I am writing out of concern for an incident experienced by a friend of mine at the Lake County Fair. My friend, her husband, their two small children and her brothers-in-law were enjoying the fair when they were stopped by a sheriff”s deputy in uniform and immigration officials in plain clothes. They were questioned extensively, including many references to gangs and gang activity. No one in this group is associated with gangs, and none were wearing gang colors, gang clothing, gang tattoos, or anything related at all to gang activity. In fact, this was an extended family out for an evening of fun at the fair. Two members of the group were then handcuffed and taken to jail, leaving the children and their parents very upset and humiliated. The 6-year-old child is still terribly upset over seeing her two uncles taken away.
My friend attended and graduated from school in Lake County, works full-time, is a mother and wife, and is taking a full load of college classes at Mendocino College. She is active with her church and does other volunteer work. Her husband and indeed their entire family work to make life better for themselves and for many of us in Lake County. They pay taxes and contribute in many other ways to our community.
I would urge our local and federal officials, when enforcing immigration laws, to find a way to do so without stopping people solely on the basis of their appearance and presumed ethnicity.
Kathy Windrem
Kelseyville
