Sacramento Anti-Martial Law Alliance - Chapter Notes: Aimee Cruz (Fenkell Papers, Box 1, Folder 13)

Sacramento Anti-Martial Law Alliance - Chapter Notes: Aimee Cruz (Fenkell Papers, Box 1, Folder 13)

Documents from the Sacramento Anti-Martial Law Alliance's on Aimee Cruz. Cruz was the National Coordinator for the National Alliance for Fair Licensure for Foreign Nurse Graduates (NAFL-FNG). Her role with NAFL-FNG was noted by the harassment by the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS)

Nina (Liz) Fenkell

1979

COPYRIGHT NOT EVALUATED

NON-COMMERCIAL USE PERMITTED
For other purposes, please contact Bulosan Center archivist Jason Sarmiento at ajsarmiento@ucdavis.edu.

English

ucdw_wa012_s001_0238-0253

ucdw_wa012_s001_f013

(OCR Text with errors; See PDF for complete text)

All supporters for the Struggle for Human Rights FROM & KDP RE: ATMES CRUZ CASE emple letter Mr. Lionel J. Castillo Commissioner, INS 425 J Street, N.W. Washington, DC20535 Mr. Castillo, We are gravely alarmed by the INS conduct toward Ms. Aimee Cruz, an important leader in the Filipino Community and the national com ordinator of the National Alliance for Fair Licensure for Foreign Nurse Graduates. Unless the INS explains its actions we an only con- clude that the surprise visit by its agents at her home in the early morning of May 2, their insistence of questioning her without any legal documents entitling then to do so and her scheduled hering on May 30 at the INS office in New York, are forms of harassment to stop her from proceeding with her valuable work in the Filipino Community. Your agents on questioning Ms. Cruz about her work in the NAFI FN are unjust. We see no reason for her to be treated as such. We DEMAND that the INS recognize Me. Oura's civil liberties and atop harassing her. The plan of subjecting her to new questioning be withdrawn, and that the INS provide an explaination for its actions. Citizen for Civil Rights, sample teleman Mr. Castillo, Weare alarmed of the INS's conduct toward Ms. Cruz, national co ordinator of the NAFL-FNG. We ask that the INS respect Ma. Crus's civil liberties and refrain from harassing her and her organization, withdraw its plan to question her on May 30 and give an explanation for its actions. #*This harassment of Ms. Cruz is in essence an attack on the Filipino Community's rights to fight against injustices.

NATIONP\L f1Lllf1NCE FOR FAIR LICEN~UR
FOREIGN NUR~E GRftDUP\T~S OF
No. 1
INS
•
national bulletin •
FLASH I •
AGENTS HARASS NAFL
M-0. Afme.e. C1tuz ( le.6t) , Na,;ltonal Coo1tcunax.01t
o,6 the. NAFL-FNG, p1te1>.-i_cun9 ot 1e.TL 2n.d !Ja,;ltonal
Con,&e.1te.n~e. he.ld lMt ye.£l/l in Ne.w Yo1tk Cay .
Ma y 197 9
LEADER
Agents of the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) tried to barge int o
the home of ~ts. Aimee Cruz, ational Coordinator of the NAFL-FNG. Ms. Cruz an d a
visiting woman friend were rudely awakened by INS agents who came to her Woodside
Queens apartment at 7:10 a.m. last Wednesday, May 2.
Ms. Cruz opened her door to find two agents flashing their badges and demanding
to get in. The agents said that they wanted to question Ms. Cruz about her organizin g
work among Filipino nurses. Ms. Cruz asked whether the agents could show a search
warrant or a warrant to show cause. Unable to do so, Ms _ Cruz denied them entry.
Agent Petrino then proceeded to ask Ms. Cruz questions about the NAFL-FNG while
Ms. Cruz continued to refuse to answer any question in the absence of her lawyer.
Petrino then shoved the door and barked "Get dressedJ you're coming with us downtown."
Cruz ada~antly refused and said "No, you're not ta~ing me anywhere, and if you take
one step into my door, you will be in clear violation of my rights."
( over)

