Activists protest federal gang raids, Say sweeps are too broad and heavy-handed
By Milton J. Valencia Globe Staff / August 9, 2008

Community activists held vigils in Lowell and Somerville last night to 
denounce the recent federal raids against suspected members of 
international gangs, saying the sweeps were meant to target criminals 
but are hurting families.

In Lowell, which has one of the largest Cambodian communities in the 
country, more than 160 relatives and friends of people facing 
deportation signed a petition calling for authorities to investigate the 
sweeps, saying they have been heavy-handed and overly broad.

"This is not a black-and-white issue," said Gregg Croteau, of the United 
Teen Equality Center. "It's incredibly complex, and our concern lies 
with the way all of these people are being depicted."

He said one of the men who was arrested, Song Sao, 30, was not a gang 
member and that he has only been arrested once, seven years ago on an 
assault and battery charge. Sao has been working with community groups 
since, he said.

In Lowell's Cambodian community, 187 people have been deported since 
2002, and 15 people are expected to be deported on Aug. 14.

Activists and family members of would-be deportees called on authorities 
to stop such sweeps.

They handed out fliers to inform people of their rights, which include 
the right to remain silent and not having their home searched without a 
lawyer.

And they blasted authorities' practice of transferring detainees to 
prisons out of state.

"There's a lot of family members who have been affected," said Dimple 
Rana of Deported Diaspora, a community agency.

The vigils were held after Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials 
announced that 80 people have been arrested in statewide raids in the 
last week, under a national Operation Community Shield initiative.

Bruce M. Foucart, special agent in charge of Immigration and Customs 
Enforcement's office of investigations in Boston, said the raids target 
known criminals and gang members who have contributed to the street 
violence that has rocked communities.

By working with local police, Immigration and Customs Enforcement can 
use federal law to deport known criminals.

"Every individual targeted as part of this operation has a criminal 
record," Foucart said.

The 80 arrested represent 24 gangs, including the Tiny Rascals, Bloods, 
and MS-13, he said.

Of those arrested, 55 were permanent residents who could be deported for 
their crimes; 14 lived here illegally; two were wanted on deportation 
warrants; and three were living here after being deported. Six others 
were arrested on local criminal charges.

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