March and Rally for Worker & Immigrant Rights
WHEN: SUNDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2008
Indigenous Peoples Day
2pm-5pm
In front of Wells Fargo Bank
450-45 75th Street, Queens, NY
Take the #7 or the F/V to Roosevelt/74th St. Stop
Actions to be held in New York City, Boston, Chicago, Atlanta, Madison, Detroit, South Bend, Seattle, Phoenix, Tucson, Austin, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and others
Why Wells Fargo?
* Wells Fargo Bank houses and profits from racist, terrorist Sheriff Joe Arpaio in Arizona
* Wells Fargo profits from the sweat of immigrant labor making tons of money from remittances
* The Wall Street Bail Out will be stolen from the people. Wells Fargo will profit from that theft
In May of this year and then again in August, the Department of Homeland Security through the hated ICE (Immigration & Customs Enforcement) carried out some of the biggest anti-worker raids in U.S. history. These raids are made against workers at the very same time that the super-rich get saved on Wall Street!
The raids in the immigrant community are calculated to not only terrorize immigrant workers but they are meant to break unions, divide working people and send a message to us all: don’t fight back or else.
The economy is reeling from rising unemployment, housing foreclosures, price hikes—and the crisis on Wall Street is affecting every one but the super-rich. Yet it was them that made the crisis in the first place, not the people! At the same time, fear mongering such as that by Sheriff Joe Arpaio in Phoenix occurs which is meant to divert us from the real enemy. As one activist put it “Arizona has become for the immigrant rights movement what Mississippi was for the Black Civil Rights movement.”
This is a time to come together.
We call on people from every walk of life, from every nationality, black, Latin@, Asian, Arab, Native, and white, U.S. or foreign born, documented or undocumented, in a union or unorganized to come out on October 12.
October 12 is part of a national day of action in over 30 cities. This day is known in the Latino community as Dia de la Raza and is a day for Indigenous People as a counter to the racist Christopher Columbus day, which is a day of conquest and disaster for the Americas.
Join us on October 12 to tell the Bush administration and all the presidential candidates: We demand:
* Bail out the people, not the Banks!
* Immediate Legalization for undocumented workers!
* Moratorium on the ICE raids!
* Moratorium home foreclosures!
* Money for hurricane victims not for war in Iraq!
* No to ICE & police brutality. Justice for Sean Bell & all victims of brutality!
* Political asylum for Victor Toro!
* Union jobs at union wages for all!
* Solidarity not racism!
* No to Lou Dobbs & all hate-mongers!
Event initiated by the May 1st Coalition for Worker and Immigrant Rights. For more information visit www.may1.info or call 641.715.3900 x97869# or 212.633.6646.
Showing posts with label worker rights. Show all posts
Showing posts with label worker rights. Show all posts
Thursday, October 2, 2008
ICE picks up more than 1,200 in N.J., Cali
By Patrick Young, Esq. CARECEN Program Director
October 1, 2008 12:32 PM
Widespread ICE raids have taken place this week in
California and New Jersey. In both states, raids
appeared to be focused on so-called absconders, cases
where a person was ordered deported at some point in
the past. The California raids appear to be
particularly massive with more than 1150 people
arrested. Large round-ups like the one in Cali
overwhelm local social service agencies as children
are left without parental support and find they must
rely on suddenly overburdened organizations.
Not only is the scale of the California sweep
unprecedented, the fact that it took place at the same
time as the smaller Jersey raidsis notable. Generally,
large raids have been geographically isolated as ICE
concentrated resources from around the country in one
state or region. Here, ICE was able to mount major
operation in two states at virtually the same time.
Also notable is the fact that these raids occurred
just weeks after other large raids in states in the
center of the country.
October 1, 2008 12:32 PM
Widespread ICE raids have taken place this week in
California and New Jersey. In both states, raids
appeared to be focused on so-called absconders, cases
where a person was ordered deported at some point in
the past. The California raids appear to be
particularly massive with more than 1150 people
arrested. Large round-ups like the one in Cali
overwhelm local social service agencies as children
are left without parental support and find they must
rely on suddenly overburdened organizations.
