With the latest reports of immigrants being detained in horrendous conditions and U.S. citizens being deported for no real reason other than being a member of the wrong ethnic group, Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ) announced that he will be introducing a bill to prevent the unlawful detention of U.S. citizens and permanent residents.

Last week Senator Menendez also delivered a speech on the senate floor where he linked the reckless workforce raids and the seizing of legal residents into a broader hysteria targetting Latino-Americans. In 2006, Latinos were considered the number one victims of hate crimes in America according to FBI statistics. I think that there is a definite connection between the broader hate being directed toward Latinos and the more agressive immigration enforcement tactics being sanctioned by the Bush administration. The NY Times Editorial Board praised Senator Menendez for his “brave immigration speech.”

You can listen to parts of Senator Menendez’s address here:

http://demradio.senate.gov/actualities/menendez/menendez080611.mp3

http://demradio.senate.gov/actualities/menendez/menendez080611_1.mp3

Senator Menendez should be commended for addressing the basic rights of the undocumented, but also for looking out for the rest of us who might be subjected to an unlawful detainment or deportation.