March 2006

Standing Room Only at Immigration Meeting in GRIP Caucus

“We moved here from Mexico because my husband could not find a job.  We were very poor and we could not find enough food to eat.  We experienced hunger.  My husband decided to come first and send us money so that I could go next with our two children.

When I left, my daughter was six years old and my son was just six days old.  I also brought my younger sister who was twelve.  Looking back, I do not know how I managed to get all the way here.  I walked and carried the children for two straight days.  I couldn’t rest.  The coyote sometimes helped me.

On my journey, I was so fearful that I could not sleep.  It is a very dangerous trip, especially for women.  I had to protect my younger sister and my daughter so that no one would abuse them.  This is when I thought about God’s power and protection.  God protected us because we were searching for food and a better life for our family. 

There were many difficult times on the journey.  I sometimes thought I was going to die.  I was very swollen and very sick.  But I prayed to God all of the time.

We came looking for a better life.  But when we arrived it was very difficult.  We worked many hours and we didn’t have anyone to watch our baby son.  When he was just 10 days old, I was working 15 hours a day.  My younger sister took care of him for awhile until she returned to school.

We took our son to an American babysitter, but we began to find bruises all over his body.  We were afraid of the police so we didn’t report it..."                                         ~~  Blanca Gutierrez

“Every immigrant has a story – poverty, hardship, fear, and families that are torn apart,” Brianda Cediel told a standing-room only crowd on Sunday, March 12^th at the small St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Waite Park. “But these stories are also filled with strength, faith, and hope -- by people in search of justice, peace, security and truth.”  

It was the first community immigration meeting organized through the efforts of Brianda Cediel and the GRIP caucus, and it had an unexpected turnout of almost 200 people.  Those who spoke no Spanish donned head phones to hear the translation of the problems, stories and proposed solutions described by Latino leaders. 

“Issues like this break my heart, and they also confuse me greatly,” Rep. Larry Haws said in an emotional response.  He joined Sen. Tarryl Clark and Rep. Larry Hosch in committing to actions supporting comprehensive immigration reform that would include a path to citizenship.

St. Cloud Police Chief Dennis Ballantine, who worked with the GRIP Caucus and representatives of ten communities of color to develop a Community Policing Agreement, opposed Rep. Knoblach’s bill, H.F. 2576.  This bill would strike down local city ordinances which affirm that police officers are not required to ask about a person’s immigration status unless it is directly related to a crime. 

The St. Cloud Community Policing Agreement recognizes that checking documentation is the distinct duty of immigration services and would harm the trust relationship between local police and immigrants.  This distrust would prevent immigrants from reporting crimes they have witnessed, abuses against them, employment violations, and other problems.

Also in attendance were Mayor Carla Schaefer, Stearns County Sheriff John Sanner, Waite Park Police Officer Tom Jensen, and Seth Sonnonstine, a representative from Congressman Dayton’s Office.

Just like you, we are law-abiding, hard-working people,” Servando Gutierrez said.  “Just like you, we pay our taxes and take care of our families.  We want to stay in America and be full-fledged members of society.”

“We, the Latino community, are strong people claiming our role in this community.  We are looking for a life of dignity.  Some people would have us be scapegoats but, together with our friends, we will not let that happen.” vowed Ana Maria Studer, as the applause rang out in support.