Not only is the scale of the California sweep
unprecedented, the fact that it took place at the same
time as the smaller Jersey raidsis notable. Generally,
large raids have been geographically isolated as ICE
concentrated resources from around the country in one
state or region. Here, ICE was able to mount major
operation in two states at virtually the same time.
Also notable is the fact that these raids occurred
just weeks after other large raids in states in the
center of the country.
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
More than 1,100 arrested throughout California in immigration raids
By Denis C. Theriault
Mercury News
Article Launched: 09/29/2008 09:28:52 PM PDT
Billing a series of raids as the largest sweep of its kind in California, federal immigration authorities Monday announced more than 1,100 arrests throughout the state this month, part of a three-week effort that saw teams from the Bay Area and beyond knocking on doors in search of fugitive immigrants.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers arrested 1,157 men and women — 436 in Northern California — the latest splash in a five-year push targeting immigrants who have ignored deportation orders or returned to the United States illegally after being deported. The sweep, which concluded Saturday, also produced 420 arrests in the Los Angeles area and 301 in the San Diego area. Those arrested came from 34 countries.
And although ICE officials hailed the sweep as a success, particularly because of the number of arrests, they said it was only the scale of the effort that was remarkable.
"This is something we do on a daily basis," said Craig Meyer, ICE's assistant field office director in San Francisco. "This was just a big surge to get as many boots on the ground as we could."
Teams from Northern and Southern California worked together to rove the state, turning up 595 immigrants with outstanding deportation orders and 346 with criminal convictions. In Northern California, which includes the Bay Area, 185 were fugitives and 92 had criminal convictions, ranging from petty theft to more serious crimes. A breakdown of arrests by municipality and county was not available, Meyer said.
In one case, ICE agents apprehended a Fremont woman who had been ordered deported after convictions for voluntary manslaughter and threatening a witness. The onetime legal resident, whom authorities did not identify, was sent back to her native Portugal shortly after her arrest, officials said.
The sweep marked the first large-scale operation for ICE's months-old San Jose team, one of a handful added this year in California, as ICE continues its five-year crackdown against immigrants who ignore deportation orders. In patrolling Northern California, it joins two teams in San Francisco and one each in Sacramento, Fresno and Bakersfield.
"It spreads us out a little more, gives us a little more reach," Meyer said of the new South Bay crew. "They know the area better and they can get out there quicker and be on the ground more often."
Nationwide, there are now 95 teams in operation, ICE officials said, with more than 100 expected by the end of the year. In 2003, when ICE's Fugitive Operations Program was created, only 17 teams were in place.
That expansion, along with the establishment of a federal investigation center in Vermont, has led to a surge in arrests. Last year there were 30,407 arrests nationwide, nearly double the year before. This year, ICE agents are well on their way to topping that number, with 26, 945 arrests logged as of Aug. 1.
The crackdown has continued to cut into the number of immigrants nationwide who have standing deportation orders. In 2007, for the first time, the suspected number of fugitive immigrants in the United States declined. The backlog is now down to fewer than 560,000, about 34,000 fewer than on Oct. 1, 2007.
But for Basil Robledo, director of programs for the Services, Immigrant Rights and Education Network (SIREN) in San Jose, the latest arrests are one more step on a disturbing path following last year's failure by Congress to reform the nation's immigration laws.
He said federal officials have instead turned to heavy-handed enforcement — a strategy that Robledo says has led to fear and broken families.
"It is a scary situation for folks in the community," he said. "People keep their kids home from school. It creates less of a willingness to talk to police. They see ICE agents and they see a uniformed person, and that blends into all of law enforcement."
Meyer acknowledged the complaints his agency receives, particularly those concerning children and families, stressing that "when children are involved, we're very careful with that."