- 2 -
Realizing the futility of their intimidation tactics, Petrino backed down and
asked instead to speak to Ms. Cruz' lawyer. Cruz reminded the agents to stay clearly
outside of her door until she is able to reach her lawyer, , Mr. Ira Gollobin. The two
agents waited for two hours still peppering Cruz with questions and threats which
she firmly ignored, as she tried to reach her lawyer.
Cruz also decided to contact Commissioner Lionel Castillo in an effort to get
an explanation. Castillo was leaving for Europe, and his assistant, Mr. Ralph Thomas
responded to Ms. Cruz' call. Thomas talked to Agent Petrino whom Cruz allowed in to
take the phone. Petrino claimed that they were just "implementing a memorandum to
conduct an expeditious investigation". Inspite of Mr. Thomas' advise that they leave
Ms. Cruz' home, Petrino insisted that they would only do so if ordered by their
NY INS Supervisor. Thomas agreed to contact the agents' supervisor to order them
to leave.
Finally, the agents' supervisor, Mr. Stout, called Ms. Cruz and proposed that
his agents would leave if Ms. Cruz would agree to appear at the INS Office in New
York at some date. Ms. Cruz' lawyer and ~1r. Stout agreed on May 30.
Stout finally agreed to instruct his agents to leave after obtaining Ms. Cruz'
birthday and birthplace and her consent to meet with the INS (NY) on May 30 in the
presence of her lawyer. After having received the information which they requested,
Petrino nevertheless attempted to subject Ms. Cruz to further questioning. Ms. Cruz
got back to the telephone with her lawyer and only a very sharp reminder from Mr.
Gollobin that they (the agents) were already clearly out of legal bounds did the
two agents prepare to leave.
In an act of desperation, they left shouting and hurling threats in Ms.
Cruz' doorway, accusing her and her guest of being the "most impolite Filipinos
they had ever met. 0 Ms. Cruz calmly reminded them that awareness and readiness
to fight for the observance of one's individual rights are considered impolite
only by those who do not respect these rights, in the first place. The agents
continued with their rabid and foul threats with furiously shaking forefingers
declaring that "We will scrutinize your files, and if we find one single thing
and we can make a case on anything at all, we'll get you."
Harassment of the NAFL-FNG
Asked what this sudden visit by the INS agents could possibly signify, Cruz said
that "some forces out there do not like what the NAFL is doing in protecting the rights
of foreign nurses and they are trying to intimidate us to prevent our work from going on.
This can be the only reason for this harassment."
Cruz added that although she feels angry about the violation of her individual
rights, she is even more angry when she realizes that the harassment is directed
against the democratic efforts of groups and individuals, aliens and minorities in
particular, to fight for their democratic rights. She added, "Now I know how the H-1
nurse feels when faced with these forms of intimidation. Now I know how shattering
it feels to be treated like a criminal by the INS."
Chapters of the NAFL-FNG are calling for community meetings to discuss this
incident and to plan out a campaign to defend the leaders of the NAFL-FNG and the
organization as a whole from further harassment from the INS.

