Kerry calls for thorough investigation of New Bedford immigration raid

[ProSense]

03/12/2007

Kerry calls for thorough investigation of New Bedford immigration raid; demands answers from Chertoff

BOSTON - Senator John Kerry today sent a letter to the Secretary of Homeland Security, Michael Chertoff, demanding answers regarding the immigration raid in New Bedford that left more than 150 children stranded without their parents. He requested that a thorough investigation be launched into how the raid was prepared and executed.
In addition, Kerry also raises concerns about how the target of an ICE criminal investigation could also be the recipient of lucrative DOD contracts.

The text of the letter is as follows:

March 10, 2007

The Honorable Michael Chertoff

Secretary of Homeland Security

U.S. Department of Homeland Security

Washington, DC 20528

Secretary Chertoff:

I write today in regard to the immigration situation in New Bedford, Massachusetts. As you are well aware, on Tuesday, March 6, 2007, approximately 500 undocumented workers at Michael Bianco Inc., a New Bedford leathermaker, were detained by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Soon after their initial detention, 150 of those undocumented workers were sent to San Antonio, Texas to be held. The rest were detained at Fort Devens in Massachusetts. More than 150 children were left stranded as a result of these detentions, creating what many have identified as a humanitarian crisis.

During our phone conversation Thursday evening, you assured me that the situation in New Bedford was under control. When we discussed returning the detainees in Texas back to Massachusetts to ensure that all children could be easily reunited with their parents, you underscored your confidence that there were no parents actually being detained in Texas. Yet, the following day, the Associated Press reported that a mother was located in the Texas detention center after her 7-year-old called the hotline set up by the Massachusetts Department of Social Services (DSS). It is shocking to me that the reunification of families is left to the ingenuity of a 7-year-old. In fact, it leads me to believe that things on the ground in New Bedford are not as "under control" as you earlier claimed. As a result, I respectfully request that you provide me with the following information so that we can better understand how this disaster occurred and what steps ICE is taking to rectify it.

Snip...

When ICE initiated its investigation, did Michael Bianco Inc. have a DOD contract? If not, when did it get the contract? If it had a DOD contract, did ICE inform DOD of the criminal investigation? If not, why not? If it did not have a DOD contract, did ICE inform DOD of the criminal investigation when it learned there was the potential for a future contract? What about after it was awarded? What is ICE's policy with respect to notifying other federal agencies about ongoing investigations? Does ICE take into consideration the type of work that a company is doing for the DOD, or any other federal agency, when it determines who to investigate and how far to carry that investigation?

I thank you in advance for your prompt response to my questions. I believe the situation in New Bedford has become a classic example of what not to do in an immigration raid and I hope that we can have your agency's full cooperation in rectifying this crisis.

Full text of letter

[Richard Steele]

1. Good questions all. recommended.

[Raven]

2. YES!!!!!

Good for JK. I'd also want to know if ICE is going to take off the jackboots the next time.

[The Backlash Cometh]

4. I'm not sure what you mean by jackboots.

However, there will probably be a next time. There's just too much pressure to do something to alleviate the problem. And, in a previous article, one of the illegal aliens said that if it had been clear what was going to happen, they would have left on their own. I'm paraphrasing.

The question I have is, why didn't they just keep them in that state and process them just long enough to make a case against the corporation?

[beachmom]

3. Excellent that the Senator is on this. This part of the letter was telling

as you can hear the anger in it:

During our phone conversation Thursday evening, you assured me that the situation in New Bedford was under control. When we discussed returning the detainees in Texas back to Massachusetts to ensure that all children could be easily reunited with their parents, you underscored your confidence that there were no parents actually being detained in Texas. Yet, the following day, the Associated Press reported that a mother was located in the Texas detention center after her 7-year-old called the hotline set up by the Massachusetts Department of Social Services (DSS). It is shocking to me that the reunification of families is left to the ingenuity of a 7-year-old. In fact, it leads me to believe that things on the ground in New Bedford are not as "under control" as you earlier claimed. As a result, I respectfully request that you provide me with the following information so that we can better understand how this disaster occurred and what steps ICE is taking to rectify it.

[TayTay]

5. I am so glad that this letter was written

That whole raid was as inept and callous and exercise in abuse of government power as I have ever seen in the Commonwealth. Mothers and dependant children were separated because ICE wanted to get this over with and decided not to do any background checking at all.

