BY TIM ESTILOZ
The Trump administration’s current crackdown and deportation of criminal illegal immigrants is having some far-reaching adverse consequences within Massachusetts. Not only is the crackdown from ICE creating a widespread sense of fear and anxiety among the state’s law-abiding Hispanic community, but also the false characterization of many Latinos as being “criminals” by virtue of their immigration status has emboldened some area racists to show their true colors in an aggressive and potentially dangerous manner.
Gladys Vega, President and CEO of La Colaborativa, a popular community aid resource for Latino immigrants in Chelsea, experienced a troubling encounter with such an individual during a recent press conference at the town’s City Hall. The February 24 press conference, attended by many local residents, was focused on a lawsuit brought by Chelsea and Somerville against the Trump administration contesting the current immigration crackdown.
“A guy came from the crowd of people and started yelling at me,” said Vega. “He started shouting that he was going to come after me, calling me an immigrant lover and that the problems in Chelsea are all my fault.” Vega said the unidentified Caucasian man continued shouting at her, saying, “He was counting down the days when (Vega) won’t be around” and then added a chilling closing statement that: “Your days are numbered.”
Vega said she was not intimidated by the man, shouting back at him, “If you don’t like our city of immigrants, then get the hell out of here.”
Police escorted the man out of the building, but 20 minutes later, Vega said he returned to La Colaborativa’s offices and began taking pictures of the premises and exits. Since then, Vega said she has had to pay for police details to keep watch over each of the organization’s three buildings and staff and install cameras at her own personal residence.
“I’ve been doing this work here for over 35 years and I have never been confronted in such a hateful manner,” said Vega. “So, this is all part of the narrative coming from the current administration that everyone who is of color is a criminal. This is part of the hate that has been infused by this administration. It’s very sad.”
Vega added, “All we do here is educate people how to become citizens of the United States, how to get a better-paying job, how to take computer classes. Everything that I have done for years has been making sure we have a community that is safe, that is proud, and that our contributions maintain the engine of Massachusetts in terms of our jobs and our labor.”
“Undocumented people are not criminals,” said Vega. “They just didn’t have access to come here legally. But they have made this city and the Commonwealth their home. The prosperity of immigrants is the prosperity of the Commonwealth.»
Vega concluded by stating that she is not allowing this incident to sway her or her staff from their community mission.
“I love my life. I have dedicated my life to this type of work,” said Vega. “If something were to happen, well then, whatever happens, happens, and I’ll be blessed to have done this work.»