- 3 -
ORGANIZE TO STOP INS HARASSMENT OF THE NAFL-FNG !
DEFEND THE NAFL-FNG AND ITS LEADERS !
In light of the recent actions of the INS to harass the NAFL-FNG and its leaders,
all NAFL Chapters, supporters and sympathizers must rally around a vigorous national
campaign to oppose and condemn these violations of our democratic rights as an organization
and as individual members. At stake here is the task to uphold these precious
rights and to fight all forces who attempt to violate them. The acts of intimidation
and harassment must be seen not only as an attack against the National Coordinator,
and the NAFL-FNG, or the democratic rights of foreign nurses, but is also an attack
directed against the Filipino community as a whole.
All NAFL Chapters must prepare themselves for a major activity that will call
upon everyone to work even harder and persevere even more in the face of these actions
from the LS. We will aim to inform the Filipino communities all over the U.S. about
these events and strive to mobilize the broadest numbers of Filipinos to stand up
and oppose the harassment of the NAFL··FNG.
In the present period, prior to May 30, we should aim to effect enough pressure
on Commissioner Lionel Castillo to conduct an investigation on the actions of these
two agents from the New York District Office and to present an explanation to the
ational Staff of the NAFL-FNG. We will demand that the May 30 meeting be cancelled
altogether as this meeting essentially represents one of the many intimidation tactics
which the INS-NY committed against the NAFL-FNG.
Following are some suggestions on how to unfold our work in every community:
Immediately launch a telegram/mailgram campaign directed to INS Commissioner
Lionel Castillo. Samples of this telegram and mailgram can be seen on page 4. We also
encourage original texts because these can be very effective.
Lists should immediately be drawn up. Target churchpersons, congressmen,
civil libertarian groups, human rights groups, and immigrant and minority organizations
first. In contacting them, explain the issue to each of them, send them a copy of
the press release or our Bullettin, and urge them to send telegrams immediately.
Telegrams from the above-named groups should arrive at Castillo's office
. 0 LATER THAN ~1AY 15, 1979.
Call a Filipino Community Meeting to form a Preparatory Defense Committee
Filipino community groups and organizations should be convened to discuss the incident
and the serious implications on the broader Filipino community. We should aim to be
able to unite as many forces as possible to support us in this campaign. A preparatory
Defense Committee (with the formation of working committees like Publicity, Outreach,
Finance, etc) should be formed with people already volunteering into the work. The
Defense Committee will be on "stand-by" until we kr.:.ow, based on the response of the
INS, what actions we wil 1 undertake after lvtay 30. (P.:-ior to ~1ay 30, everyone should
devote all efforts to getting more and more telegrams and mailgrams to Castillo's
office) The community meeting should be called no later than May 20, 1979.

- 4 -
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @
SAMPLE MAILGRAM
We are gravely alarmed by the INS' conduct towards Ms. Aimee Cruz,
an important leader in the Filipino community and the National
Coordinator of the National Alliance for Fair Licensure of Foreign
Nurse Graduates (NAFL-FNG). Unless the INS explains its actions, we
can only conclude that the surprise visit by your agents in Ms. Cruz's
home in the early morning of May 2, their insistence at questioning
her without any legal documents entitling them to do so, and her
scheduled questioning on May 30th at the INS Office in New York, are
forms of harassment to stop her· from pursuing her valuable work in
the Filipino community.
Your agents' insistence on questioning Ms. Cruz about her work
in the NAFL-FNG alarms us. We see no reason for her to be treated
as if her and her organization's efforts to stop the unjust deportation
of Filipino nurses were a crime. We demand that the INS recognize and
respect Ms. Cruz's civil liberties and stop harassing her; that its
plan of suhjecting her to questioning on May 30th be withdratJn, and
that the INS give an expalanation for its actions.
SM1PLE TELEGRAM
w~ are alarmed at the Immigration and Naturalization Service's conduct
toward Ms. Aimee Cruz, National Coordinator of the National Alliance
for Fair Licensu.re of Foreign Nurse Graduates (NAFL-FNG). We ask that
the INS respect Ms. Cruz's civil liberties and refrain from harassing
her and her organization, withdrCl1.J its plans to subject her to questioning
on May 30 and give an explanation for its actions.
SEND BY MAY 25, 1979 TO:
Mr. Lionel Castillo, Commissioner
Immigration and Naturalization Service
425 Eye Street, N.W.
Washington D.C. 20536
SEND CONFIW..AIION COPY OF TELEGRAM, MAILGRAM OR LETTER TO:
NAFL-FNG - 58-22 41st Ave, Woodside, N.Y. 11377