Still, he said, "these are the laws that are in place. And we're just following through, doing our job."
Reach Denis C. Theriault at dtheriault@mercurynews.com. or 408-920-5035.
Mercury News
Article Launched: 09/29/2008 09:28:52 PM PDT
Billing a series of raids as the largest sweep of its kind in California, federal immigration authorities Monday announced more than 1,100 arrests throughout the state this month, part of a three-week effort that saw teams from the Bay Area and beyond knocking on doors in search of fugitive immigrants.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers arrested 1,157 men and women — 436 in Northern California — the latest splash in a five-year push targeting immigrants who have ignored deportation orders or returned to the United States illegally after being deported. The sweep, which concluded Saturday, also produced 420 arrests in the Los Angeles area and 301 in the San Diego area. Those arrested came from 34 countries.
And although ICE officials hailed the sweep as a success, particularly because of the number of arrests, they said it was only the scale of the effort that was remarkable.
"This is something we do on a daily basis," said Craig Meyer, ICE's assistant field office director in San Francisco. "This was just a big surge to get as many boots on the ground as we could."
Teams from Northern and Southern California worked together to rove the state, turning up 595 immigrants with outstanding deportation orders and 346 with criminal convictions. In Northern California, which includes the Bay Area, 185 were fugitives and 92 had criminal convictions, ranging from petty theft to more serious crimes. A breakdown of arrests by municipality and county was not available, Meyer said.
In one case, ICE agents apprehended a Fremont woman who had been ordered deported after convictions for voluntary manslaughter and threatening a witness. The onetime legal resident, whom authorities did not identify, was sent back to her native Portugal shortly after her arrest, officials said.
The sweep marked the first large-scale operation for ICE's months-old San Jose team, one of a handful added this year in California, as ICE continues its five-year crackdown against immigrants who ignore deportation orders. In patrolling Northern California, it joins two teams in San Francisco and one each in Sacramento, Fresno and Bakersfield.
"It spreads us out a little more, gives us a little more reach," Meyer said of the new South Bay crew. "They know the area better and they can get out there quicker and be on the ground more often."
Nationwide, there are now 95 teams in operation, ICE officials said, with more than 100 expected by the end of the year. In 2003, when ICE's Fugitive Operations Program was created, only 17 teams were in place.
That expansion, along with the establishment of a federal investigation center in Vermont, has led to a surge in arrests. Last year there were 30,407 arrests nationwide, nearly double the year before. This year, ICE agents are well on their way to topping that number, with 26, 945 arrests logged as of Aug. 1.
The crackdown has continued to cut into the number of immigrants nationwide who have standing deportation orders. In 2007, for the first time, the suspected number of fugitive immigrants in the United States declined. The backlog is now down to fewer than 560,000, about 34,000 fewer than on Oct. 1, 2007.
But for Basil Robledo, director of programs for the Services, Immigrant Rights and Education Network (SIREN) in San Jose, the latest arrests are one more step on a disturbing path following last year's failure by Congress to reform the nation's immigration laws.
He said federal officials have instead turned to heavy-handed enforcement — a strategy that Robledo says has led to fear and broken families.
"It is a scary situation for folks in the community," he said. "People keep their kids home from school. It creates less of a willingness to talk to police. They see ICE agents and they see a uniformed person, and that blends into all of law enforcement."
Meyer acknowledged the complaints his agency receives, particularly those concerning children and families, stressing that "when children are involved, we're very careful with that."
Still, he said, "these are the laws that are in place. And we're just following through, doing our job."
Reach Denis C. Theriault at dtheriault@mercurynews.com. or 408-920-5035.
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Forum blasts raids on workers
Catholics, including Utah's Bishop Wester, say the treatment of immigrants is inhumane
By Jessica Ravitz and Paul Beebe
The Salt Lake Tribune
Salt Lake Tribune
Article Last Updated:09/11/2008 10:45:05 AM MDT
Utah's Catholic Bishop John Wester joined other Catholic leaders in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday to voice concerns about U.S. treatment of immigrants, calling the increased number of worksite raids both inhumane and ineffective.
