Welcome News on Immigration Reform, a Month after Publication of EHAD Report

- The nation is seeing increasing Evangelical consensus on pushing for comprehensive immigration reform.

- With the support of about 100 New York clergy members, House Representative Yvette Clarke (D-NY) spoke at a press conference on Wednesday urging for the Obama administration to take action on immigration. Located in Brooklyn, Rep. Clarke's district has a large constituency of Caribbean and African immigrants, which highlights the diversity of the groups affected by the immigration debate.

- New York State Senator Jose M. Serrano published a letter in the New York Times last Friday, calling for a comprehensive review of Secure Communities, and for public consultation before the New York State Division of Criminal Justice services consent to the controversial federal immigration program.

- This Friday, Congress will hold two briefings on immigration issues - one focused on family immigration policies and another on the DREAM Act.

- A large coalition of faith- and community-based organizations and immigrant rights groups are in the process of mobilizing for an immigration reform town hall for New York City and State, more details to come.

Immigration Reform Starts Here

"EAST HARLEM AGAINST DEPORTATION" COALITION LAUNCHES FINAL POLICY REPORT, IMMIGRATION REFORM STARTS HERE

East Harlem, NY - A coalition of elected officials and community leaders - dubbed East Harlem Against Deportation - today released its final policy report, and sent 1,000 appeal letters to President Obama. It was the culmination of an organizing and educational campaign that begin in May of this year.

The report, titled "Immigration Reform Starts Here," outlined five policy recommendations for New York City and State to protect immigrants and their families. The proposals range from improved visa certification by the police department to the establishment of a dynamic municipal ID card.

The 1,000 appeal letters were collected throughout the spring and summer, and urge the President to advocate comprehensive immigration reforms that will put a stop to unjust detention and deportations that tear families apart. The letters, many of them with personal stories, were signed by legal residents on behalf of their immigrant friends and family.

"To make the case for comprehensive reform in Washington, we need to energize the grassroots, and also curb the unjust practices that are taking place here at home," said Senator José M. Serrano. "We consider New York a sanctuary city, yet too many immigrants are left standing outside in the cold."

The Senator pointed to Rikers Island, where 13,000 inmates - many of them arrested on minor charges or later found not guilty - have been placed into deportation proceedings since 2004. The policy report calls on the Department of Correction to reassess its collaboration with federal immigration officials.

"The fact of the matter is that this is just sliver of the things that we should be doing on immigration," said Congressman Charles B. Rangel. "Immigrants are not just an important part of our history but they are vital members our current communities and certainly key to our future as a nation.

"At the end of the day, a green card or lack thereof, should not get in the way of the humanity we show each other. How we treat our fellow Americans, how we educate them and how we protect their rights is as much an example of the character of this country as it is a matter of sound public policy."

"Immigrants are indispensable to the vibrancy and progress of our city," said Manhattan Borough President Scott M. Stringer. We recommend these policy actions to ensure the public safety, well-being and dignity of immigrants and all New Yorkers."

"Throughout its history, East Harlem has not just provided a home to immigrants, but rather helped them flourish and realize the American dream. The activism, art and culture born out of this community has made New York a stronger, more vibrant place," said Councilmember Melissa Mark-Viverito.

"Today, foreign-born residents comprise more than 25 percent of the East Harlem population. On behalf of their families and friends, we stand together to fight for their rights. We owe to hard-working immigrants families to improve our school system and ensure greater parental engagement. Moreover, we need to make sure that our constituents remain safe from unjust detentions and deportations."


LA COALICIÓN "EL BARRIO CONTRA LA DEPORTACIÓN" LANZARÁ REPORTE FINAL, LA REFORMA MIGRATORIA COMIENZA AQUÍ

East Harlem, NY- La coalición de oficiales electos y líderes comunitarios "El Barrio Contra la Deportación" hoy publicó su reporte final, y mandó 1,000 cartas de petición al Presidente Obama. Fue la culminación de una campaña educacional y organizativa iniciada en Mayo de este año.

El reporte, titulado "La Reforma Migratoria Comienza Aquí," describió cinco recomendaciones para proteger a inmigrantes y a sus familias en la Ciudad y el Estado de Nueva York. Las propuestas van desde mejorar la certificación de visas por el departamento policiaco hasta el establecimiento de una tarjeta municipal.

