Racist immigrant roundup launched in Tucson, Ariz.

In 2003, the Department of Homeland Security published a strategic report called “Operation Endgame.” This document outlines a plan for the mass deportation of all undocumented people from the U.S. by the year 2012.

As part of Endgame, in 2005 a policy of “zero tolerance” called Streamline was introduced in the Del Rio, Texas, sector of the Border Patrol, resulting in the prosecution and imprisonment of every immigrant detained in that sector.

In January 2008, Streamline was launched in the Border Patrol’s Tucson sector. Called the Arizona Denial Prosecution Initiative, the Tucson version has the stated goal of criminally prosecuting 100 immigrants per day in an expedited fashion, where the time from initial appearance before a judge to final sentencing is a matter of minutes.

The ADPI criminalizes all immigrants and imposes prison sentences ranging from 14 days up to 180 days, to be served in private prisons. Currently, Corrections Corporation of America operates six prisons in Arizona, four of which are detention camps used to house the victims of this racist repression.

In mid-March, Homeland Security made plans to move proceedings for the victims of ADPI from the federal courthouse to the Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, where the Border Patrol has its headquarters. Holding the proceedings behind military walls would make them completely inaccessible to the public. Pressure from community groups such as Derechos Humanos and the Tucson May 1st Coalition has delayed this “Guantánamo” tactic.

At the end of March, CCA announced that former Arizona Sen. Dennis DeConcini had been named to its board of directors. This appointment is certainly designed to give CCA the edge in competing for the contracts to build more concentration camps in Arizona.

Coinciding with the appointment of DeConcini, the University of Arizona announced that it will receive $15 million in federal money to lead a research center for Border Security and Immigration. The university will be working with Boeing, Raytheon, Motorola, Science Applications International Corporation and other corporations to develop high-tech gadgetry for use by the Border Patrol and Immigration and Customs Enforcement. This $15 million grant is in addition to the $33 million in grants that DHS dispensed to Arizona in fiscal year 2007.

While money is being squandered on this racist attack against workers who were forced to leave their homes in Mexico and Central America in order to survive, local school districts are citing budget shortfalls and planning to close schools and lay off teachers (See article above). The governor has also declared a moratorium on the hiring of new state employees.

The Tucson May 1st Coalition is planning this year’s May Day march and rally and demands that the ADPI program be halted and that all workers resist the racist scapegoating of immigrants. We encourage everyone in the region to attend this year’s May Day rally and oppose the collusion between the state and the prison-for-profit corporations and demand that the millions of dollars in DHS “grants” be used to fund housing, schools, health care and jobs.