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12 - Attacking Democracy through Immigration Workplace Raids

from Part III - Labor, Diversity, and Democracy

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  25 January 2022

By
Bill Ong Hing
Edited by
Angela B. Cornell  and
Mark Barenberg
Angela B. Cornell
Affiliation:
Cornell University, New York
Mark Barenberg
Affiliation:
Columbia University, New York
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Summary

Democracy is under attack through immigration workplace raids. Labor unions have finally come to realize that noncitizen workers – documented and undocumented – are their future. ICE raids have been timed – particularly by the Bush and Trump administrations to thwart organizing efforts. Through a process of demonization and commodification of immigrant workers, the public has been conditioned to ignore the racial implications of ICE raids. But even a cursory examination reveals the racist effects of these enforcement efforts. However, on closer analysis, it reveals how these attacks are an attack on democracy as well. ICE raids are an attack on labor organizing, which in turn represents an assault on the freedom of association, freedom from discrimination, a strong middle class, and democratic acculturation.

Keywords

ICE raidslabor organizingunionsundocumented workersracial profilingattack on democracylabor movementNational Labor Relations ActDACAfreedom of associationcivil rightsimmigrant rights
Type
Chapter
Information
The Cambridge Handbook of Labor and Democracy , pp. 199 - 216
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2022

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