Las 1,000 cartas de petición fueron reunidas durante la primavera y el verano, y le piden al Presidente que apoye reformas migratorias integrales que le pondrán un alto a las deportaciones y detenciones injustas que desgarran a nuestras familias. Las cartas, muchas con historias personales, fueron firmadas por residentes legales de parte de sus amigos y familiares indocumentados.

"Para argumentar el caso de la reforma migratoria en Washington, necesitamos energizar a la base y frenar las prácticas injustas que están ocurriendo aquí en nuestro hogar," dijo el Senador José M. Serrano. "Consideramos a Nueva York una ciudad de santuario, sin embargo demasiados inmigrantes se han quedado afuera en el frio."

El Senador indicó la Isla Rikers, donde 13,000 reclusos- muchos arrestados por cargos menores o que después fueron hallados inocentes- han sido puestos en procesos de deportación desde el 2004. El reporte le pide al Departamento de Corrección que reconsidere su colaboración con oficiales federales de inmigración.

"La verdad es que esto es solo una pequeña parte de las cosas que debemos estar haciendo con la inmigración," dijo el Congresista Charles B. Rangel. "Los inmigrantes no solo son una parte importante de nuestra historia pero son miembros esenciales de nuestras comunidades actuales, y ciertamente la llave de nuestro futuro como nación."

"Al final del día, una tarjeta verde o la falta de esta, no debería interferir con la humanidad que nos demostramos el uno con el otro. La manera en que tratamos a nuestros prójimos Americanos, como los educamos y como protegemos sus derechos es un ejemplo del carácter de este país y de una sana política pública."

"Los inmigrantes son indispensables para el progreso de nuestra ciudad," dijo el Presidente del Condado de Manhattan Scott M. Stringer. "Recomendamos estas acciones políticas para asegurar la seguridad pública, el bien estar y la dignidad de los inmigrantes y de todos los Neoyorquinos."

"En su historia, El Barrio no solo ha sido un hogar a los inmigrantes, pero también los ha ayudado a florecer y a realizar el sueño Americano. El activismo, arte y cultura que ha nacido de esta comunidad ha hecho de Nueva York un lugar más fuerte y vibrante," dijo la Concejal Melissa Mark-Viverito.

"Hoy residentes de origen extranjero componen más del 25 por ciento de la población de El Barrio. De parte de sus familiares y amigos, nos mantenemos unidos para luchar por sus derechos. Se lo debemos a nuestras trabajadoras familias inmigrantes mejorar el sistema escolar y asegurarnos que haya más participación de parte de los padres. Además, debemos asegurarnos de que nuestros constituyentes se mantengan a salvo de detenciones y deportaciones injustas."

Healthcare and Immigration, Labor Abuse, and Detention Reform in NYS

The New York Times spotlights the role health care reform has played in bringing undocumented immigration back to the center of national debate. Tellingly, four days after the editorial, at a public speech to Congress, Representative Joe Wilson of South Carolina shouted "You lie!" as Obama explained that health care reform would not expand coverage to undocumented immigrants. A recent blog post by the Immigration Policy Center succinctly summarizes misconceptions of while the NYT tackles the issue from a different perspective, citing experts who say that excluding undocumented immigrants from medicare may not be the most prudent solution for a number of reasons.

The Center for Urban Economic Development has produced a new report entitled "Broken Laws, Unprotected Workers," on exploitation of low-wage workers, most of whom are undocumented. Commenting on the report, The Washington Post calls these violations of employment and labor law "a national shame visited upon society's most vulnerable and least educated." The report recalls ethnographic and legal research conducted by Nick de Genova on undocumented workers in Chicago, in his book Working the Boundaries: Race, Space, and "Illegality" in Mexican Chicago, which provides a comprehensive analysis of the intersection of racism, nationalism, and political economy.

In local news, the departure of Dora Schriro from to the New York Department of Corrections may be bad news for national immigration reform efforts, but could bode well for detention reform within New York State, according to an article in the New York Times.