- 5 -
CG FNS PRE-IMMIGRATION EXAMINATION C0~1ENTARY ON THE
Rx for H--1 Problem:
The Perils of Pallia-t i ves
As is well-known, an illness which
has reached an advanced stage cannot be
treated with simple cures which merely
bring relief or rernedia~ effects. A_thorough
d detailed diagnosis is necessary, the
;:tient's entire medical history is thoroughly
studied; the many symptorns_and the
progression of the illness are review~d a~d
analysed, and all the resultant complica~ions
of the illness are examined. Based on this
diagnosis, the prescription g~ven to the
patient include medication which can a~leviate
the discomfort or assuage the pain
caused by the illness. In order to :eally
cure the illness, however, more radical
forms of treatment are prescribed (surgery,
for example) in order to excise the root
cause of the illness.
While palliatives do serve an important
function in any treatment process,
these must be recognized as such: mere palliatives.
The perils begin when we confuse,
or worse yet, substitute these temporary
measures for real and basic cures to the
illness or the problem.
The problems faced by nurses on H-1
visas are very complex and many, all rooted
in a host of injustices perpetrated from
several quarters.
There is the Philippine end of deceptive
recruitment where unscrupulous and
profit-hungry recruiters have stuffed their
· pockets with cash payments from nurses in
exchange for falsified passports or visas
(at worst) or shoddy orientations deliberately
meant to leave out the harsh realities
and problems yet to be faced by the nurse
so eager to find economic refuge in the
United States (at least).
Then there is the seemingly indomitable
State Board examination which close
to 85% of FNGs fail. The examination itself
seems to fall far short of what it alleges
to test (nursing competency). Initial studies
have revealed its shortcomings in the test's
validity in terms of "job-rel~tedness";
Further, it is known to contain cultureloaded
test items. To make matters w~rse,
there is a complete absence o~ any type
of government or hospital assistance to_
the FNG trying to obtain licensure. _Review
classes specially geared to the review
needs of FNGs are non-existent. Those .
which exist are mostly commercial enterpr1
ses motivated by profit and therefore low
in quality. In addition, it is very rare .
to find hospital administrations who prov1
FNGs whom they recruited with adequate
"educational hours" or time-off from work
in order to review for the State Board
examination.
The inevitable failure in the exam
brings the FNG to the bottom of the tenqer
trap. Once there, all tenderness is gone ,
for then, they begin to be subject and
open targets for stark forms of exploitatia
and discrimination. They are forced to
accept jobs at lower pay and 1mder worse
conditions for their survival is now
critically linked to holding on to this
job, no matter what. Under this state,
the pursuit of justice, fairness, equality,
job rights, become anathema to them for ·
this can become a threat to their jobs,
and therefore their survival.
In a belated act of concern, the
Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing
Schools (CGFNS) designed a plan to stem
this problem. It has administered the
worldwide pre-immigration examination which
essentially determines a nurse's ability to
obtain an H-1 visa to immigrate to the U.S.
Ostensibly designed to halt the exploi
tation of FNGs in the U.S. by a "screening"
process which could indicate a "reasonable
index of the FNG's ability to pass the Stat
Board examination in the U.S.", the whole
idea is a mere palliative which is intended
to arrest the problem in its size and
dimensions, and does not constitute a
thoroughgoing solution to the injustices
(con' t p. 6)

