Hundreds of people attended a vigil Sunday at a Minneapolis church to express support for recently fired undocumented immigrants from around the state.
The event at Incarnation Catholic Church came in response to the firing of janitors, fast food workers and others as a result of enhanced enforcement efforts by the federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency.
At least 2,000 people in the Twin Cities have lost jobs as a result of immigration audits, an effort by federal officials to crack down on employers who use undocumented workers.
"We are here with families who are losing their jobs," said the Rev. Kevin McDonough, pastor at Incarnation. "I want to pray, especially, for those who are here in solidarity with the people who are losing their jobs."
Among speakers at the event were two recently fired workers, one a former janitor and one a former worker at a Chipotle restaurant. Both workers decried the crackdown, noting that they had been fired with little or no notice by their employers.
"We know these are but a few of the friends who have been affected by the ICE policies," said Javier Morillo, president of Local 26 of the Service Employees International Union in St. Paul, which represents about 5,000 local janitors and maintenance staff. "What we are witnessing is not a failure of people. What we are witnessing is a failure of policy."
Heron Marquez Estrada • 952-707-9994