Immigration Reform Updates, and Labor Rights Week in NYC

Immigration is the story of American history. From the earliest days of our nation, generation upon generation of immigrants has come to be part of a land that offers freedom and opportunity to those willing to do their part. Immigrants built our great cities. They cultivated our rich farm lands. They built the railroads and highways that bind America from sea to shining sea. They erected houses of worship to practice their faiths. They fought under America’s colors in our wars. In fact, 60,000 immigrants are fighting in the U.S. armed forces in Iraq and Afghanistan today. Immigrants worked hard so that their children could embrace the ever widening possibilities in our land. And over the centuries, immigrants came to America from every part of the globe and made the American dream. They created a nation that is the envy of the world.
- Senator Ted Kennedy, as quoted on the Fair Immigration Reform Movement Blog

Senator Ted Kennedy passed away last week, marking a tremendous loss for immigration reform that sparked tribute from scholars, journalists, and activists. The ImmigrationProf Blog notes that Kennedy was the only U.S. Senator alongside Obama to participate in the immigrant rights marches of 2006, and Albor Ruiz of New York Daily News laments the deep moral vacuum that Kennedy leaves in the struggle for justice for immigrants.

A Maryland judge upheld E-Verify requirements for federal contractors in a ruling late Wednesday, a decision that paves the way for the rule to take effect on September 8. The National Council of La Raza released a report today on the alarming fatality rate of Latino workers, which corresponds to earlier U.S. Bureau of Statistics' report that Hispanic worker deaths have risen by more than 76% since 1992, while the overall number of worker deaths have actually declined (see EHAD blog post, July 24).

In Tijuana, six were arrested for ripping down parts of the border fence and selling them as scrap metal, an act to which Kevin Johnson of the ImmigrationProf blog provided the following commentary: "The brilliance of Congress always amazes me -- reduce migration by providing economic assistance to the Mexican economy through the border fence!" The irony in Johnson's statement recalls writer Mario Vargas Llosa's 2006 article, "Un muro de mentiras," in which Vargas Llosa argues for a more sensible solution to border enforcement in the form of business investments that would create more jobs on the other side of the border.

*Tomorrow, Wednesday, September 2, between 6 p.m. and 10 p.m., the Children's Aid Society of East Harlem will host a showing of "Salt of the Earth," a 1954 film based on a strike led by Mexican-American and Anglo miners in New Mexico. This screening is a part of the Mexican Consulate's series on labor rights, and will feature speakers and information tables from the Consulate, Esperanza del Barrio, the Department of Labor, and other agencies. For more information, contact the Children's Aid Society at 212 348 2343.

Back to School:

Click here, for the 2009 guide for undocumented college students by professor Michael Olivas at the University of Houston Law Center.

Immigration Reform News Watch, and a New Migration Documentary on HBO

Thomas Jefferson once said: "All tyranny needs to gain a foothold is for people of good conscience to remain silent."
- Rudy Ruiz, CNN Commentary on Immigration Reform

On Thursday, August 21, 130 immigration reform advocates and leaders gathered at the White House with President Barack Obama, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, and other DHS officials in yet another discussion on comprehensive immigration reform. Daniel Griswold of the Cato Institute observed the event with optimism, noting that despite being "short on specifics, [President Obama's words] were mostly pointing in the right direction." Albert Ruiz of New York Daily News countered the general optimism of advocates in a Sunday editorial, describing Napolitano's press statement after the meeting as cold and formulaic. Diego Graglia of the Feet in 2 Worlds blog summed up the ambivalence of the general mood after the meeting, and expressed his frustration at Obama's inability to present any concrete solutions to problems of detention and border enforcement.

New American Media focused on efforts taken by Asian Americans during the National Asian American Week of Action. There are more than 15 million Asian Americans living in the United States, and 1.2 million are undocumented. Asian American leaders, scholars and advocates have spoken up last week, urging for the Asian American community to activate their network and become involved in immigration reform.

*Today at 9 p.m., HBO will feature "Which Way Home," a documentary on child migrants at the southwestern border.

Immigration Reform This Week

The National Asian American Week of Action begins this Monday, complete with a community action toolkit and a facebook page. An August 14th post on the Huffington Post by Frank Sharry of America's Voice highlights pro-immigration reform progress in a number of U.S. cities, including Maryland, Detroit, and Atlanta.

The August 13th issue of Trade Policy Analysis by the CATO Institute writes in favor of legalization, concluding that increased enforcement and reduced low-skill immigration have a significant negative impact on the income of U.S. households. The study shows that the positive impact of legalization under an optimal visa tax would be 1.27 percent of GDP or $180 billion.