..
- 6 -
to which H-1 nurses have been and will continue
to be subjected to, with or without
pre-immigration examinations.
By administering an examination in
the nurse's home country, the CGFNS hopes
that the number of FNGs who will eventually
gain entry into the U.S. will be limited to
those who show the highest possibility of
passing the State Board examination. In
this context, the CGFNS also consists of the
five parts of the State Board examination:
medical, surgical, obstetric, pediatric
and psychiatric nursing.
The whole idea has some limited
value to it in so far as it mitigates the
deceptive character of the recruitment
process. At least, nurses who are still
in their home countries can get a clear
idea of what is required to hurdle the State
Board examination and therefore gain a more
truthful sense of the situation that they
will have to face in the U.S.
However, this seems to be the only
positive thing going for the FNG in the
CGF~ S scheme. All in all, the plan seems
to benefit the ANA, the NLN, the HEW ar ~
the INS more than the FNGs. It merely
serves to trim down the scale and dimensions
of the problems arising out of their recruit~
ment of foreign nurses. In addition, this
scheme, presented to us as some type of a
"cure-all" to the H-1 problem, is in fact
only one of several other reforms which
should be effected if we are to really
speak of justice for the FNGs. In and of
itself, this pre-immigration examination
falls far short of delivering real justice
for the FNGs.
First of all, passing the CGFNS
examination is no guarantee for passing
the State Board examination in the U.S.
Hence, the FNG who passes the CGFNS exam
still stands the risk of failing the State
Board examination and ending up with the
same tragic fate which H-1 nurses have faced
long before this pre-immigration examination
was instituted.
The probability of failing the State
Board examination (even if one has passed
the CGFNS exam) remains very high. For one
thing, there will be many test variables
which will affect the FNG's performance
while taking the examination 10,000 miles
away from home. The testing environment,
for example, will be radically different
for it would then be contaminated with
serious pressures borne by the FNG --pressure
arising from their knowledge that
failure in the exam can be disastrous for
them and their futures; the pressure of
adjusting and acculturation in a country
where they have just arrived. Furthermore,
until it is confirmed that the State
Board examination has been normed against
an FNG sampling, and has been rid of any
type of cultural bias, the possibility of
failing in this exam is still very real for
the FNGs, not\vi thstanding success with the
CGFNS exam.
If the CGFNS were really serious in
their protestations to "prevent the exploitation
of FNGs and to look after their
welfare in the U.S.", there are only two
courses of actions it could take.
The first, which we believe is the
simplest and most upright action,would be
to administer the actual licensing examination
in the home countries, with no other
examination to be hurdled in the U.S. In this
way, the process of recruitment completely
negates any risk for the FNG to get "trapped"
in the U.S. with visa or employment problems~the
conditions which make the FNGs vulnerable
to exploitation.
The second course of action is that if
the CGFNS insists on this pre-immigration
exam, this could only be viable if it is
implemented alongside and together with
other reforms which it must undertake in
order to createfair testing conditions for
the FNG who will try to complete licensure
in the U.S. (after passing the CGFNS exam).
Aside from this pre-immigration examination,
therefore, will the CGFNS work for review
programs for FNGs? Will it convince or
oblige hospital administrations to provide
adequate review hours to the FNGs whom they
have recruited? Will the INS continue to
offer deferred departure statuses to those
who may not pass the examination on first,
second, or even third take? Will the CGFNS
undertake efforts to assure that the examination
is rid of any cultural bias?
In implementing this pre-immigration
( con' t p. 7)

- 7 -
(con't Perils of Palliatives from p. 6)
examination in the absence of the other necessary reforms mentioned above, the CGFNS
seems to imply that the essence of the H-1 problem is principally linked to the quality
of nursing education obtained by the nurse in their home countries. Hence, a selective
process effected by pre-testing, would solve the problem for the CGFNS.
It is high time that this contention be refuted. The simple truth is that as soon as
FNGs are recruited into U.S. hospitals, they get assigned, and have fared well in critical
care or int~nsive care units. How does one then reconcile then that it is these same nurses
who find themselves failing the State Board examination? The truth of the matter is that
the high rate of failure is directly linked to the quality and fairness of the review
conditions under which FNGs are made to take and pass the State Board examination. Given
better testing conditions, that is, free from pressures of survival or the threat of
deportation, the H-1 problem would not exist.
The CGFNS pre-immigration examination is a palliative to the H-1 problem. In and
of itself, the heart of the H-1 problem is unresolved, and there will still be no real
justice for the FNGs -- both for those who are already here and caught in the trap,
as well as for those who will come, clutching a CGFNS certificate in their hand, with
their hopes and expectations much higher, and who will receive nothing more than wishes
of "Good Luck" from the CGFNS, the INS, the ANA, the NLN and the HEW.
It could be the same story all over again, only this time, it could be more tragic .
NAFL-FNG
P.O. Box 960
Woodside, N.Y. 11377
T 0
* * *
• .