This is a disgrace and I hope to see whoever is responsible for this forced to resign. This was no 'oops' moment, this was a deliberate abuse of power and real human beings have been put through and unbelievable amount of suffering because of it.

Go get 'em Senator. Nail the bastards who did this to the wall.

[TheLeftyMom]

9. me too. on npr this morning someone said the raid took 11 months to plan

And yet not once did they consider that they would be stranding children and babies... I just don't understand at all.

[blm]

10. They were looking for points with anti-immigration crowd with no thought to the humanity

issues.

Prolife, profamily values party - my ass.

[ray of light]

6. when can I stop throwing up at these Bush regime idiocies?

MY god...if the dems were this incompetent they'd be calling us Satin worshippers and child eaters or something.

Sorry, but this story upsets me. And Chertfhoff is another person given promotions for illegal and 'loyal' activities.

[CTyankee]

58. Several nursing babies became dehydrated and were hospitalized

because their mothers were taken away. There were also pregnant women in the group. Did you know they were also handcuffed and ankle chained? Sounds like something out of Nazi Germany.

This was front page stuff in the Boston Globe when I visited there last Friday. I was surprised it hadn't surfaced in DU, or at least, not prominently.

Just when you think this administration can stoop no lower, something like this happens. I am dumbfounded each and every time, but I guess I shouldn't be.

[stellanoir]

7. My only contention would be that Chertoff is not even remotely

"honorable" especially after this.

Formalities I can understand but graciousness alone never remedied fraudulence or inhumanity.

Pity and pray for those poor little kids and the long term effects of the idiocies of such cruel, insensitive, and Draconian measures.

I'm praying those kids be reunited with their moms very soon. I've known such pangs of separation and and how it feels as though someone has ripped one's heart out of one's chest cavity while it's still beating. What did we pay for their transportation to San Antonio.

There are few pains greater that I've ever experienced.

Compassionate conservatism. . .my butt.

Compassion is not an attribute to which frugality could ever possibly apply.

Excessively fine the employers and the immigration problem goes "poof."

Invest in Mexican and South American businesses and they'd overwhelmingly much prefer to stay at home.

"Good neighbors don't need walls".

The idiocy and cruelty of the "misadministration" is utterly mind numbing and utterly sadistic.

[peacetalksforall]

8. Hooray for Kerry. Morehoorays if there is complete follow-through and

recommendations with pressure and rectification.

Children - victims of politics?

Demands made by: bigots, fearful, resentful
Winks to compaines: decades
Raid: family catastrophe - unfair after decades - severe, abrupt, traumatic
Deserving: not the familes
Politics: the reason for it all? - satisfy bigots, fearful, resentful

All reports show that the company was making equipment under a DOD contract.

If not raided for political capital -
it might mean they want to give the contract to another admin friend similar to the way they wanted to give a U.S. Atty job to Rove's aide.
Payola for loyalty?

Politics and Payola and Profit for a few.

What else is there to take from this administration.

Chertoff - competes with Rice, Bolton, Cheney, Bush, Rove, Negroponte and dozens of others for despiciable title.

How did we step down so far into this stinkhole of politics.

Prayers for those children.

The way we treat children everywhere says EVERYTHING about us.

Wake up. No humans deserve what is going on by this administration.

[mtnsnake]

11. 21 votes for this? For writing a letter he should've written several days prior??

What took Kerry so long? The incident happened on March the 6th, and he waits half a week to take action? Obama would've been all over it by March 7th. Jeesh.

[PresidentObama]

13. So you're bitching because he's doing something about it?

He had to get his facts straight, and etc. Again, at least he's doing something. And in an orderly fashion.

And claiming Obama 'would' do better?

Oh ok. I'm sure since you say it's true, I'll believe it.

:sarcasm:

By the way, I was grumpy at work yesterday. But mainly because I was supposed to get off at 10:00 and wasn't done with my work and stayed till 11:45. I was pooped. I'm blaming it on you.

:evilgrin:

[mtnsnake]

14. No, I'm bitching cuz he waited so long to take action

Damn letter should've been in the mail no later than 9 AM March the 8th. Even Hillary would've had it out by then. Yikes.

