Rep. Dan Goldman’s Statement on the Reported Detention of Union Organizers in Western New York

“I am deeply disturbed about reports out of Western New York today that federal immigration agents stopped a bus carrying farm workers to target and detain union organizers.  

  

“According to the reports, the agents carried a list of names of United Farm Workers union organizers who were then removed and detained while the bus and its remaining passengers were allowed to proceed to the worksite. 

  

“The prospect that the federal government is using its immigration authority to target, silence and intimidate labor leaders is a chilling abuse of power, reminiscent of a dark time decades ago when the FBI used fear, surveillance, and xenophobia in an attempt to crush the labor movement and smear Cesar Chavez. 

  

“I call on the Trump administration to immediately inform Congress and the American people of the lawful basis for detaining these workers. If there is none, they must be released immediately."