Posted by Media Release

NALACC urges authorities to thoroughly investigate murders and protect immigrant community ---

Los Angeles, CA – The National Alliance of Latin American and Caribbean Communities (NALACC), the largest Latin American immigrant-led organization in the U.S., condemned the deaths of four Latino immigrant men in Cincinnati, one of the fastest growing immigrant hubs in the nation.  NALACC urged authorities in the City of Sharonville (part of Butler and Hamilton Counties, Ohio), to investigate the case thoroughly and to assure the immigrant community that they can speak to police without risking arrest or deportation due to their immigration status.

“These men were working men with families and helping build Ohio’s infrastructure.  When anyone suffers a death under these horrible, violent conditions we should all be very alarmed,” stated Oscar Chacón, NALACC Executive Director.

“We demand that the authorities thoroughly and promptly investigate the causes of these deaths and prosecute those responsible to the full extent of the law.  While doing so, we ask that officials such as Sheriff Jones drop his anti-immigrant, anti-public safety stand and assure the immigrant community that they can come forward with any information they may have about the case without risking arrest or deportation due to their immigration status,” added Mr. Chacón.

No one has yet come forward with information leading to the arrest of the perpetrators.  NALACC has worked for years urging federal legislators to approve just and humane immigration reform as a way to help bring undocumented immigrants out of the shadows.

Members of Cincinnati’s Coalition for Immigrant Rights and Dignity (CODEDI) reacted with concern to the news of the four murdered men:  “If Sheriff Jones and other anti-immigrant extremists in the area would spend as much time finding real criminals as they do scaring off and intimidating vulnerable immigrant communities, people would not be so afraid to come forward when something like this happens.  The anxiety and fear they create with their divisive actions ultimately places all communities in danger,” stated Sylvia Castellanos, member of CODEDI.

NALACC conducted its annual leadership gathering in Cincinnati this past November to celebrate the growing Latino immigrant presence in Ohio.  Intolerance of immigrants, especially in Butler County, is not uncommon and efforts are under way to launch campaigns that foster a sense of unity and dialogue among all communities, especially African Americans and Latinos.

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