Wester represented the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, which is calling on the Department of Homeland Security and President Bush to "reconsider use of . . . raids," which involve "hundreds of law enforcement officials using weapons," and instead turn the focus back on efforts to institute a "comprehensive overhaul of the broken immigration system," he said during the conference, which was accessible by phone.
Ever since talk about comprehensive reform died in Congress last year, Wester, chairman of the bishops' committee on migration, said raids - similar to this year's February raid in Lindon that led to 57 arrests and the December 2006 raid in Hyrum, which led to the arrest of 154 undocumented workers - have become the government's tool for dealing with immigration concerns.
Such raids are "designed to create an atmosphere of fear," Wester said. And while no one questions the right of officials to enforce immigration laws, church leaders - many of whom have first-hand knowledge of helping communities cope after raids - he said the toll on family members, who often end up separated, criminalizes those who just want to support their loved ones and victimizes the innocent, including the left-behind children who are U.S. citizens.
"Imagine a little child coming home from school and his primary caregiver is not there?" said Wester, who also on Wednesday submitted a written statement to DHS. "Our current policies do little to solve the problem of illegal immigration to this country; they simply appear to do so, often at the cost of family integrity and human dignity."
Martin Snow, whose Lindon guardrail manufacturing company was raided in February by 100 agents with their guns drawn, said taxpayers also bear a cost.
"How this thing went down was a big expense," said Snow, whose company, Universal Industrial Sales, lost more than half its 100 employees in the raid and still faces 10 counts of harboring undocumented immigrants. "It would be beneficial if it could be done in another method. It could save taxpayers a lot of money.
Jim Judd isn't convinced that workplace raids prevent undocumented immigrants from finding jobs.
The feds ''need to hold the employers accountable for people they hire, to make certain they are hiring people in the country legally,'' said the president of the 23,000-member Utah AFL-CIO. "Many times the consequences fall on the employees, and the employers suffer little or no consequence."
He added the raids often hurt those who are least to blame. As the family "breadwinner" is carted off by authorities, the people they love are left to fend for themselves.
In a written statement, Kelly Nantel of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, an arm of DHS, highlighted the department's respect for the Catholic leaders before adding, "We have no intention of abdicating our responsibility to enforce the law and we will continue to do so professionally and with an acute awareness of the impact that enforcement has on the individuals we encounter."
Wester said he hopes Americans will listen to people's stories and come to appreciate how complicated this issue is. Only then will they understand the need for a more comprehensive approach to reform - one that puts people on a path to living and working legally - and that enforcement, alone, cannot be the answer.
"Frankly, our country benefits greatly from immigrants. We always have. We're a country of immigrants," the bishop said. "What we really need to do is change hearts."
jravitz@sltrib.com
Worksite raids, by the numbers
* 685 arrested in fiscal year 2004
* 160 criminally charged in fiscal year 2004
* 3,900 arrested so far this year
* More than 1,000 criminally charged so far this year
* $9.7 billion: DHS's immigration enforcement budget in 2004
* $15 billion: DHS's immigration enforcement budget for 2009
Source: Catholic Legal Immigration Network, Inc.
By Jessica Ravitz and Paul Beebe
The Salt Lake Tribune
Salt Lake Tribune
Article Last Updated:09/11/2008 10:45:05 AM MDT
Utah's Catholic Bishop John Wester joined other Catholic leaders in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday to voice concerns about U.S. treatment of immigrants, calling the increased number of worksite raids both inhumane and ineffective.
Wester represented the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, which is calling on the Department of Homeland Security and President Bush to "reconsider use of . . . raids," which involve "hundreds of law enforcement officials using weapons," and instead turn the focus back on efforts to institute a "comprehensive overhaul of the broken immigration system," he said during the conference, which was accessible by phone.
