Skip over global navigation

Two Years After Del Monte Raid, Some Workers Still In Limbo

BY GEOFF NORCROSS

Portland, OR  June 12, 2009 8:30 a.m.

 Cortez
 Abdias Cortez

Two years ago, agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement raided the Del Monte Fresh Produce plant in Portland.

More than 160 people were arrested. 

Since then, many of the workers have been deported, others left the country by different means.

But between 15 and 20 women rounded up that day are still here, living in a kind of legal limbo.

Abdias Cortez is one of them. 

She’s originally from Acapulco, Mexico, and doesn’t speak English. 

I spoke with her recently about that day, and she vividly remembers the fear she and her coworkers felt when the agents arrived.

© 2009 OPB

del.icio.usdel.icio.us digg.comdigg newsvinenewsvine

Comments

June 12, 2009
4:17 p.m.
Why is she still here? She's in our country iLLEGALLY..... In defiance of our Laws. I would have fear also if i was caught in a foreign country iLLEGALLY. Her and her buddies were stealing jobs from American Citizens. ID's had to be stolen or fake. She says she has rights. She does...handcuffs and deportation. What agout the 20 others and the ones who escaped.. same thing. They probably have children, which they have the duty to take with them. Most Corporations want their cheap labor and leave all medical, schooling, etc. to government handouts which we taxpayers are forced to cover. How about the children's Deadbeat Dads paying?? Get rid of Napolitano. Call Congress. (866-220-0044) No Dream Act . No Feinstein AgWorker Blue/Green Cards. No phony Anchors. No Amnesty. Visit numbersusa.com capsweb.org Vdare and americanpatrol.com Attrition thru enforcement of our Immigration Laws. E-Verify and 287g Nationwide.

— Posted by flyonthewall


Post a Comment

You must be logged in to post.

Login or register to set up an account.

© 2009, Oregon Public Broadcasting.

Search · Inside OPB · Report Reception Problems · Privacy Policy · Terms of Use · Contact Us · Pressroom · Employment · Community · Audio Streams · RSS Feeds


PBSNPRPRIBBC