The New York Times hits the need for immigration policy reform from a human angle, writing about predatory lawyers who deceive undocumented families seeking legal paths to citizenship, and deaths in the border desert due to U.S. enforcement policies.

This Monday's Brian Lehrer show on WNYC featured a discussion of detention centers and comprehensive immigration reform with Amy Gottlieb of the American Friends Service Committee and Diego Graglia of the Feet in 2 Worlds Blog. Click below for the audio recording.

A Mixed Bag of News

A week after the National Immigration Law Center released its comprehensive report on abuses in the detention system, the Obama Administration announced major steps for detention reform - including the creation of the Office of Detention Policy and Planning (ODPP). Read the detention reform fact sheet here.

On the other hand, the administration rejected federal judge Danny Chin's petition for legally enforceable rules for immigration detention, and most recently predicted that comprehensive immigration reform will not begin until next year. Michael Lind of Salon.com wrote an interesting article (recently featured on the ImmigrationProf Blog) arguing against comprehensive reform - "of anything." Instead, Lind reasons that piecemeal reforms may attract less special interest lobbying than omnibus bills, are more democratic in nature, and would be easier to push through Congress.

Beyond the abstraction of politics, undocumented immigrants continue to speak in spirited defiance against the policies that threaten their basic rights and happiness. PBS will broadcast the documentary series Made in L.A. this Tuesday, August 11, at 10 p.m. It tells the story of three women's battle for basic rights as sweatshop workers and follows their journey over the course of three years. On a similar note, WireTap Magazine, an online news and culture site geared towards the development of citizen journalism, features a documentary on five siblings' struggle to survive after their mother's deportation.

Let Their Voices Be Heard

On June 23, 2009, youth from across the United States gathered in Washington D.C. in support of the Dream Act. Many were undocumented. A New York Times Editorial called the scene a mixture of "exhilaration and despair." It is not difficult to imagine the irony of the "American Dream" at the sight of eager young faces in caps and gowns, raised on values of "life, liberty and pursuit of happiness" and denied the basic rights of education for an immigration violation they did not choose to commit.

Featured in this post are the experiences of East Harlem residents Sonia and Sergio at the National Graduation Day Ceremony. Sonia writes eloquently of her devastation as an ambitious high school senior confronted with her undocumented status, hitting the issue from a personal angle; while Sergio emphasizes the importance of political engagement and reveals the symbolic importance of the June 23 event: An event at which undocumented students speak and fight directly for their rights to pursue higher education.

These two stories' publication here is made possible by Marisol Ramos of the New York State Youth Leadership Council, and East Harlem Against Deportation's own Ingrid Sotelo, who was in D.C. on June 23 to witness the event. Click on the title of the stories for the full version of Sonia and Sergio's accounts on the NYSYLC website.

* * *

Sonia's story

A picture perfect journey was painted to me when I was young. I was told, “Nothin’ is impossible. Dream and work towards getting it accomplished.” That’s how I grew up, believing that my dreams counted as much any other kid. I was born in Ecuador, but raised in Harlem. All I knew was this country. My understanding of things was that I was as much a part of this country as any other person.

I took my education very seriously. As a high school student, I took AP courses, got involved in extra curricular activities, ran and got elected in student government and graduated I was in the top of my graduation class. Yet as the date got closer, I stopped looking forward to it.

It was bittersweet; I would be the first in my family to graduate from college, yet the chance of attending college became slim. Because of my immigration status, my grades, resume, SAT scores where all out the window. It didn’t matter, all that mattered was those 9 digits numbers I lacked.

I remember sitting in my college advising room helping my fellow classmates fill out their college applications and FAFSA papers while hearing my college adviser telling me that, “College is not an option for you.”

I share with you this story because it is a common story. Youth around the nation pursue an education, they have goals and dreams and yet because of their immigration status they are prohibited from even getting close to it. Every year 65,000 undocumented students graduate from high school. Because of their status, they are denied state and federal grants and scholarships. But with the Dream Act, these students will have an opportunity to pursue their education and dreams.

I still have my dreams of becoming a lawyer or a politician someday.