Ever since talk about comprehensive reform died in Congress last year, Wester, chairman of the bishops' committee on migration, said raids - similar to this year's February raid in Lindon that led to 57 arrests and the December 2006 raid in Hyrum, which led to the arrest of 154 undocumented workers - have become the government's tool for dealing with immigration concerns.
Such raids are "designed to create an atmosphere of fear," Wester said. And while no one questions the right of officials to enforce immigration laws, church leaders - many of whom have first-hand knowledge of helping communities cope after raids - he said the toll on family members, who often end up separated, criminalizes those who just want to support their loved ones and victimizes the innocent, including the left-behind children who are U.S. citizens.
"Imagine a little child coming home from school and his primary caregiver is not there?" said Wester, who also on Wednesday submitted a written statement to DHS. "Our current policies do little to solve the problem of illegal immigration to this country; they simply appear to do so, often at the cost of family integrity and human dignity."
Martin Snow, whose Lindon guardrail manufacturing company was raided in February by 100 agents with their guns drawn, said taxpayers also bear a cost.
"How this thing went down was a big expense," said Snow, whose company, Universal Industrial Sales, lost more than half its 100 employees in the raid and still faces 10 counts of harboring undocumented immigrants. "It would be beneficial if it could be done in another method. It could save taxpayers a lot of money.
Jim Judd isn't convinced that workplace raids prevent undocumented immigrants from finding jobs.
The feds ''need to hold the employers accountable for people they hire, to make certain they are hiring people in the country legally,'' said the president of the 23,000-member Utah AFL-CIO. "Many times the consequences fall on the employees, and the employers suffer little or no consequence."
He added the raids often hurt those who are least to blame. As the family "breadwinner" is carted off by authorities, the people they love are left to fend for themselves.
In a written statement, Kelly Nantel of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, an arm of DHS, highlighted the department's respect for the Catholic leaders before adding, "We have no intention of abdicating our responsibility to enforce the law and we will continue to do so professionally and with an acute awareness of the impact that enforcement has on the individuals we encounter."
Wester said he hopes Americans will listen to people's stories and come to appreciate how complicated this issue is. Only then will they understand the need for a more comprehensive approach to reform - one that puts people on a path to living and working legally - and that enforcement, alone, cannot be the answer.
"Frankly, our country benefits greatly from immigrants. We always have. We're a country of immigrants," the bishop said. "What we really need to do is change hearts."
jravitz@sltrib.com
Worksite raids, by the numbers
* 685 arrested in fiscal year 2004
* 160 criminally charged in fiscal year 2004
* 3,900 arrested so far this year
* More than 1,000 criminally charged so far this year
* $9.7 billion: DHS's immigration enforcement budget in 2004
* $15 billion: DHS's immigration enforcement budget for 2009
Source: Catholic Legal Immigration Network, Inc.
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
COUNTER ANTI-IMMIGRANT LOBBYISTS
Urge Congress to support humane, equitable immigration reform –
not the proposals of FAIR and other anti-immigrant groups
BACKGROUND
The Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR) was organized by John Tanton, the founder of Numbers USA, the Center for Immigration Studies and other anti-immigrant groups. FAIR is a lobbyist group opposed to all immigration, advocating, in its own words, “to set legal immigration at the lowest feasible levels.” FAIR ignores the dire need of refugees and asylum seekers for protection, the importance of family unity, and the high U.S. demand for immigrant workers of all skill levels. FAIR opposes family unity policies for immigrants, wants to criminalize providing humanitarian aid to undocumented persons, and claims responsibility for the failure of the DREAM Act and other pro-immigrant bills.
Unfortunately, hate and fear are very powerful motivators, and THIS WEEK (September 8-11, 2008) FAIR is bringing thousands of people to Washington, D.C., to push Congress towards an agenda of more raids, deportations, and inhumane detention; fewer opportunities for legal immigration; and decreased resources for immigrants and refugees.
