Following the release of SEIU California and SEIU-USWW President David Huerta from federal custody, SEIU International President April Verrett released the following statement.

“David Huerta was arrested while standing up for immigrants’ rights. Today, a judge set him free after federal authorities attacked, injured, and unjustly detained him since Friday. We are relieved that David is free and reunited with his family and we are deeply grateful to the hundreds of elected officials, civil rights leaders, labor partners and allies from across the nation who stood in solidarity and demanded David’s release.

“But this struggle is about much more than just one man. Thousands of workers remain unjustly detained and separated from their families. At this very moment, immigrant communities are being terrorized by heavily militarized armed forces. The Trump regime calling in the National Guard is a dangerous escalation to target people who disagree with them. It is a threat to our democracy. The federal government should never be used as a weapon against people who disagree with them.

“SEIU will always stand up to protect the rights and dignity of hard working people, and the safety of workers in the workplace. Imagine what it feels like for thousands of workers around the country to be attacked by masked men with weapons, or to bear witness to their co-workers getting dragged away, knowing their kids may not see them again.

“It is shameful and wrong that this administration is attempting to tear apart our families, communities and disrupt the lives of peaceful, hardworking people. It is yet another attempt to use people’s race and country of origin to divide us as Americans. It won’t work. And these cruel ICE raids are economically destructive, hurting all working people by targeting the essential immigrant workers who are the backbone of our economy.

“America is a nation of immigrants. Immigrant workers are essential to our society: feeding our nation, caring for our elders, cleaning our workplaces, and building our homes. Immigrants are scientists, they are teachers and professors. They are our co-workers, neighbors and family members. They deserve our respect and they need their constitutional rights respected.

“We demand the release of all people unjustly detained, and an end to the raids. We demand that all immigration proceedings uphold the principles of due process, and that all detainees have access to the legal representation and rights promised by the constitution.”

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