•
• NAFL ° FNG NATIONAL ALLIANCE FOR FAIR L.ICUlSURE
OF FOREIGN NURSZ ~OATES
58-22 41st Ave., Woodside, N.Y. 11377
(212) 458-6369 or 677-2509
S A M P L E L E T T E R .... __ ._.. _____ --~-- -
Inunigration and Naturalization Service {INS)
Commissioner Lionel Castillo
425 I Street
Northwest, Washington DC
Dear Com. Castillo:
20536
I (we are) am gravely alarmed by the Inunigration and Naturalization Service's
conduct towards Ms. Aimee Cruz, an important leader of the Filipino community and
a National Coordinator of the National Alliance For Fair Licensure Of Foreign Nurse
Graduates (NAFL-FNGl. Unless the INS explains its actions, I (we) can only conclude
that the surprise visit by its agents at her home in the early morning of May 2,
their insistance of questioning her without any legal documents entitling them to
do so and her scheduled hearing on May 30 at the INS office in New York, are forms
of harrassment to stop her from proceeding with her valuable work in the Filipino
community.
Your agents insistance in questioning Ms. Cruz about her work in the NAFL-FNG
is unjust. I (we) see no reason for her to be treated as such and her organization's
efforts to stop the unjust deportation of nurses as a crime.
I (we) demand that the INS recognize Ms. Cruz's civil liberties and stop harrassing
her, that the plan of subjecting her to questioning be withdrawn and that the
INS provid~ an explanation for its actions.
Sincerely,
Signed
SAMPLE MAILGRAM
INS (Immigrationaand Naturalization Service)
Commissioner Lionel Castillo
Northwest, Washington DC 20536
I (we) am alarmed of the INS' conduct towards Ms. Aimee Cruz, National Coordinator
of the NAFL-F~G (National Alliance For Fair Licensure Of Foreign Nurse Graduates.
We ask that the INS respect Ms. Cruz's civil Liberties and refrain from harrasinq
her and her Organization, withdraw the plan of harrasing her on May 30 and give an
exolanation for its actions. Signed.
..,./"---


AIVf.:l f\A I lt'UfVAIV-May ,o-J,, , ::II:, • ~
NAFL~F NG_ Coordinator I Interview With : Aimee Cruz:
I
In the early morning hours oil May. ' · Miss Aimee <Jruz 18 the target of minorities in thi!i country -
. d politic. al harassment of the INS_ for her What 1·s at stake m· this issue is our
2,, agents of the Immigration an h d .~ f h h f
Naturalization Services (INS) tried to role. in t e e,ense o t e ng_ ts o task to uphold these rights that are
,. barge into the home of Ms. Aimee foredi gn ndu rshes. . T• he A.n g Ka•t ihp uMna n prect•o u s and to fight all forces who
din f , con ucte t is interview wit s. tt t to · late them.
Cruz, national coor . ator o a nurses ,. .Cruz following the incident of INS a emp v10
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Aimee· Cruz [NAFL-FNG Photo)
ieft but not before threatening Ms.
Cruz. Furiously shaking their forefingers,
they declared, "We will scrutinize
your file and if we find a single
thing and we can make a case on
anything at all, we'll get you."
Ms. Cruz has charged the INS with
harassment. ''Some forces out there
do not like what the NAFL is doing in
, protecting the rights of FNGs and they
are trying to intimidate us to prevent
our work from going on.''
The NAFL-FNG has been in the
forefront of defending the rights of
FNGs recruited to work in U.S . .
hospitals. In an agreement ·directly
t
right organization. - harassment last May 2.
. Rudely awakened by banging on the -Editor ,5 Note AK: How do you foresee fighting
door of her Woodside, Queens apart- .
1
againsi this harassm~nt?
ment in New York City, Ms. Cruz was I ANG KATIPUNAN: What do you CRUZ: The first thing we should do
accosted by two agents flashing bad- } think was the reason for the INS action is realize that this act of harassment
ges an~ demanding to get in. The last May 2? does not indicate a reflection of the
agents said they wanted to questi~n AIMEE CRUZ: I think that the INS strength of the INS. Rather it is a
Ms. Cruz about her work. as the aimed to harass me. I believe that the reflection of the strength of the
coordinator of the National Alliance reason for this harassment cannot be NAFL-FNG ru_id its work.
for Fair Licensure for Foreign Nurse anyting but an indication of the In that light, we in the NAFL-FNG
Graduates (NAFL-FNG). . . .1 justness and effectiveness of the work feel there is no room for -intimidation
For three hours, the two agents i of the NAFL-FNG. ~his is an organi- and neither are we afraid. We are
attempted to intimidate Ms. Cruz into zation that I helped establish two confident that this act of harassment
letting them in and answering their years ago and which I've been actively . will not prevent us from going on with
questions. Refusing tQ be cowed, Ms. involved in since.. · the work that we've done in the last
Crμ.z contacted her lawyer and the INS Some forces out there do not like year and a half.
office in Washington, D.C. ... · what the NAFL-FNG is doing, particu- That's why the NAFL-FNG has
Finally, after negotiations between larly its task of protecting the rights of mobilized all chapters to rally around
Ms. Cruz' lawyer and .the INS New '. foreign nurses. By trying to intimidate a vigorous campaign to oppose and
York Commissioner, .an INS hearing . the organization, they think they can condemn the violations of our demo-
~as set on.May 30. The two agents stop our cause. This can be the only cratic rights as~ organization and as
. reason for the INS harassment. individual members.
negotiated with INS Commissioner
Lionel Castillo, Ms. Cruz and the .
NAFL successfully halted the deportation
of foreign nurses who failed the
nurses licensure examination. They re
currently negotiating for an extension
of this agreement.
Chapters of the NAFL-FNG are
caHing for a community meeting to
discuss the incident and to plan out a
campaign to defend the leaders of the
NAFL-FNG and the organization as a
whole from further harassment' from
the INS. □ '
'
AK: After the incident you made a
statement that the INS action was also
an attack on the democratic rights of
the Filipino community. What do you
mean?
CRUZ: I view the incident as an
attack not only agains1t my individual
,;ights nor the rights of FNG's who
have organized to defend their rights
in the U.S.
It is also an attack on the Filipino
. community who have expressed overwhelming
support for the FNG.
It is also an attack against groups,
individuals, and other organizations
who have .taken upon thcm~elves to
AK: What action do you plan to do?
CRUZ: The NAFL-FNG will demand
an explanation from INS Cornmissioner
Lionel Castillo as to why his
agents insist on my responding to
their questions without showing legal
documents that would have entitled
them to do so. We demand that the
INS stop all further harassment of our
organization and our individual tnembers.
We believe that the May 30 hearing
to which I .have been summoned
should be cancelled because it clearly
represents one aspect of the harassment
process. □

