City Leaders Talk About ICE and DEI
by Alex Lloyd Gross
City Leaders, including State Senators Sharif Street and Vince Hughes held a brief press conference last week to talk about Diversity Equity and Inclusion and how they say the Trump administration is targeting and violating the rights of immigrants.
This was held on the same day that several federal agencies said they would no longer recognize Holocaust Remembrance Day as well as Martin Luther King day as well as other special interest days. Locally,there has been an uproar when word leaked out about an ICE raid at a Food Distribution Plant in Philadelphia.
“ICE agents have to follow the law. They do not get violate the rights of immigrants,” District Attorney Larry Krasner said. Currently, Philadelphia Police will not assist with general raids for illegals. If the person is wanted for a violent crime, that is an exception, leaders said.
City leaders wanted to let the immigrant community know that they are not alone. illegally coming into the United States is a crime. However it is a crime that is committed multiple times per day. “For these that are here and undocumented, we can help you ,” Senator Street said.
Only a small percentage of undocumented immigrants commit serious crimes. A strike has been called in the city by Jasmine Rivera, the Executive Director Of the Pennsylvania Immigrant Coalition for Super Bowl Sunday. She wants all immigrant businesses to close and all immigrants to stay home. She said this will show people the effect that immigrants will have on our community.
Alex Lloyd Gross Photo-Delaware Valley News.com District Attorney Larry Krasner speaks about ICE and their responsibilities.
This action will hurt immigrants in the food industry, when they are the busiest. If one shop is closed, people will go to another one.
The subject of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion was discussed, with Council member Jamie Gauthier speaking out in favor of it. She said the opposite of this is to “Make America White Again”. Those in attendance were very much in support of this program. President Trump is not and has ordered it halted.