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The immigrant rights group Mexicans Without Borders began meeting in Harrisonburg over a year ago to discuss issues impacting Hispanic communities in the United States and how those issues impact migrants and their families in the Shenandoah Valley. The Harrisonburg chapter is part of network of autonomous communities in Virginia, Maryland, Delaware and DC, who are committed to, “promoting and defending the cultural identities, human rights and civil liberties of all migrants and their families.”

The group recently hosted an “Immigrant Solidarity Potluck,” where Latinos, non- Latinos and their families were invited to share in an afternoon of cross cultural celebration. The event was held at the Community Mennonite Church in Harrisonburg. Over 150 people turned out in support of the Latino community and their contributions to the Friendly City.

That afternoon the church meeting hall was alive with the aroma of pupusas from El Salvador, tomales from Guatemala, taco’s and mole from Mexico, steaming tortillas, black beans, rice and the music of Groupo Dimension Musical. People filled in carrying hot casserole dishes of their favorite home cooked cuisines and looked for an empty space on the horseshoe buffet tables that lined the room to set their fare. In the background their was the clatter of pots and pans amongst Spanish and English conversation and a great deal of broken sign language as all made an effort to overcome language barriers and establish a communal space.

By 4:00 the buffet tables were at capacity. There was not room for many more dishes. Volunteers were scrambling in and out of storage closets to get more chairs for those in attendance. The food would have to wait though. Organizers called everyone into the sanctuary. A show of hands and a few shouts from the crowd indicated families from Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Puerto Rico and Mexico were represented in the audience.

An organizer with Mexicans without Borders, who requested to remain anonymous, fearing repercussions in their workplace, took the stage and spoke in Spanish though a microphone. “Hola! Gracias, por venir.” (Hello! Thank you for coming.) We are here today to share our points of view as immigrant people and share information about the rights we have. As well as discuss information about laws passed that will be affecting the immigrant community.”

In preface to the sentiments of the afternoon the Speaker discussed the raid on Cargill Meat Solutions Plant in Dayton, VA., by Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agents (ICE) on March 11 and the presence of ICE agents at the National Coach trailer park in Rockingham County. The Daily News Record reported on March 12, “ICE agents arrested a former Cargill employee and four undocumented workers off-site. The arrests were part of an alleged multi-state conspiracy to obtain and sell identification cards to illegal immigrants.” Former Cargill employee Edwin Roberto Mendez, a legal resident of the United States was charged with conspiracy, aggravated identification fraud, and identity fraud conspiracy. The four undocumented workers were not identified or charged in the false identification ring. The Daily News Record reported that, “the government [said] it [planed] to deport them.”

The barrage of ICE agents into a largely immigrant workplace and an immigrant neighborhood in March left many Latinos in Rockingham County with a sense of uneasiness. The Speaker wanted to make known that Latinos should not be living in the shadows. “As immigrants we should not be hiding. The ones who should be hiding are people who have done something wrong. Not people who are hard workers. They can’t just enter whatever house or whatever plant to take us out of here. We aren’t delinquents we are hard workers. They must have confused their laws,” said the Speaker.

To be continued…

This piece is part of a larger article that I am working on. The rest of the story will follow soon. It is also the first installment in a series or articles I will be posting on hburgnews.com, highlighting immigrant issues in the Valley.