Hey, Grumpy, you shouldn't be working so hard on Sundays. If you get all pooped out how are you supposed have the energy to come on here and piss everyone off? :evilgrin:

[PresidentObama]

15. I doubt it. You downplay Senator Kerry's efforts every chance you get.

It almost begins to get predictable ;)

:evilgrin: And rain or shine, I'll be here. A nice little nap and some food, and I'm usually alright!!

[mtnsnake]

16. Not true. I missed a chance the day before yesterday.

It almost begins to get predictable

You're gonna have to get up a lot earlier in the morning to be able to predict me. ;)

[ProSense]

17. Don't bitch, the letter came after he actually spoke to the victims and

learned about the incident in person:

Kerry, Kennedy To Meet Sunday In New Bedford

Lawmakers Seek To Limit Fallout From Immigration Raid

POSTED: 9:36 am EDT March 11, 2007
UPDATED: 11:06 am EDT March 11, 2007

BOSTON -- Members of Massachusetts' congressional delegation plan to meet Sunday afternoon with families affected by last week's federal immigration raid at a factory.

He visited a few other places too:

Mar 11, 2007 2:20 pm US/Eastern

Sen. Kerry Visits W. Roxbury VA Hospital Sunday

(WBZ) WEST ROXBURY Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry paid a visit to patients and staffers at the VA hospital in West Roxbury on Sunday.

Kerry has been visiting several VA facilities across the country, including Walter Reed, to check on conditions and the people.

"This place is terrific," said Kerry about the West Roxbury VA Hospital. "It does a good job, but like many places, they are strapped by funding, which we have been fighting for each of the last few years, and hopefully now, the administration will understand that this is a priority and they'll get the job done."

Just last week, Kerry said he spent some time at Walter Reed.

I heard he ran into Obama at the VA facilities. :sarcasm:

[mtnsnake]

18. I can't believe he wasn't aware of it, especially since it was right around the corner

practically. Isn't New Bedford in the same state? I mean, Massachusetts isn't the size of Texas or anything.

Wow, 4 days to take action. Those kids could've starved in the meantime.

[ProSense]

20. Did Obama send them food?

Is he running for president of Illinois? What did he do?

I think you're confusing statements with actions.

This is a statement:

03/07/2007
Kerry on New Bedford immigration raid that left dozens of children stranded

BOSTON - Senator John Kerry today released the following statement yesterday's immigration raid in New Bedford that left dozens of children stranded.

"Better preparation was urgently needed for the unintended consequences of yesterday's raid. Better cooperation and coordination with the Department of Social Services should have been included in the planning. There's no need to separate dozens of young children from their parents - many of whom are the sole caregivers -- without a back-up plan. That's a false choice that could have been avoided. The illegal hiring practices of companies that break the law should not twice victimize innocent children.

"It's incumbent upon all of us to act to address this situation. I am sending a letter to ICE seeking an explanation into why this happened, and demanding answers about what they're doing to address what those on the ground are describing as a humanitarian crisis in Southeastern Massachusetts."

The OP and my previous response are reports on actions taken.

[mtnsnake]

35. No, but if he did, he wouldn't have sent it by stagecoach!

He would've FedExed it there and not waited half a week!

[ProSense]

37. So, he just sat by for four days and watched the news reports. tsk n/t

[TayTay]

19. If it was Sen. Obama

he might have decided that he was against it, but doing something about it would be too risky and direct. He would wait until someone else proposed it, then pretend 9 months later that he was for it all along. This is what he did on Iraq and setting a timetable for withdrawal from Iraq.

Is this what you meant?

[mtnsnake]

22. Obama would've sent way before the 10th. Why couldn't Kerry? Out goose hunting?

Gotta react to these situations sooner while they're hot.

[MH1]

24. Ahem. You may want to look at my post below. Just sayin.'

:hi:

[ProSense]

25. Are you going to pretend not to see post 21? n/t

[TayTay]

27. Ah, he did

But, I understand that little things like facts and truth get in the way of most of your arguments, so you tend to ignore them.

Someday, you really must try and construct an argument that employs something besides snark and jealousy. I can understand that you are somewhat embarrassed because the people you support aren't quick on the draw on issues. That is no reason to not check before you post and see if there is any truth at all to your own arguments.

Sometimes reading your posts is like entering a truth-free zone. All spin, no facts, nothing but wishful thinking and poorly backed up arguments as far as the eye can see. Too bad.