CALL YOUR SENATORS AND REPRESENTATIVES EVERY DAY THIS WEEK!
The Capitol Switchboard can connect you – call 202-224-3121
Also call Nancy Pelosi (202-225-0100) and Harry Reid (202-224-3542)
Tell them that as their constituent, you urge them to:
-- Ignore FAIR and other groups that support hate and family separation.
They offer no solutions, but polarize communities with fear and hatred.
-- Only support immigration reform that is HUMANE and EQUITABLE.
Raids, detention, and deportation are inhumane and hurt children and families – we need a pathway to legal status for those who are undocumented and an improved immigration system that prioritizes family unity and reduces backlogs.
Quotes from FAIR spokespersons:
“The brown toxic cloud strangling Los Angeles never lifts and grows thicker with every immigrant added…When you import that much crime, illiteracy, multiple languages and disease, Americans pick up stakes and move away.”[1]
"They defend themselves from the illegal alien savages who kill their livestock, slit their watchdogs' throats, burglarize their homes and threaten the physical safety of their loved ones." [2]
not the proposals of FAIR and other anti-immigrant groups
BACKGROUND
The Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR) was organized by John Tanton, the founder of Numbers USA, the Center for Immigration Studies and other anti-immigrant groups. FAIR is a lobbyist group opposed to all immigration, advocating, in its own words, “to set legal immigration at the lowest feasible levels.” FAIR ignores the dire need of refugees and asylum seekers for protection, the importance of family unity, and the high U.S. demand for immigrant workers of all skill levels. FAIR opposes family unity policies for immigrants, wants to criminalize providing humanitarian aid to undocumented persons, and claims responsibility for the failure of the DREAM Act and other pro-immigrant bills.
Unfortunately, hate and fear are very powerful motivators, and THIS WEEK (September 8-11, 2008) FAIR is bringing thousands of people to Washington, D.C., to push Congress towards an agenda of more raids, deportations, and inhumane detention; fewer opportunities for legal immigration; and decreased resources for immigrants and refugees.
CALL YOUR SENATORS AND REPRESENTATIVES EVERY DAY THIS WEEK!
The Capitol Switchboard can connect you – call 202-224-3121
Also call Nancy Pelosi (202-225-0100) and Harry Reid (202-224-3542)
Tell them that as their constituent, you urge them to:
-- Ignore FAIR and other groups that support hate and family separation.
They offer no solutions, but polarize communities with fear and hatred.
-- Only support immigration reform that is HUMANE and EQUITABLE.
Raids, detention, and deportation are inhumane and hurt children and families – we need a pathway to legal status for those who are undocumented and an improved immigration system that prioritizes family unity and reduces backlogs.
Quotes from FAIR spokespersons:
“The brown toxic cloud strangling Los Angeles never lifts and grows thicker with every immigrant added…When you import that much crime, illiteracy, multiple languages and disease, Americans pick up stakes and move away.”[1]
"They defend themselves from the illegal alien savages who kill their livestock, slit their watchdogs' throats, burglarize their homes and threaten the physical safety of their loved ones." [2]
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
ICE accused of tracking immigrants at Head Start
ICE accused of tracking immigrants at Head Start
Group says it's harming kids of illegal migrants, who then avoid the centers altogether
By GEORGIA PABST Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Aug. 31, 2008, 6:53 AM MILWAUKEE, WIS. — Immigration enforcement officials are now targeting migrant and seasonal Head Start centers in some states as part of efforts to track down illegal immigrants, the executive director of the National Migrant and Seasonal Head Start Association says.
Yvette Sanchez, president of the Washington, D.C.-based association, was in Milwaukee recently for a meeting of the national board of directors at United Migrant Opportunity Services Inc.
She said immigration surveillance is emerging as one of the top three issues for the group, comprising migrant and seasonal Head Start directors, staff, parents and friends. Financial appropriations and the need for more bilingual materials are the others, she said.
