA and they have to chant in Spanish?

I'm not fluent, but I can at least "get by" in Spanish.

Give me about six months in Mexico and I would be fluent.

[jocon307]

This dame needs to be on the next flight out.

[Lurkinanloomin]

CA is a Mexican colony.

[Lurkinanloomin]

Illegal aliens that have already broken in cannot apply.
The application comes first. Then you wait your turn.
Once they’ve broken in they have to go home and apply.