NEW YORK - Inaresto ang Filipino-American na miyembro ng New York State Assembly na si Steven Raga sa Federal Plaza Immigration Court sa Lower Manhattan matapos niyang tangkaing mag-inspeksyon sa isang immigration detention facility, kasama ang iba pang halal na opisyal.
Ang hakbang ng grupo ni Raga ay kasunod ng isang preliminary injunction mula sa U.S. District Court na nag-aatas ng mapabuti ng mga kondisyon ng mga nakadetine sa 26 na Federal Plaza.
“ICE is starving people, denying them medical care, and cramming them into cage-like conditions. No matter what side of the aisle you’re on, we can all agree that inhumane treatment of anyone in New York cannot be excused by political ideology,” sabi ni Raga sa isang pahayag.
Sinabi ni New York State Assembly member Jessica González-Rojas sa GMA Integrated News sa isang email na tinangka ng mga opisyal na pumunta sa 10th floor, kung saan naroroon ang detention facility nang arestuhin sila.
“We attempted to conduct oversight of the 10th floor to ensure compliance with this preliminary injunction ruling. We put our bodies on the line for the lives and freedom of thousands of New Yorkers who have been illegally kidnapped and detained by ICE. Many of us, myself included, were arrested,” saad ni González-Rojas.
Bukod sa 11 halal na halal na opisyal mula sa New York, dose-dosenang mga demonstrador din na kinabibilangan ng mga doktor, lider ng komunidad, at mga religious leaders ang inaresto ng Homeland Security sa labas ng gusali.
Nanindigan si Raga na layunin nila na protektahan ang karapatang pantao ng mga nakadetine.
“We have a duty to hold the government accountable when unalienable rights are at risk. That’s why I peacefully sat alongside my elected colleagues and religious leaders to show that New Yorkers will not stand idly by as human rights and the U.S. Constitution are continuously violated. Our message is clear — get ICE out of New York and release all the detainees at 26 Federal Plaza,” pahayag niya.
Samantala, sinabi ni U.S. Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin na “agitators” sina Raga at ang mga kasamahan nito, at sinubukang hadlangan ang operasyon ng mga awtoridad.
"Here are the facts: Brad Lander showed up at 26 Federal Plaza unannounced, accompanied by agitators and media, and proceeded to obstruct law enforcement and cause a scene. He shouted inside the building that he was ‘not leaving’ until detainees were ‘released,” anang opisyal.
Dahil sa kaguluhan, tinawag ng Federal Protective Service ang NYPD, na kalauna’y umaresto sa 71 katao, kabilang si New York City Comptroller Brad Lander, dalawang New York State Senators, at siyam na New York State Assembly Members.
Ini-lockdown din ang gusali matapos makatanggap ng bomb threat.
Inaresto na rin si Lander noong June sa federal plaza makaraang kuwestiyunin ang pag-aresto sa isang undocumented immigrant. — mula sa ulat ni Dave Llavanes Jr./FRJ GMA Integrated News