"Several kids and babies died in the fields because parents were fearful of sending them to Head Start," she said in an interview.
"Since early 2007, many of our programs started to notice that Border Patrol of Immigration and Customs Enforcement vehicles were parked outside their centers, and some were following buses picking up children," she said.
Jason Ciliberti, supervisory Border Patrol agent in Washington, D.C., said it's not the agency's policy to stake out Head Start centers.
"It could have happened if we believe there was an immigration violation afoot, but it's not our policy or practice, I believe."
Gail Montenegro, a spokeswoman with ICE in Chicago, said: "Generally, our operations avoid actions at school settings. ... However, we will take into custody during these targeted operations anyone encountered who may be in the country illegally."
In testimony before the congressional subcommittee on work force protections in May, ICE officials were provided with a list of dates and places regarding ICE activities near migrant and seasonal Head Start programs in Florida, Tennessee, Georgia and New Mexico, according to a letter sent to ICE officials in Washington by the Congressional Hispanic Caucus.
"We ask that ICE enforcement and intimidation tactics near migrant and seasonal Head Start centers cease immediately," U.S. Reps. Joe Baca, D-Calif., Luis Gutierrez, D-Ill., and Ruben Hinojosa, D-Mercedes, wrote.
"Parents were fearful of going to the centers or letting their kids get on the bus, and enrollment went down in some parts," Sanchez said.
In Tennessee, one family took their baby with them to the fields and left the baby in the truck where the baby died, she said.
Not a requirement
The criteria for participating in migrant and seasonal Head Start programs is low family income and agricultural employment, she said. "Since the Head Start program was started in 1965, we have never asked families if they are citizens, and it's never been a requirement," she said.
Migrant and seasonal Head Start programs operate in 39 states and serve more than 30,000 migrants and 3,000 children of seasonal farm workers, she said.
Migrant and seasonal Head Start programs serve children from 6 months to school age and also provide a variety of health and transportation services.
United Migrant Opportunity Services operates Head Start programs in Wisconsin that serve 530 children.
Cris Cuevas, director of the United Migrant program, said centers here have not been targeted by immigration officials.
Group says it's harming kids of illegal migrants, who then avoid the centers altogether
By GEORGIA PABST Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Aug. 31, 2008, 6:53 AM MILWAUKEE, WIS. — Immigration enforcement officials are now targeting migrant and seasonal Head Start centers in some states as part of efforts to track down illegal immigrants, the executive director of the National Migrant and Seasonal Head Start Association says.
Yvette Sanchez, president of the Washington, D.C.-based association, was in Milwaukee recently for a meeting of the national board of directors at United Migrant Opportunity Services Inc.
She said immigration surveillance is emerging as one of the top three issues for the group, comprising migrant and seasonal Head Start directors, staff, parents and friends. Financial appropriations and the need for more bilingual materials are the others, she said.
"Several kids and babies died in the fields because parents were fearful of sending them to Head Start," she said in an interview.
"Since early 2007, many of our programs started to notice that Border Patrol of Immigration and Customs Enforcement vehicles were parked outside their centers, and some were following buses picking up children," she said.
Jason Ciliberti, supervisory Border Patrol agent in Washington, D.C., said it's not the agency's policy to stake out Head Start centers.
"It could have happened if we believe there was an immigration violation afoot, but it's not our policy or practice, I believe."
Gail Montenegro, a spokeswoman with ICE in Chicago, said: "Generally, our operations avoid actions at school settings. ... However, we will take into custody during these targeted operations anyone encountered who may be in the country illegally."
In testimony before the congressional subcommittee on work force protections in May, ICE officials were provided with a list of dates and places regarding ICE activities near migrant and seasonal Head Start programs in Florida, Tennessee, Georgia and New Mexico, according to a letter sent to ICE officials in Washington by the Congressional Hispanic Caucus.