I detect some jealousy here. Maybe that is why you are not telling the truth here. Facing the truth would mean facing the fact that Sen. Kerry is an excellent US Senator, an excellent advocate for the most vulnerable of his constituents and was on top of this story from the time it broke. I understand that not everyone is like that in politics and I can understand the envy you feel. But really, try and get over it. It is impeding your ability to reason.

[mtnsnake]

47. "I detect some jealousy here"

Hey, you guys shouldn't feel that way. Why are you jealous? I hope you're not jealous of me just because I have Hillary for my senator and you only have Kerry.

Sen. Kerry is an excellent US Senator

Yes he is, a very excellent one, but he ain't no Obama!

[ProSense]

50. Good thing, because then I'd have no one to support. n/t

[wisteria]

53. Obama isn't much once you take away the PR and speech writer.

He sounds real nice,but I have seen nothing that makes me think he can deliver. His record in the senate has been one of caution and little substance. I haven't seen anything real and worth investing in. Good words and promises are only words and promises unless they are followed up with real action and results-not doing and saying what will possible get you elected.

[catgirl]

57. Your anti-Kerry sentiment keeps coming around

we got it a long time ago. You just love to flame bait here.
Your "goose hunting" comment is one a repug might use.
Every chance you get....yawn.

[ProSense]

26. Good one! n/t

[MH1]

21. Maybe the 21 voters have been paying attention.

Google News is your friend.

http://www.projo.com/news/content/projo-20070307-raidfolo.2a7b9471.html

Dozens of young children stranded after factory raid

03:48 PM EST on Wednesday, March 7, 2007

Projo.com staff and wire reports

(snip)

U.S. Sen. John Kerry , D-Mass., planned to send out a letter today "demanding an explanation" for how federal officials allowed the children to be stranded, according to spokeswoman Brigid O'Rourke.

Kerry's office also has staff members on the ground in New Bedford gathering more information, O'Rourke said, adding that Kerry staffer have spoken with the mayor's office, Frank's office and the Department of Social Services to offer assistance.

Kerry also issued a statement yesterday criticizing the nation's immigration system.

"The events in New Bedford today shined a light on a tragically broken immigration system and reminded us all that too many American companies brazenly break our immigration laws," Kerry said in a statement. "These companies have been emboldened by the fact that, for too long, there has been no accountability for illegal hiring practices."

[MH1]

23. Oh, make that 23. n/t

[mtnsnake]

42. 25 now. It's the mtnsnake Effect

[mtnsnake]

28. Right there it says he was planning to send the letter on the 7th. Why'd he wait 3 days?

I mean, if he was planning to send it on the 7th and it took him 3 days to do it, did he forget or something? Yikes!

[MH1]

29. Perhaps to continue gathering facts? And, other priorities within that situation.

Facts matter to some people.

There was also an effort to deal with the immediate need of identifying kids that had been separated from their parents.

http://news.bostonherald.com/localRegional/view.bg?articleid=187595

DSS: We can’t connect 100 kids to parents
By Margery Eagan and Casey Ross
Saturday, March 10, 2007 - Updated: 12:11 AM EST

Three days after a controversial raid on a New Bedford sweatshop, as many as 100 children of alleged illegal immigrants rounded up by federal officials still may be separated from their mothers and fathers, the Bay State’s social services chief said yesterday.
In an exclusive interview with the Herald, Department of Social Services Commissioner Harry Spence charged that his agency has been unable to connect scores of children with parents carried off in the raid.
“This raises concerns over whether babies and young children, in temporary care of babysitters, relatives or other families, are where they should be,” Spence said.

(snip)

But Spence insisted yesterday that DSS social workers were twice refused access to detainees: once at the factory and again at Fort Devens ON Tuesday night.

After Patrick, U.S. Sens. Edward M. Kennedy and John Kerry, Reps. William Delahunt and Barney Frank and others intervened, Spence said, state social workers finally were allowed to visit detainess at 9:30 Wednesday night.

That intervention probably required more than a single 2 minute phone call.


Edited to correct misplaced tag.

[mtnsnake]

33. Aren't you glad you gave me that other link

Wow, I wish I knew earlier how Kerry said he planned on sending a letter on the 7th and then waited 3 more days.