SAMPLE LETTER
District Attonney Michael D. Bradbury
800 So Victory
Ventura, California
Dear District Attorney Bradbury,
September 2, 1979
I am a member of the (LAv SF, Seattle, etco) Filipino
community and the case of Dr. Bienv~nido Alona has come to my
attention. I strongly believe he is being prosecuted unjustly
for charges of criminal per~ury.
The basis for your insistence to prosecute Dr. Alona appears
to stern from hihgly suspicious motiveso This is clearly indicated
by the fact that there were initial attempts on the District
Attorney's office part to eagerly prosecute Dro Alona for negligence
in the daeth of Nicole Bond last August 28, 1970. However,
this scheme was foiled only because the DA's office had no jurisdiction
over Dr. Alona as th~ incident took place on Federal
grounds. A subsequent ~---~, ~ naval i11vestigation has already
found and concluded that Dr. Alona had acted properly and gave
proper treatment and care to tha child. Inspite fo these findings,
it seems that these have even further influenced and i biased
you adversely against Dro Alonao
In the trial of Timothy Read, where Dro Alona was called
to testify, it seems clear to me that your adverse fe~ling .- • · ··:
against Dro Alona and your definite intent to prosecute him
one way or another is clearly shown aby the~fact that no memtion
was made at all about the possibility of a second set of burns
even after this was brought to your attention by Dr. Alena's
military counselo
In this light, I conlclude that the charges of criminal
perjury filed against Dr. Alona stem from highly suspicious
motives on your part. This whole incident is definitely
s rneared with unmistakable racist ovorto11es. I stronly demand
that these charges be dropped.
Sincerely,