* * *

Sergio's Story

June 23 was a very memorable day for me as I witnessed immigrant youth standing up and willing to fight for the Dream Act. There were many students from around the country who united for one cause: To ask their congressmen to co-sponsor the Dream Act in 2009. Having students from all over the country uniting for this cause showed the sense of urgency that undocumented students cannot wait any longer.

The dreams of undocumented students are being put on hold and politicians must understand that that these very talented minds are going to waste. After undocumented students graduate from college, they are trapped with dead end jobs and that is something we cannot allow. When we see so many students coming out to speak with congressmen, it means something is wrong and they must address the issue as soon as possible.

The National Dream Act graduation magnified the problem that there are thousands of students who are in the same situation. I learned that when you want something you must go out there and get it. As my Public Administration professor William Allen said, “You must be Aggressive in your Education! You must get Active and Demand for a Change.”

A Struggle to Keep Families Together, While Another Battle Wages to Tear Them Apart

We are deporting U.S. citizens.
- Congressman Jose E. Serrano, East Harlem Against Deportation Press Conference

New American Media, a national collaboration and advocate of more than 2,000 ethnic news organizations, reports on the growing number and proportion of women in the world migrant population. The recent NAM poll interviewed 1,002 female immigrants from Latin American, Asian, African, and Arabic countries, finding that women tend to immigrate as wives and mothers and tirelessly devote their resources to keep family structures intact. As commentators Sandy Close and Richard Rodriguez write, "Today, as women have “left” the village, they have also brought the village with them. In their new city, they are the ones who are keeping the family intact – acting as the public voice and face of the family, ensuring the health and education of the children and their entrance into the new society."

The poll shows that 41% of Latin American interviewees are concerned that immigration authorities would tear apart their communities, and that an overwhelming majority of women (of all ethnic groups interviewed, with the exception of Filipino women) would bring their U.S.-born children with them if they were ever deported. These numbers and narratives speak to the fuzzy line between legal and illegal, and to the incredible sacrifices made by mothers that are sometimes swallowed up by the broken system of U.S. immigration.

For sixteen-year-old Ana Leiva of Palm Springs, this broken system had walked into her life as a living nightmare. Her mother and aunt were taken away in the middle of the night for being undocumented immigrants, thus forcing on her the responsibility of caring for her younger siblings while attending high school. Ana's story is but one of the many chilling instances of detained undocumented mothers and the children left behind:

No, it's not that simple... I might not understand about politics or everything that's going on, but it's not that simple. There [are] families that are being split up, little kids are being left without their parents, their mom.

The Other Side of Undocumented Immigration: Abuse, Exploitation, and Naturalization of Suffering

The U.S. government and U.S. society gain much from migrant laborers and give little back beyond criminalization, stress, suffering and death. This dishonest relationship must change.
- Seth M. Holmes

Antonio Gutierrez was working at a local deli when the light fixture came crashing down on his arm, tearing open a bloody gash that remains to this day an unevenly-healed scar across his arm. The 17-year-old boy received no compensation for the injury, and displayed a certain pride when I asked him how long it took for him to recover. "It's nothing. Los mexicanos son muy duros (Mexicans are very strong)," he said.

The seemingly isolated incident connects to a disturbing national trend. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Hispanic worker deaths have risen by more than 76% since 1992, while the overall number of worker deaths have actually declined. Although growth of the Hispanic population in the workforce partly accounts for the discrepancy, lack of training, poor communication skills, and exploitation of undocumented workers all exacerbate the situation.

According to Raj Nayak of the California-based National Employment Law Project, undocumented workers are less inclined to join a union, which helps protect workers, or protest when conditions seem dangerous. The statistics also correspond to anthropologist Seth M. Holmes' 2004 work, "Oxacans Like to Work Bent Over," on undocumented berry-pickers in California. Holmes' analysis discribes the naturalization of suffering among migrant workers, and its internalization as a form of ethnic pride. In an eloquent and piercing observation of Californian berry fields, Holmes writes: "The migrant labor camp looks like chains of rusted tin-roofed tool sheds lined up within a few feet of each other and have been mistaken for small chicken coops in long rows." Such abusive conditions must end, and it needs to begin with bringing undocumented immigrants out of the shadows.

