NORTH COUNTY (California) TIMES

August 7, 2008

Migrant rights advocate detained by Border Patrol

By EDWARD SIFUENTES - Staff Writer

A prominent immigrant rights activist was detained Tuesday for several hours by U.S. Border Patrol agents in San Diego for allegedly paying an illegal immigrant to cross the border.

He was later released with no charges filed against him, a spokesman for the agency said.

Christian Ramirez, the national immigrants' rights coordinator for the American Friends Service Committee, a Quaker human rights organization, said he was stopped and questioned at about 4 p.m. by agents at Border Field State Park near the border.

Ramirez was later taken to the Imperial Beach Border Patrol Station, where he was held until about 10 p.m.

Border Patrol spokesman Alex Renteria said Wednesday that an individual who crossed illegally into the U.S. Tuesday afternoon alleged that he had an "agreement" with Ramirez. Renteria declined to release the name of the illegal immigrant making the allegation or the details of the alleged agreement.

"He (Ramirez) was detained to see what his role was," Renteria said. It was later determined that "there was not enough to arrest him."

The investigation was still open, but it "isn't going any further," Renteria said

In a phone interview from his San Diego office, Ramirez said he was told by agents on the scene that the illegal immigrant alleged he had paid him $100 to cross illegally so that he could be filmed.

Ramirez said the allegations were false.

"We have never asked anyone to cross illegally, and it is our policy to ask people not to cross because of the dangers involved," said Ramirez, a naturalized U.S. citizen who began working for the organization eight years ago. He became director of the San Diego office in 2002.

The 31-year-old activist said his detention was a sign of the escalating tensions between immigrant rights activists and immigration authorities at the border.

Immigrant rights activists have held several large protests in recent months against the construction of a controversial new border fence at the park, which is the last western stretch of fence dividing Mexico and the United States.

Ramirez said he went to the park on Tuesday to film the construction. He later spoke to a group of people who were on the Mexican side of the fence. He said he also filmed people moving back and forth across the border, including one man who was arrested.

As he walked back to his car, Ramirez said he was stopped and questioned by agents. He said he was taunted by the agents, who asked if he worked for "La Raza" and commented that it was "karma time."

"I believe that it was harrassment," Ramirez said. "There were other folks in the park that were not questioned. I think they believed it was a good opportunity to prove a point, that they are in charge, because I have spoken out against the construction of the fence."

Renteria said Ramirez had a right to file a complaint if he felt he had been harrassed, but added that he was not aware of any taunts during the incident.

"I am not aware of anything like that," Renteria said. "I can't comment on that."

Ramirez said he plans to file an official complaint with the agency.

The American Friends Service Committee was founded in 1917 to provide conscientious objectors with an opportunity to aid civilian war victims during World War I. The organization now has social justice, immigrant rights and other programs worldwide.

It was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1947.

In San Diego, the organization focuses primarily on migrant rights issues, such as documenting employment, housing and law enforcement abuses.