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/

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

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

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.

May 1st Coalition Forum

May 1st Coalition Forum
Saturday, May 31 • 2-6 pm 2008
Church of the Village
48 St. Mark’s Place, New York

2-4 pm Building the movement in solidarity with immigrants & workers: organizing labor, students, the progressive movement, etc. for social change

4 pm Teatro Callejera: No Abres La Puerta

4:30-6 pm: KNOW YOUR RIGHTS: With or without documents, you have rights. Hear legal and other experts on how immigrants & workers have the right to organize unions, what to say if ICE comes to your home or community, etc.

Being Young and Undocumented

Public awareness of the plight of undocumented/illegal immigrant youth experience is lacking. Granted, statistics, data, and life accounts of undocumented/illegal immigrants are vague and elusive for obvious reasons, it is still important for the public to be informed. In addition, it is equally important, if not more so, for the undocumented/illegal youth population to also be aware. They must be informed about their circumstances, its ramifications and other options. Unlike documented/legal immigrants or even undocumented/illegal immigrant adults, resources for the undocumented/illegal immigrant youth are not readily available or openly publicized. The undocumented/illegal immigrant youth face not only the challenge of being young and an immigrant, but they must also face living in the shadows of a group that is already in the dark. There is a need for attention and research that will develop accessible resources, tools, and knowledge fort the undocumented/illegal immigrant youth.
It can be argued that such attempts to provide resources, tools, and knowledge for the undocumented/illegal immigrant youth undermines attempts to curb entry and residence of undocumented/illegal immigrants. However, it is naïve to use ignore-tactics on a population treated and identified as deviant, in hopes that it will deter or diminish their numbers. With the ever increasing numbers of undocumented/illegal immigrant youth who have spent their years of adolescent development in the U.S., action must be taken to inform them and provide them with tools in order for them to take action and be active participants in changing their circumstance. In addition, it is neither becoming nor beneficial to the economic, social, and cultural health of the United States to treat undocumented/illegal immigrant youth with the same legal ramifications as undocumented/illegal immigrant adults. The responsibility of an intent to defy immigration laws cannot be put on the shoulders of undocumented/illegal immigrant youth; their circumstances were not of their own making. But it is not all for nil. There is still time to help shape and shift, celebrate and promote an informed America.
In order to provide programs and resources to support undocumented/illegal immigrant youth, efforts must be made to learn about the varying circumstances and experiences of undocumented/illegal immigrant youth. Initiative toward exploratory and ethnographic studies is a recommended jumping-off point to determine the needs of this hidden population, as well as the factors that informed their circumstance. From there actions can be taken to address not only the overall subject of immigration in the U. S., but also the subject of human civil liberties.