Protesters at Minnesota ICE office call for immigration reform

BLOOMINGTON – (Workday Minnesota) Members of community, labor and faith organizations gathered at the Minnesota headquarters of ICE, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Wednesday to call for a moratorium on raids and the passage of comprehensive immigration reform. About 30 people were arrested in acts of civil disobedience.

The early morning demonstration was held at the ICE office in Bloomington. Demonstrators called on the Obama administration to immediately stop raids at workplaces, homes and other locations that have resulted in the arrest and deportation of thousands of undocumented immigrants.

Raids have disrupted the life in many communities and torn families apart. To dramatize the family separation, several participants held up baby clothes.

Instead of raids, comprehensive immigration reform is needed to address the root causes of migration, recognize the contributions made by noncitizens in the United States and move toward a humane immigration policy, organizers said.