I am an immigrant. I migrated to the U.S. from the Philippines. Although it wasn't always the case, today I am learning to peel the shame I used to feel about being an immigrant. Some cringe at the word "immigrant"; some take and use it as an insult. Many believe that it's an F-word; a word that's a curse, a taboo, something dirty, a word people aren't suppose to use, it's thrown around like a weapon of hate.

The history of the word, from my understanding, is that it was used to place an identifier on a group that was seen as an 'other.' It has been posed to me that perhaps the word "immigrant" should not be used in the first place. But I disagree; eradicating the word isn't a protest of disregard of the power of the ruling class. but rather it's an admittance of their power.

Instead of using "immigrant" as an F-word, I'm suggesting that people remember that language is ours; We determine its meaning and its development, not the other way around. I am an immigrant; I migrated from one place to another. There is nothing wrong with that.

(My particular interest is in the undocumented immigrant experience, particularly undocumented immigrant youth. This blog seeks to journey into learning about the lives of immigrants, documented and undocumented alike, and the politics surrounding the subject.)

"google that!"

Immigrant Rights are Human Rights; If a group of people can be oppressed, who decides who's next?

Inform yourself and others, go to google.com and youtube.com and check out things like:

I.C.E. Detention Center / Hutto Dention Center / DREAM Act


Tuesday, August 19, 2008

Department of Homeland Security US Immigration and Customs Enforcement reports:

August 14, 2008,

ICE Arrests 42 Illegal Aliens at Airport
August 13, 2008 (Washington) - ICE agents arrested 42 men illegally present in the country at Dulles International Airport. ICE agents arrested the illegal aliens just inside the airport grounds at a checkpoint established to verify the identity and immigration status of workers entering a service gate. The arrests were part of a critical infrastructure protection operation. More at ICE.gov

ICE Teams Arrest 119 Fugitive Aliens

August 13, 2008 (Philadelphia) - ICE's local fugitive operations teams arrested a total of 119 fugitive aliens during the 10-day operation in Pennsylvania and Delaware. Of the 75 fugitives arrested, 26 had criminal records. During the operation an additional 44 immigration violators were arrested, 12 of whom had criminal histories. More at ICE.gov

ICE Arrests 57 Illegal Aliens in Asheville, N.C.


August 13, 2008 (Washington) - Fifty-seven illegal aliens working at Mills Manufacturing Corporation, a Department of Defense contractor, were arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) special agents. The arrests were based on an ICE critical infrastructure investigation that revealed that the illegal aliens had used fraudulent social security numbers to obtain employment. More at ICE.gov

ICE-Led Operation Arrests 80 in Massachusetts

August 8, 2008 (Boston) - ICE agents, together with federal, state and local law enforcement partners across Massachusetts, have arrested 52 gang members and associates from 24 different gangs and 28 other criminals. The four-day operation yielded arrests of 55 U.S. permanent residents who may be removable from the U.S. based upon their criminal history, 14 who were illegally residing in the U.S., two who are wanted on warrants of deportation, and three others who have re-entered the U.S. illegally after having been deported. All of the individuals have criminal records. More at ICE.gov

ICE Agents Arrest 54 Miami Area Criminals

August 8, 2008 (Miami) - In the Miami area, 54 criminals were arrested following a targeted enforcement operation headed by ICE special agents. Approximately 29 of those arrested are lawful permanent residents, while the remainder are immigration violators. All will go before an immigration judge. More at ICE.gov

ICE Agents Arrest 321

August 7, 2008 (Miami) - ICE agents, with federal agencies and local law enforcement officers, arrested 321 people from 12 countries in an operation targeting trans-national and violent criminal street gangs in South Florida. The enforcement operation included the arrest of 59 transnational gang members and associates. More at ICE.gov

ICE Team Arrest More than 60 in 5-Day Florida Operation

August 4, 2008 (Ft. Myers, Fla.) - A five-day law enforcement operation carried out by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Florida Fugitive operations teams and local sheriffs' offices resulted in arrests of 55 fugitives and 7 immigration violators. Fifteen of those arrested had criminal histories that spanned from aggravated assault, battery, DUI, DUI hit and run, resisting officer without violence, burglary, weapons offenses, cocaine possession and larceny. More at ICE.gov

Immigrant-friendly ordinance

Last night the Hartford, Connecticut city council voted unanimously in
favor of an immigrant-friendly ordinance that bars police and other city
employees from inquiring about or reporting immigration status. While
still awaiting the mayor's signature, the passage is a big win for
immigration activists in Connecticut. For a report on the ordinance:

http://hartfordimc.org/blog/2008/08/12/hartford-city-council-votes-unanimously-to-support-immigrant-rights/

Thursday, August 7, 2008

Passing on Some Upcoming Events

Wednesday, August 13, 2008, 7 to 8 pm

Radio interview with Jane Guskin and David Wilson
Authors, The Politics of Immigration: Questions and Answers

"Latino Media Collective"
Hosted by Oscar Fernandez, Janet Hernandez and Norberto Martinez
WPFW 89.3 FM, Washington, DC

Live streaming: http://www.wpfw.org/

* * *

Friday, August 15, 2008, 9 am


Protest: Against ICE and DHS
In support of Victor Toro and millions of undocumented immigrants

Protesta: Contra de la Migra En apoyo de Victor Toro y millones de inmigrantes indocumentados

At 26 Federal Plaza, New York, NY (corner of Worth & Lafayette)

Information: Tel:718-292-6137, 212-631-7555, 641-715-3900 ext.97869#
lapena2006@hotmail.com, MrnCrls@aol.com, may1@leftshift.org

Victor Toro is a citizen and national of Chile who was jailed and tortured there because of his opposition to the illegitimate Pinochet government (1973-1990). For more than 23 years, Victor and his wife Nieves Ayress (also a survivor of torture by the Pinochet regime) have been living in New York City and engaging in activism in the South Bronx, where they founded Vamos a La Peña, a nonprofit community organization that has served as a space for free expression and people's power for undocumented workers and other disenfranchised community members. On July 6, 2007,Victor Toro was arrested by US Border Patrol, an agency of the US Department of Homeland Security, while on board an Amtrak train in Rochester, New York. He was released on bond on July 9 and is now seeking political asylum with the help of his legal team. His wife Nieves is a US citizen; their daughter, Rosita Toro, is a legal permanent resident.

Victor Toro es un chileno quien fue encarcelado y torturado en ese pais por su oposicion al gobierno ilegitimo del dictador Pinochet (1973-1990). Durante mas de 23 años, Victor y su esposa Nieves Ayress (tambien sobreviviente de torturas bajo el regimen de Pinochet) han estado viviendo en la ciudad de Nueva York e involucrados en la lucha social en el Sur del Bronx, donde fundaron Vamos a La Peña, una organizacion comunitaria sin fines de lucro que ha sirvido como espacio de libre expresion y poder popular para los trabajadores indocumentados y otra gente marginada de esa comunidad. El pasado 6 de julio, 2007, Victor Toro fue arrestado por la Patrulla Fronteriza, agencia del Departamento de "Seguridad de Patria" de EEUU, mientras viajaba en un tren de Amtrak pasando por la ciudad deRochester, New York. Fue liberado bajo fianza el 9 de julio y ahora busca asilo politico con ayuda de su equipo legal. Su esposa Nieves es ciudadana estadounidense; su hija, Rosita Toro, es residente permanente legal

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Authors, The Politics of Immigration: Questions & Answers
Website: http://thepoliticsofimmigration.org/
Blog: http://thepoliticsofimmigration.blogspot.com/
Email: thepoliticsofimmigration@gmail.com