-
NAFL ° FNG NATIONAL AU.I.ANO: ~OR FAI:R Lic:NSURE
CF FOREl:GN NURSE GaADOAT:!S
58-22 41st Ave., -Woodzide, N.Y. ll.377
(21. 2) 458-6369 or 677-2509
F O R I M M E D I A T E R E L E A S E
=-=s==s===================================
INS AGENTS F..ARRASS NAFL-LEADER
Agents of the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) tried to barge into
the home of Aimee Cruz, National Coordinat0r of the National Alliance For Fair
Lic~nsure Of Foreign Nurse Graduates (NAFL-FNG).
Ms. Cruz and a visiting woman friend were rudely awakened by INS agent who came
to her Woodside Queens apartment in New York City, May 2, 1979.
The NAFL~FNG has been in the forefront for defending the rights of FNGs recruited
to work in the U.S. hospitals. In an agreement directly negotiated with
INS Conmissioner Lionel Castillo.,: Ms. Cruz and the NAFL successfully halted the deportation
of foreign nurses who failed the nurses licensure examination. They are currently
negotiating for an extension of this agreement.
Ms. Cruz op~ned her door to find two agents flashing their badges and demanding
to get in. The agents said they wanted to question Ms. Cruz about her organizing
work with the Filipino nurses. Ms. Cruz asked whether the agents could show a search
warrant or a warrant to show cause. Unable to do so, Ms. Cruz refused the two agents
entry.
Agent Petrino then proceeded to ask Ms. Cruz questions about the NAFL-FNG. Cruz
continued to refuse to answer questions in the absence of her lawyer. Petrino then
shoved the door and barked, "Get dressed. You're coming with us downtown."
Ms. Cruz adamantly refused and said, "No, you're not taking me anvwhere. An if
you take one step into my door you will be in clear violation of my rights."
Realizing the futility of their intimidation tactics, Petrino backed down and
asked instead to talk to ~s . Cruz's la~er, Mr . Ira Gollobin.
. The two agents waited for t"llO hours still pestering Ms . Cruz w.1 th auestions and
threats which she firmly ignored as she tried to reach her lawyer.

Page 2
Ms. Cruz also decided to contact INS Commissioner Lionel Castillo in an effort
to get an explanation. As Castillo was leaving for Europe, his assistant Mr. Thomas
responded to Ms. Cruz's call. Mr Thomas talked to agent Petrino who . Ms. Cruz called
in to talk on the phone. Petrino claimed that they were just "implementing a memoran- 1
dum to conduct an expeditious investigation."
Inspite of Mr. Thomas' advice that they leave, Petrino insisted that they would
only do so if ordered by their New York supervisor. Finally, their supervisor,
Mr. Stoup said that his agents would leave if Ms. Cruz would agree to appear at the
INS office in New YOrk at some date. Ms. Cruz and her lawyer agreed to a date on
May 30.
Mr. Stoup finally agreed to instruct his agents to leave after obtaining Ms. Cruz's
birthplace and birthdate and .her consent to meet with the INS New YOrk . pn May 30
in the presence of her lawyer. After having received the information they requested,
Petrino nevertheless attempted to subject Ms. Cruz to further questioning.
Cruz returned to her lawyer and told the agents a reminder from Mr. Gollobin
that they were already clearly out of leg~i bounds and the two agents prepared to
leave.
In an act of desperation the agents left, shouting and hurling threats in -·-
r1s. Cruz's doorway, accusing her and her guest of being the most "impolite Filipinos"
thev have ever met. -
Ms. Cruz was quick to remind them that awareness and readiness to fight for the
observance of one's individual rights are considered impolite by only those who do
not respect these rights in the first place.
The agents continued with their rabid and foul threats by furiously shaking their
fingers, declaring that "We will scrutinize your file and if we find a single thing
and we can make a case on anything at all we'il get you.'

Page 3
HARRASSMENT ON THE NAFL-FNG
Asked what the sudden visit of the INS agents could possibly signify, Ms. Cruz
said, "Some forces out there do not like what the NAFL is doing in protecting the
rights of FNGs and they are trying to intimidate us to prevent our work form going on.
This can be the only reason for this harrassment."
Ms. Cruz added that although she feels angry about the violation of individual
rights, she is even more angry that the harrassment is directed against the democratic
rights of groups and individual aliens, minorities in particular, to fight for their
democratic rights. She added, "Now I know hoaw the H-l nurse feels when faced with
these forms of intimidation. Now I know how shaterring it feels to be treated like
a c~iminal by the INS."
Chapters of the NAFL-FNG are calling for a community meeting.to discuss the
incident and to plan out a campaign to defend the leaders of the NAFL-FNG and the
organization as a whole from further harrassment from the INS.