Rep. Sharice Davids Argues Against ICE Crackdown In Kansas

She's a bit late to the fight and the roundup seems to be mostly complete but not without pushback from corporate agri-biz and even a few politicos speaking up. 

Either way . . . After the fact, here's the word . . .

Davids, the 3rd District Democrat seeking reelection Nov. 3, said in a letter to Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin that she had “grave concerns” about ICE’s work in Dodge City, Garden City and Liberal. She expressed support for enforcement of federal immigration law but argued it was unnecessary for ICE to paralyze the local agricultural economy.

“ICE’s activities led to local business closures and school absences,” Davids said. “Kansans have shared with me instances of citizens and documented persons being targeted on their way to work or going about their day, and in many cases, local law enforcement was not consulted.”

She said southwest Kansas was responsible for more than 20% of the nation’s daily cattle slaughter. ICE’s incursion into the meatpacking hub corresponded with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s reported 8.5% drop in the week-to-week slaughter of livestock.

She said the Kansas Livestock Association concluded ICE had a “chilling effect on the legal, documented, skilled workers that put beef on the table and keep the cattle supply chain moving.” The Kansas Dairy Association indicated ICE created uncertainty among workers, including those authorized to work in the United States.

“These extreme actions leave Kansans feeling less safe, strain local economies and disrupt national supply chains,” Davids’ letter to Mullin said. “I urge you to commit to immigration enforcement that coordinates with local law enforcement, respects legal workers and does not rely on racial profiling or significant economic disruptions for the sake of headlines or mass panic.”

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . .

U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids deplores 'for-sake-of-headlines' ICE raids in Kansas * Kansas Reflector