Experts on the Issue: ICE Home Raids and the Economics of Undocumented Immigrant Labor

The Immigration Justice Clinic at the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law released a report today on home raids by federal immigration agents. Supported by analysis of more than 700 arrest reports from New York and New Jersey, the study uncovers outrageous constitutional violations by ICE and outlines a series of policy recommendations for the agency. Instances of misconduct include failure to present search warrant and to obtain consent, operational patterns suggestive of racial profiling, and seizure of residents without legal basis.

From an economic perspective, Professor Gerald Jaynes of Yale Economic and African-American Studies writes, in an easy-to-read narrative format, that immigrants pay more taxes than they cost their states in welfare spending. He dispels the common misperception that undocumented immigrants drive down wages of African-American workers. This is something that Camp Vigilance, the California-based Minutemen activist group, should keep in mind before pushing for constitutionally absurd initiatives to end state benefits for U.S.-born children of undocumented immigrants.

Immigration Reform This Week

“He said America is very good. When it comes to the treatment of Muslims in the U.S., he had faith in the rule of law. He said, ‘In America, they don’t bother anyone just for no reason.’ ”
- Rafia Perveen, widow of Tanveer Ahmed, who died in immigration detention

The Council on Foreign Relations released a report on immigration reform on June 8, giving overall sound analysis of the efforts needed to mend the broken system and making the forceful statement that, "The United States has long been a country that believes in second chances. The alternative—to break up families and wrench people away from communities where they have lived for many years, and in some cases even decades—is morally unacceptable."

The CFR report emphasizes that it is important to reduce the undocumented population before encouraging cooperation between federal and local level law enforcement - a piece of advice contradicted by the Obama Administration's expansion of 287 (g) and E-Verify last week. New York Times editorials have criticized the broken detention system, the expansion of 287 (g) and the E-Verify program, calling recent moves by the Department of Homeland Security "immigration non-solutions." To be sure, new 287(g) provisions do promise a narrower focus on "dangerous criminal aliens."

Complementing the editorials, the NYT pieces together the life of Mr. Tanveer Ahmed, a Pakistani man who died in immigration detention in 2005. Mr. Ahmed's only offense was to have displayed the business' unlicensed gun to prevent a robbery while working at a Texas gas station. The death mysteriously disappeared from the Department of Homeland Security's 2007 report of deaths in immigration detention, reflecting just a drop in the bucket of the lives irresponsibly destroyed in the name of immigration enforcement.

News this week has focused on asylum. A study by the Georgetown University Law Journal shows immigration judges under strain of heavy caseloads. Many of the cases immigration judges hear are from people seeking asylum in the United States, claiming they would face life-threatening persecution if they returned home. The Department of Homeland Security's Annual Flow Report provides details on refugee and asylee statistics in 2008, and the NYT reports on the Obama Administration's move towards granting battered women refugee status in direct opposition to the stance held by the Bush Administration.

Over in California, activists have been pushing for a ballot that would end public benefits for the state's 100,000 U.S. citizen children (of undocumented parents) - an initiative, as Tim Rutten of the Los Angeles Times comments, that is almost certainly unconstitutional.

Book of the Week: (In)justice at the Margins of the State

Keeping Out the Other: A Critical Introduction to Immigration Enforcement Today
Edited by David C. Brotherton and Philip Kretsedemas

A collection of essays that examines immigration enforcement in the United States, excavating a history of discrimination and exclusion that extends far beyond the reactions of 9/11. Particularly poignant in the collection is Mr. Brotherton's case study of Robert Delgado, a Dominican father under deportation. The middle-aged man had grown up in the United States as a young boy, lived through shattered dreams of becoming a baseball player, and was to be deported to a foreign country that he had never known - away from his parents, his siblings, his wife and children, in a trial that was doomed to be a lost cause in justice by the immigration laws of the state. As Mr. Brotherton astutely points out, "The marginality of [Robert]'s race and class, the cynical mass packaging of the American Dream, the shattered hopes of his parents' generation, the children left fatherless, resentful, traumatized; these are all the truths embedded in his final plea."

