"It had rained all morning and the overcast clouds trapped a chill in the air. Still, on a recent Friday, day laborers milled around even as it began to drizzle again. A pastor, a Navy veteran, an immigration lawyer and cameraman got out of the Liberty Van - camioneta de la libertad in Spanish - and greeted the day laborers while offering them water and snacks."
"Since June in Los Angeles, federal immigration agents have destabilized daily life by raiding neighborhoods, worksites and Home Depots - popular gathering spots for day laborers who often lack U.S. citizenship. In turn, several "rapid-response" organizations have surged into action to aid those targeted in the raids, and document their treatment. One of these organizations is the Save America Movement, which runs the Liberty Vans and includes a bipartisan leadership that is far more politically connected than that of many grassroots organizations."
"The group was founded by Steve Schmidt, a former top aide to Republican Sen. John McCain of Arizona, and Mary Corcoran, a longtime public relations specialist, with a steering committee that includes law professors, pastors and strategists. On this particular Friday, Fabian Núñez - a member of that steering committee who previously served as speaker of the California Assembly - was one of those who hopped out of the Liberty Van."
Liberty Vans (camioneta de la libertad) teams patrol Home Depot parking lots to greet and offer water and snacks to day laborers. Since June in Los Angeles, federal immigration agents have conducted raids at neighborhoods, worksites and Home Depots, disrupting daily life for noncitizen day laborers. Rapid-response organizations have mobilized to aid those targeted and to document encounters. Save America Movement operates Liberty Vans and features bipartisan, politically connected leadership; it was founded by Steve Schmidt and Mary Corcoran and has a steering committee of law professors, pastors and strategists. Steering committee member Fabian Núñez meets workers and records interactions with federal agents.
Read at Los Angeles Times
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