Immigrants' rights supporters protest arrests

April 20, 2006 (WLS) -- Dozens of people arrested Wednesday in Chicago during a nationwide crackdown on undocumented immigrants are free. They were released after spending the night in custody. Now protestors are calling on the Bush administration to stop the raids on businesses that hire undocumented immigrants.

Seven current and former managers at IFCO Systems, a Chicago company, are facing criminal charges with hiring and harboring illegal immigrants, and 26 employees are now facing deportation proceedings.

Tears of joy as relatives reunited outside an immigration office in Broadview. Twenty-six immigrants spent Wednesday night in custody while the feds initiate deportation proceedings. Federal agents rounded them up at a southwest side company Wednesday as part of a national raid on undocumented workers. Many of them, like Pedro Castillo and his wife, have been in this country for years.

"We are very worried, because we don't know what's going to happen now," said Rosa Alcauter, wife of undocumented immigrant.

Another man graduated from high school in this country and has been here since he was 5 years old.

"I think it's really unfair. Just because I don't have a piece of paper that says I deserve to be here, I mean, in my heart, I deserve to be here," said the undocumented immigrant.

He and some of the others took part in a huge immigration rally last month in Chicago. Others gathered outside the Chicago immigration office Thursday to protest US immigration policy.

"It's almost like a punishment. You get up, you protest and now we're going to punish you, we're going to make an example out of you," said Roberto Lopez, Centro Sin Fronteras.

A spokesperson for the immigration and customs enforcement office, however, says they are really trying to send a message to employers.

"These are individuals who are here illegally in the US, and as the Immigrations and Customs Enforcement, we need to enforce our immigration laws," said Gail Montenegro, US Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

The issue is becoming even more heated as those who support stricter limits on immigration rallied Thursday night in front of Congressman Dan Lipinski's office.

Those now facing possible deportation believe they have done nothing wrong.

"They pay taxes and they don't complain about. I mean, they love this country, they love to be here. And in return, they get treated like this," said Chris Barajas, cousin was arrested.

The undocumented immigrants are now scheduled for hearings before a judge who will decide whether they should be deported.

A huge anti-immigration rally is planned in Chicago on May 1. Organizers are expecting up to 500,000 people.

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