After Patrick, U.S. Sens. Edward M. Kennedy and John Kerry, Reps. William Delahunt and Barney Frank and others intervened, Spence said, state social workers finally were allowed to visit detainess at 9:30 Wednesday night.

That intervention probably required more than a single 2 minute phone call.

See, if you put enough heads together, you can get stuff done in 2 minutes, not 4 days.

:smoke:

[MH1]

36. Okay, now you are not making sense at all

but that's okay.

I think the situation is quite clear to everyone reading this thread.

:hi:

[Mass]

39. MH1, our friend cannot go get her facts on Kerry's website. Kerry wrote a letter on March 7th ...

in addition of the one in the OP.

No point arguing with her. Her argument is simply not based on facts.
http://kerry.senate.gov/v3/cfm/record.cfm?id=270300
Kerry asks ICE to reunite parents and stranded children as quickly as possible



BOSTON - Senator John Kerry today sent a letter the Immigrations and Customs Enforcement director requesting an explanation of yesterday's incident, and urging the agency to work as quickly as possible to reunite the stranded children with their parents.

The text of the letter is below:

Karyn Lang Director Immigration and Customs Enforcement

Director Lang:

I was deeply concerned to read reports today that dozens of young children were stranded-including nursing infants-when their parents were detained as part of the immigration raid at Michael Bianco Inc.'s in New Bedford, Massachusetts. (Attached) I recognize the importance of enforcing our immigration laws and cracking down on companies that brazenly violate them, but it is absolutely critical that we do so without jeopardizing the health and safety of innocent children.

I understand that you coordinated with the Massachusetts Department of Social Services (DSS) prior to the raid, and that DSS was on site during the raid. I also understand that the immigrants were questioned as they were detained in an attempt to determine whether any single parents or sole caregivers needed a humanitarian release to care for their children. The problem is that not all of the detainees indicated that they fell into this category.

It is understandable that illegal immigrants would not necessarily feel comfortable telling the truth about their children to federal officers during an immigration raid. They may not have understood the questions, they could have feared for the safety of their children, or they could have feared for their own safety.

It's clear that further steps were necessary. At a minimum, it is incumbent upon ICE to work with the state and social service agencies to ensure that children are immediately placed into safe and secure environments when they are separated from their parents.

Even if this situation was not foreseeable, ICE should have worked more closely with DSS once the problem became apparent. DSS now reports that they have been unable to get in touch with the men and women whose children have been stranded. I urge ICE to work with the Boston Detention Removal Operations and with DSS to locate the parents of stranded children and secure their release as quickly as possible.

Sincerely,

John F. Kerry

[ProSense]

30. Maybe it's because letters don't

ride out of one's mouth on spit.

[mtnsnake]

38. Eeeew

That's gross!

[TayTay]

32. Because he was busy checking on the physical condition of kids

I'm sorry that the act of writing the letter comes before the act of making sure that the kids left behind are okay and have what they need. I am sorry that the welfare of children cruelly separated from parents is nothing more than a way for you to score cheap political points. Most of all it is just tragic that you seem to think that someone reaching out to help the most vulnerable in a time of need is some how threatening to you and the politicians that you support.

How terribly, terribly sad. There were real lives that were disrupted and real suffering that occured because of this. Sens. Kennedy and Kerry sent people over to the site to help out, as did other members of the Mass Congressional delegation and responsible members of the Massachusetts government.

I would hope that you understand that helping the most vulnerable is not solely a poltical act that you refer to in order to make someone you like either look good or bad. There were real people involved in this and I think it says something about your moral compass that you can't see this, but instead react with jealousy and cheap points about when a letter was written. How sad.

[ProSense]

34. Question:

Are you pretending to be obtuse?

[mtnsnake]

41. Heck no

You got the real deal here. :smoke:

[TayTay]

46. Complete with no research

ignorance of the fact and an inability to fact check.

Yup. That's the real deal of this poster all right.

[mtnsnake]

48. Hey, you shouldn't talk to ProSense like that. I thought she was your chum

You guys are supposed to stick together. Jeesh.

[ProSense]

51. Looking at post 41, I'd like to recommend one of the following:

a dictionary or a hiding place.

[TayTay]

54. I see that even the ability to follow a thread

eludes you. How sad.

See, when someone responds to a thread, the DU software puts the # of the post being responded to in the post.

