I.C.E. (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) is the federal agency created to operate away from the US/Mexico border, and took the role of detention of undocumented people over from the US Border Patrol in 2003. This agency is responsible for the waves of immigration raids occurring with increasing frequency and intensity over the last five years. These raids occur at workplaces, communities and most recently at public institutions such as schools and universities. I.C.E. agents conduct these raids dressed as civilians, they drive unmarked vehicles, are heavily armed and usually identify themselves only as “police.”

Last Thursday (05/15/2008), I.C.E. raided a bakery in Pacific Beach, and detained at least 18 workers. Two human rights observers documenting the activities of I.C.E. during this raid were threatened with arrest, aggressively questioned, and one particularly hostile I.C.E. agent took their video camera away from them. These two human rights workers are UCSD affiliates; one is a current student and the other a recent graduate from UCSD.

A bakery employee who was not detained, although questioned and released, is also a current UCSD student. Soon after the raid in Pacific Beach, I.C.E. agents reappeared at the apartment of this student on the UCSD campus and subjected him to extensive interrogation and a search of his living space. After finding nothing, they left the UCSD campus, apparently with the logistical support of campus police and UCSD administration.

 This series of alarming events is tied together by one common thread, the immoral and fascistic federal policy of increasing I.C.E. raids designed to strike fear into communities, divide families and undermine social protest. Last Thursday has proven that UCSD is in no way immune to these assaults against human rights and constitutional law. Join our broad alliance of UCSD students, faculty and staff in denouncing last Thursdays raid on the UCSD campus and demanding a halt to all future I.C.E. raids here and across the country!