Seven Mountains AFL-CIO calls on Centre Region establishments to bar federal immigration agents from their property

A statement by Seven Mountains AFL-CIO President Connor Lewis (TNG-CWA 32035), on the Chapter’s behalf:

“Seven Mountains AFL-CIO stands in solidarity with cities across our nation facing immigration enforcement so-called surges, and with our sisters, brothers, and siblings in the Minneapolis Regional Labor Federation in mourning the death of Renee Nicole Good at the hands of a masked, unidentified federal agent.”

“So long as they are intent on sowing chaos and threatening the safety of our communities, federal immigration agents have no business in Minneapolis, Portland, Charlotte, or in any community in our nation. We echo the calls of our sisters and brothers in Minneapolis and those in the national labor movement demanding the immediate removal of federal agents from cities and communities across the country.”

“We have already seen enforcement actions locally, including the detention and deportation of approximately twenty-five construction workers possessing valid work permits. In areas that have faced ICE surges, business and community establishments have proactively posted notices barring federal immigration agents from entry without a valid judicial warrant signed by a judge or magistrate, barring full-face coverings within their establishments, and informing their community of their rights under the law.”

“Given the grave events in Minneapolis, we are calling on establishments within the Centre Region to post notices barring federal immigration agents from their property without proper judicial warrant. We will undertake the effort of initiating outreach within the community to promote this effort, and invite our neighbors to do so as well. In doing so, we act as Americans and proud Pennsylvanians in upholding the fundamental rights enshrined at our nation’s founding in our commonwealth two hundred and fifty years ago.”

“Establishments that wish to do so can find resources through the Immigration Legal Resource Center at https://www.ilrc.org/community-resources/know-your-rights and through the United Farm Workers at https://ufw.org/noaccesstoicesign. We urge both establishments and individual residents to further support the Centre County Rapid Response Network, including through volunteering and posting and sharing information on how to contact them in the event of an enforcement action. More information can be found at their Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61573023010369.”

“This is not an issue only for the undocumented. This is an issue that affects all of us, both directly and as neighbors who wish the best for one another. We are our sisters' and brothers’ keepers, and we are called to action.”

“¡Sí se puede!"