Fourteen farmworkers were arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents while en route to work on a Lynn-Ette & Sons Farms company bus in rural Albion, upstate New York.
The raid occurred on the morning of Friday, May 2, and was publicly denounced by the United Farm Workers Union (UFW), a national organization that defends the rights of day laborers, farm workers and other farm workers in the United States.
The context: workers in the process of unionization
According to Gabrilla Szpunt, UFW regional coordinator, the arrested workers were in contact with the union and were involved in unionization talks.
Some of them had been living and working in the country for decades, and their detention represents a hard blow both to their families and to the labor cause they had been promoting.
“This is not just an immigration raid, this is a direct attack on those seeking to defend their rights,” Szpunt told the local Orleans Hub.
The union has had previous disputes with Lynn-Ette & Sons Farms, including an unfair labor practice complaint.
In this complaint, the company was accused of expelling a union representative who attempted to dialogue with workers inside the farm.
Transfers and protests
The workers were transferred to the ICE detention center in Buffalo, where they are believed to remain in custody.
In response, union and local community members staged a protest in front of the detention center, demanding his release and a fair trial.
The UFW has requested legal counsel for the detainees and asks that their right to a hearing before an immigration judge be respected.
Precedent in California: a battle won
This new case is reminiscent of another operation that occurred in January of this year in California’s Central Valley.
On that occasion, more than 200 immigrants were arrested in an operation led by Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
At the time, the UFW filed a lawsuit alleging that these were arbitrary arrests targeting farmworkers.
A federal court ruled in favor of the union, prohibiting CBP from making random arrests at agricultural worksites, setting a key precedent for workers’ rights.
What can farm workers do if they are arrested?
The UFW and organizations such as RAICES, NILC and United We Dream recommend to all workers:
Do not sign any document without legal presence.
Ask to speak to a lawyer.
Remind them that they have the right to remain silent and not to disclose their immigration status.
Memorize a trusted contact number.
“You are not alone”
Buzzy
The UFW insists that these workers “are not alone” and that the community must come together in solidarity in the face of these acts.
If you or someone you know works in the field, it is important to be informed, know your rights and be connected to support networks.
Follow us on QueOnnda.com for more updates on immigration, labor rights and what is happening with our own in the U.S.
This is not just an immigration raid, this is a direct attack on those seeking to defend their rights
Gabrilla Szpunt