Oh, but then again, that is a simple fact and I forgot, you don't pay any attention to facts. This is proof positive of it. And seeing things that are, quite literally, right in front of your face, is not your strong suit now is it.

[LittleClarkie]

I didn't know it was a race

Perhaps we should forgo the primaries and just challenge the candidates to a foot race.

[Morgana LaFey]

12. Good. This really needs to be tracked down. As I said in another

thread, and am going to repeat: I couldn't shake the image of Nazis separating parents from children. AMERICANS don't do that. Or didn't used to. I'm unspeakably outraged by this Nazi maneuver.

[Mass]

31. For whoever is whining and cannot be bothered by facts

Here is the first letter sent by Senator Kerry to ICE to ask them to reunify the families. Note the date: March 7th. There were at least two different letters.

http://kerry.senate.gov/v3/cfm/record.cfm?id=270300

But of course, we all understand that just seeing Kerry's name bothers you. And do not say you are an Obama's supporters, because Obama's supporters care about people. They just do not whine because somebody they do not like does something good.

[Forkboy]

40. Kick for this...I'm not Kerry's biggest fan but he's been on this from the start.

And I think he's genuinely pissed about it.

[globalvillage]

43. What an incredible response by Massachusetts

to this horrific situation. The Massachusetts delegation is to be commended for their quick response in caring for these children.

And it hasn't gone unnoticed:

Rio Grande Guardian: Massachusetts Puts Children First

With 206 workers transferred to Texas immigration prisons from Massachusetts this week, Massachusetts state authorities were quick to follow.

The Rio Grande Guardian reports that two teams of 15 officials apiece traveled to immigration prisons at Bayview and El Paso as Massachusetts Senator John Kerry demanded "full accountability as to why hundreds of children were stranded and separated from their parents."

...

As Jay Johnson-Castro declares in yesterday's email, there is something shameful about the silence we have heard from Texas officials regarding the treatment of immigrant families on Texas soil. That shameful feeling now finds its silhouette against a background of Massachusetts illumination.

http://texascivilrightsreview.org/phpnuke/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=870

Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., talks with Mildred Gonzalez, 14, during a Spanish Mass held at Our Lady of Guadalupe at Saint James Church in New Bedford, Mass. U.S. Rep. William Delahunt (news, bio, voting record) said Sunday that there would be a Congressional investigation into the immigration raid at a leather goods factory last week that left dozens of families in turmoil. Delahunt joined Sen. Edward Kennedy (news, bio, voting record), Kerry, and U.S. Rep. Barney Frank (news, bio, voting record), all Democrats, at a meeting of family members Sunday at this New Bedford church that has served as a clearinghouse since the Tuesday raid. (AP Photo/The Standard-Times, John Sladewski)





Massachusetts has done us all proud with their response.

[politicasista]

44. Wow, another positive Kerry thread turned into a mini flamewar

Even though he is not running. Go Figure. :(

[ProSense]

45. I don't think a few comments by one disrupter constitutes a flamewar. JMO n/t

[mtnsnake]

49. Ya know, I don't think Kerry2008 is going to appreciate that remark

Sorry, '08. Couldn't resist :evilgrin:

[ProSense]

52. Maybe, maybe not, since it's obvious by your response who I'm referring to. n/t

[LaPera]

55. Big deal...BushCo is in power they don't give a shit, and nothing will become of it...Kerry

this is the best he has? Cant touch Bush.

[LittleClarkie]

56. So he should just shut up and not oppose Bush like a good little Senator?

And that would help how.

Rather like me and the little Sunday peace vigil I attend on occasion. It could be argued that the vigil ain't doing shit as well. However it shall be counted as righteousness to Kerry and I that we were at least standing on the right side.

Meanwhile, it seems to not matter what the man does, someone will find the dark side of it.

"Kerry cures cancer"

"What took him so fucking long. Do you know how many have died!!??"

[Justice]

59. Today's Globe, state officials blast ICE

http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2007/03/13/dss_chief_raps_immigration_agency_over_detainees/

State DSS chief accuses ICE of "turning around and misrepresenting reality."


Despite their insistence to the contrary, DSS Commissioner Harry Spence says that ICE has not cooperated. "They stopped us every step of the way," an incensed Spence said yesterday. "ICE's rhetoric has been completely different from the truth."