A Battle for Sensible Laws and Safer Communities

“When you remove the emotion from the debate, no one can argue that it is in the best interest of public safety to keep [undocumented immigrants] living in the shadows.” Austin Police Department Chief Art Acevedo

"I'm confident if we enter into this with the notion that this is a nation of laws that have to be observed and this is a nation of immigrants, then we're going to create a stronger nation for our children and our grandchildren." President Barack Obama

The Obama Administration takes a sensible step in the direction of comprehensive immigration reform by targeting employers in cracking down on the practice of hiring undocumented workers. Workplace raids during the Bush Administration led to thousands of deportation cases that irresponsibly tore apart families without solving at all for the root of problem. As Kate Riley of the Seattle Times writes, "The U.S. government must take responsibility for conditions that led to, even fostered, a market for workers without legal resident status."

The Seattle Times reports study findings on potential losses to the U.S. economy if undocumented workers were removed. OneAmerica, a Seattle-based advocacy organization, asserts that $46 billion could be lost in expenditures for Washington State alone. Perryman Group estimates that removing these workers would wipe from the U.S. economy annually $1.8 trillion in spending and $652 billion in output.

Police chiefs from major U.S. cities have provided a timely impetus for immigration reform, calling for the overhaul of immigration policy. Chief John Timoney of Miami, Chief Art Acevedo of Austin, and former Chief Art Venegas of Sacramento argue that local law enforcement must be kept separate from immigration enforcement to build trust in communities and to most efficiently make use of local police departments' limited resources. The Chiefs emphasize once again that the violation of immigration law is a civil offense, stating at a news conference that those who call illegal immigrants “criminals" are misreading the law and hurting their own communities by scaring neighbors who could identify criminals.

Walter Lara, honors student and an undocumented Argentinian immigrant who moved to the United States with his parents when he was three, has become the focus of the national campaign in support of the Dream Act. His deportation, originally scheduled for July 6, has been postponed. Click here, for a glimpse of Walter Lara's story.

Keep the Immigration Reform Momentum Going

"We've got one more chance to do this. If we fail this time, no politician's going to take this up for a generation, and that'd be a shame for the country."
- Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.)

President Obama finally sat down with national policymakers to discuss immigration reform on Thursday, June 25, triggering a surge of optimistic commentary on the possibility of passing a comprehensive plan by 2009 or early 2010. A two-pronged bipartisan approach on the issue would focus on legalization and the control of immigration flow, with the possibility of establishing a nonpartisan commission to regulate workers' visas.

The national Reform Immigration for America campaign has decided to strategically focus the following week on local activism and advocacy, given that Members of Congress will be on recess in their home districts June 29 - July 6th. On the other side of the spectrum, a hate crime committed on the U.S.-Mexico border made its way to the national spotlight, a chilling murder of a Mexican adolescent and her father that exposed an underlying current of anti-immigration sentiments.

Hundreds of students - undocumented, residents, and citizens alike - gathered in Washington D.C. last Tuesday in full caps and gowns to support the Dream Act, adding youthful faces and bitter stories to the immigrant narrative. If passed, the Dream Act will adjust the immigration status of qualified undocumented high school graduates, granting them the opportunity to pursue to the fullest extent their higher education and career ambitions. On Friday, the Nebraskan Supreme Court defended the rights of a Guatemalan woman to reunite with her two U.S. citizen children, four years after her deportation from the United States. The Court stated that parental custody of children is perhaps the “oldest of the fundamental liberty interests recognized by the United States Supreme Court,” a right that has been endlessly abused by deportations that disregarded family values and the power of judicial review.

On a local level, Judge Danny Chin of the Federal District Court of Manhattan issued a decision to force a response from the Obama Administration on the establishment of standard detention procedures. Lack of government oversight has indulged a swamp of abusive practices in detention centers across the country, putting hundreds of thousands of people at risk of physical abuse and medical inattention. An East Harlem mother, for example, has expressed concerns that her detained son, a teenage boy falsely charged of homicide and transferred to ICE for deportation after full acquittal of charges, was at risk of a strain of unidentified strain of flu transmitted between cellmates.

Book of the Week:

We Are All Suspects Now: Untold Stories from Immigrant America After 9/11, by Tram Nguyen

A collection of narratives that speaks to the devastating effects of post-9/11 immigration policies and the tremendous failure of the American Dream.