"We ask that ICE enforcement and intimidation tactics near migrant and seasonal Head Start centers cease immediately," U.S. Reps. Joe Baca, D-Calif., Luis Gutierrez, D-Ill., and Ruben Hinojosa, D-Mercedes, wrote.
"Parents were fearful of going to the centers or letting their kids get on the bus, and enrollment went down in some parts," Sanchez said.
In Tennessee, one family took their baby with them to the fields and left the baby in the truck where the baby died, she said.
Not a requirement
The criteria for participating in migrant and seasonal Head Start programs is low family income and agricultural employment, she said. "Since the Head Start program was started in 1965, we have never asked families if they are citizens, and it's never been a requirement," she said.
Migrant and seasonal Head Start programs operate in 39 states and serve more than 30,000 migrants and 3,000 children of seasonal farm workers, she said.
Migrant and seasonal Head Start programs serve children from 6 months to school age and also provide a variety of health and transportation services.
United Migrant Opportunity Services operates Head Start programs in Wisconsin that serve 530 children.
Cris Cuevas, director of the United Migrant program, said centers here have not been targeted by immigration officials.
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
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/
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, July 24, 2008
Borderline existence
Immigration law means a borderline existence for U.S. wife of Mexican Because Evaristo Suarez twice entered this country illegally, he must wait 10 years before he can apply to legally return. His wife, Heather, and three children wait with him amid Tijuana's perils.
By Anna Gorman
Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
July 22 2008
The complete article can be viewed at:
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-greencard22-2008jul22,0,7458475.story
By Anna Gorman
Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
July 22 2008
The complete article can be viewed at:
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-greencard22-2008jul22,0,7458475.story
Sunday, June 1, 2008
Notes from May 1st Coalition Forum
I recently attended a meeting held by the May 1st Coalition (www.may1.info). A centerpiece discussion was the need for solidarity from all human rights groups. The main objective of the forum was to brainstorm ideas on how to achieve solidarity, which was described as being an act of reciprocity and identification. There was concern that the May 1st coalition and May Day protests in NYC were being confused with being solely for immigrant rights. This is not to say that the coalition is not, however from what I gathered, the statement of purpose for the May 1st Coalition and the historical roots and May Day focus on Worker Rights, which happens to encompass immigrant rights as well. There seemed to be great concern and avid discussion around how vital it is for the coalition to remember this.
I left the meeting invigorated about the niblets of knowledge I learned about the coalition, the people who are involved, and the other causes and movements happening all around the city and the country. One of the advocates I met was David L. Wilson, the co-author of “the POLITICS of IMMIGRATION: Question and Answers.” David shared that one of his interests is informing immigrants about their surroundings and options: socially, legally, and financially. I spoke with him briefly to express my own interests in providing undocumented immigrants. One of the lessons I learned was the importance of not getting lost in one’s cause and forgetting the rest of the world. To paraphrase: one of the speakers pointed out how important it is not to settle for just defending one’s plight, but it is also equally important to make a claim.
This event was my first of such meetings and everyone was extremely welcoming and eager. As I looked around the room washing my eyes over all of the faces, everyone felt familiar. It was as though I’d met them in my dreams, where I am safe and I am strong.
I left the meeting invigorated about the niblets of knowledge I learned about the coalition, the people who are involved, and the other causes and movements happening all around the city and the country. One of the advocates I met was David L. Wilson, the co-author of “the POLITICS of IMMIGRATION: Question and Answers.” David shared that one of his interests is informing immigrants about their surroundings and options: socially, legally, and financially. I spoke with him briefly to express my own interests in providing undocumented immigrants. One of the lessons I learned was the importance of not getting lost in one’s cause and forgetting the rest of the world. To paraphrase: one of the speakers pointed out how important it is not to settle for just defending one’s plight, but it is also equally important to make a claim.
This event was my first of such meetings and everyone was extremely welcoming and eager. As I looked around the room washing my eyes over all of the faces, everyone felt familiar. It was as though I’d met them in my dreams, where I am safe and I am strong.
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