Faith-based communities fight for defense of immigrants

Latest


 
Editor’s Note: Eduardo Castro interviewed Reza Nekumanesh, Executive Director of Islamic Cultural Center of Fresno, after his visit to Mesa Verde Detention Facility in Bakersfield, CA as a Clergy Caucus of Faith in the Valley. The Islamic cultural center is a non-profit organization promoting religious and cultural programs and services; it helps immigrant communities by bringing more understanding between the different cultural groups and deals with social injustice.
Eduardo Castro: What is your opinion of ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) detention centers?
Reza Nekumanesh: ICE’s agenda is to keep immigrants from doing their daily activities, whether at a store, school, job, etc., and throwing them into for-profit detention centers. I feel ICE is like a bogeyman sweeping immigrants up. The detention center I visited is owned by GEO Group, Inc., with various centers worldwide. GEO is like any other corporation who puts profit above the value of immigrants.
EC: What is the ethnic makeup in the detention center you visited?
RN: The makeup is about 65% from Mexico and Central America. The rest are from Africa, the Middle East, some Asians, some from Europe. I spoke to a man from Pakistan who fled his country because he feared for his life. He went initially to Brazil. He walked from Brazil to the United States. During his travel he encountered Brazil’s rain forest while walking with an injured leg with limited food and water for seven days. This shows the resilience of immigrants and what they go through. He desperately wanted to cross the U.S. for his own safety.
EC: What do you think is causing all this fear in the immigrant communities?
RN: Racism has existed for a long time. It just grew more after 9/11and the 2016 elections. Now it is open and certain sectors of the white community are not afraid to say it publicly because they have Trump’s support.
EC: What are your feelings on the attack on immigrants?
RN: Deportation is not something new. It was around before Trump, under previous administrations, only now it is more open and violent. To combat the treatment of immigrants, we in the communities are fighting for their defense, and we need to form alliances. We need to find ways to help immigrants unable to help themselves. Different sectors of the community, whether Latinos, Blacks, Asians, certain whites, must be willing to help.

+ Articles by this author

Free to republish but please credit the People's Tribune. Visit us at www.peoplestribune.org, email peoplestribune@gmail.com, or call 773-486-3551.

The People’s Tribune brings you articles written by individuals or organizations, along with our own reporting. Bylined articles reflect the views of the authors. Unsigned articles reflect the views of the editorial board. Please credit the source when sharing: ©2024 peoplestribune.org. Please donate to help us keep bringing you voices of the movement. Click here. We’re all volunteer, no paid staff.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Featured

‘We Need Urgent Global Climate Action’

Eighty-nine percent of people worldwide want their governments to do more to address the global climate crisis. Conference on tipping points says situation is urgent. Meanwhile U.S. govt does more to boost fossil fuel forms of energy.

May Day 2025: United We Will Win

International Worker’s Day is celebrated on May 1st around the world. Today, the entire U.S. working class, of which immigrants comprise an integral part, is under attack. The defense of immigrants is vital to the defense of the entire working class.

White School Officer Pepper-sprayed and Kneed Black Beaumont, TX Student, Complaint says. Will Feds Act?

A 6-second video, recorded by a teacher and reviewed by the Texas Observer, shows an officer grabbing a student’s hair, kneeing her in the face, and knocking the 100-pound girl on her back.

Pope Francis Dies After Easter Plea to End War in Gaza

"In his final public message, Pope Francis decried the “terrible conflict” in Gaza.

Bring Union Brother Kilmar Home: His Deportation Is an Attack on All of Us

The deportation of union brother Kilmar Abrego Garcia is a gut punch to the labor movement, a slap in the face to every worker who dares to organize.

More from the People's Tribune