The U.S. Border Patrol released this statement on Friday in connection with the immigration story involving some people from Guatemala:
"On March 23, 2017, U.S. Border Patrol agents assigned to the Rochester Border Patrol Station responded to a call from a local police department requesting assistance during a vehicle stop.
Border Patrol agents arrived on scene to assist with the identification of two adult females. In addition there were six children passengers in the vehicle ranging in age from two months to 12 years old. The two adults did not have any identification or documentation and were transported, along with the six children to the Rochester Border Patrol Station for further investigation.
At the station, one adult female and her daughter were determined to be nationals of Guatemala. Both were illegally present in the United States but were currently under Orders of Supervision while undergoing the immigration court process. They were released along with the four United States Citizen minor children.
The other adult female and her minor brother, both also determined to be nationals of Guatemala, were found to be illegally present in the United States. They were processed accordingly and were subsequently turned over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE/ERO) Buffalo Field Office for further disposition."
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Also on Friday, a group called The New York Immigration Coalition released this statement:
"Last night, the Geneseo Police Department pulled over a car, separating five children from their family, ultimately turning over two mothers and their 12 year old brother to the U.S. Border Patrol.
The pretext for the stop was speeding and a lack of sufficient car seats, although the circumstances surrounding the stop are consistent with a pattern of racial profiling.
Dahiri and her sister Xiomara are originally from Central America, working in the United States as farm workers. They were driving with their five children, all U.S. citizens, ranging in age from two months to four years old, and their 12 year-old brother, when they were pulled over by the police.
While the police contacted Border Patrol, for no apparent reason, the family waited on the side of the road for two hours in freezing temperatures, while supportive students and professors from SUNY Geneseo rallied to their side in protest. The protest, organized by local immigrant rights advocates, including the Worker Justice Center, followed the family to the Border Patrol offices in Irondequoit where they stood strong trying to unite the crying four children with their mother.
“Local law enforcement has no business doing the federal government's dirty work. When police collude with ICE it threatens community safety by driving good, hard working people into the shadows. It’s equally appalling to see state troopers turn violent against student protesters exercising their first amendment rights. This is not our New York and we urge Governor Cuomo to stand up for all New Yorkers and stop law enforcement from cooperating with federal authorities to detain and deport our neighbors and families,” said Carly Fox, Senior Worker Rights Advocate, Worker Justice Center.
Steven Choi, Executive Director of the New York Immigration Coalition, commented, "The New York Immigration Coalition strongly condemns the actions by the Geneseo police that resulted in the separation of a mother from her children and the detention of a 12 year old boy. The Worker Justice Center, a NYIC member organization, is consistently on the front lines, protecting and defending immigrant families from unjust immigration enforcement actions. Their quick response and tireless advocacy have ensured the release of this family, but we must remain vigilant and continue to fight for the right of all New Yorkers to feel safe in their communities."
Later that evening Xiomara and two children were released, but Dahiri and her 12 year old brother were detained over night and released this morning. Dahiri’s children were all released into Xiomara’s care.
The Worker Justice Center continues to work relentlessly on Dahiri’s behalf and is organizing a rally for later today, which will call for justice in this case and the five farm workers detained earlier this week following a targeted enforcement activity."