Group decries treatment of migrants

A group of religious leaders from Maui and Oahu held a demonstration in Honolulu to deliver a letter asking President Barack Obama for immigration reform.

Standing near the building that houses U.S. immigration officials on Ala Moana Boulevard yesterday, some in the group of 16 people complained of alleged racial profiling by Maui police and a lack of compassion in federal enforcement raids that have split families.

The letter bore the names of more than 50 religious leaders.

“The raids on Maui are done inhumanely,” said the Rev. Tasha Kama, chairwoman of the immigration committee of Faith Action for Community Equity. “Separating mother and child, husband and wife — these things are morally wrong and should not happen in the aloha state.”

Kama charged that immigration enforcement officials have also harassed a Hispanic person who had a proper visa by repeatedly visiting his home while looking for an undocumented worker.

Group member Susana Arvizu charged that Maui police have been stopping immigrants to find out whether they have proper immigrant papers, and are targeting Hispanics. “They don’t ask for licenses and registration,” she said. “They ask for papers.”

The Rev. Eddie Kelemeni, senior pastor of First United Methodist Church, said Tongans who are undocumented workers have turned themselves in to try to resolve their status. He said the Tongans are usually sent back to Tonga but that he would like them to be able to obtain work visas.

Maui Police Chief Tom Phillips said Maui police officers have been instructed they do not have the authority to enforce immigration laws.

Federal immigration enforcement officials were unavailable for comment.

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