The Immigration Debate Continues While Citizen Children Continue to Lose Their Fathers to Deportation

President Obama reaffirms his commitment to immigration reform at last Friday's Esperanza National Hispanic Prayer Breakfast, a move anticipated by a June 18th New York Times editorial, which addressed the president with a tone that stopped just short of censure: "If you accept legalization for the undocumented as desirable and inevitable, then why continue to put them through hell?" The NYT also published two letters written in response to the immigration editorial. Mr. Mark Wilson of Omaha, Nebraska, bases his argument against a "path to citizenship" on the following accusations: "Illegal immigrants drive down wages, burden local health systems and cause other ill-desired impacts to our economy and country." However, Mr. Wilson overlooks the Catch-22 that a path to citizenship could be one of the very solutions to American employers' practice of employing undocumented immigrants at below minimum wage level. Furthermore, he fails to note that undocumented immigrants are ineligible for non-emergency care unless they pay. His argument is weak on statistical grounds. A study by Harvard economist George Borjas (who is no less than a vehement opponent of undocumented immigration), for example, has shown that the average American's wealth is increased by less than one percent due to illegal immigration. NPR's Adam Davidson explored the relationship between illegal immigration and the U.S. economy in a 2006 column, and recently Families for Freedom produced a TV show addressing immigration myths.

The Associated Press reports on the lawsuit by more than one hundred children in Miami against the Obama Administration for the deportation of their parents. In honor of Father's Day, New American Media spotlights Roxroy Salmon, the father of four U.S.-born children and thirty-year resident of New York City, who is currently placed under deportation proceedings. Families for Freedom organized its Annual Children's Vigil on the eve of Father's Day at Union Square in New York City, attracting a crowd despite the heavy rain, and featured speakers including Councilman John Liu, and representatives from Congressman Serrano and State Senator Serrano's offices. The Vigil advocated for the passage of the Child Citizen Protection Act, H.R. 182, and included the distribution of petitions in support of the legislation.

-Rain

East Harlem Community Gathers for Immigration Reform Dialogue

On Monday, June 15, the East Harlem Against Deportation campaign opened an information session to the community of East Harlem. The panel, which consisted of representatives from local immigrants rights organizations, discussed a series of policy proposals (click below for agenda), and did a fantastic job making this a comfortable space for attendees to ask questions and share their stories. This event took place at Little Sisters of the Assumption Family Health Services, with more than 75 people in attendance. Esperanza del Barrio invited local vendor Paty Monroy, who provided delicious Mexican tostadas. Thank you to everyone who helped make this event a total success.

CLICK HERE for event agenda.

***

El lunes, 15 de junio El Barrio Contra la Deportación tuvo una sesión abierta de información para toda la comunidad del barrio. El panel consistió en representantes de organizaciones locales de derechos al inmigrante. Hablaron sobre una serie de propuestas políticas (haga clic abajo para ver la agenda de la reunion) , e hicieron un gran trabajo de ofrecer un espacio cómodo para que la comunidad comparta sus historias y haga preguntas. El evento se llevo a cabo en Little Sisters of the Assumption Family Health Services, y hubieron más de 75 participantes. Paty Monroy fue invitada por Esperanza del Barrio, y ofreció deliciosas tostadas mexicanas. Gracias a todos los participantes por hacer que este evento sea un éxito rotundo.

HAGA CLIC AQUI para ver la agenda de la reunion

Obama Flirts with Immigration Reform, New York Immigrant Groups Step Up Efforts

President Obama's meeting with immigration reform leaders has yet again been postponed, and is now scheduled to take place on the week of the 22nd. The Hill presents the perspectives of disheartened activists, quoting one source to say, "It’s starting to feel like the guy who has your phone number and will never call you." Mercury News details the stakes of current immigration reform, setting a lighter tone with a statement from Angela Kelley, vice president at the Center for American Progress, on President Obama's attitude towards immigration reform: "So far there's been a serious flirtation but not a marriage proposal."

Washington Post reports that Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano proposed the Pass ID program in an effort to repeal the Real ID Act. Pass ID will eliminate the most costly element of its predecessor, namely the demand for a national database. However, it keeps other unsettling aspects of Real ID, including the requirement that states verify applicants' identities and legal status by checking federal immigration, Social Security and State Department databases. On the other side of the table, New York Senator Charles Shumer proposed a national worker identification card that will, in the Senator's words, "make it easy for employers to avoid undocumented workers, which will allow for tough sanctions against employers who break the law, which will lead to no jobs being available for illegal immigrants, which will stop illegal immigration." The proposal so far has earned the support of business groups while drawing criticism from labor activists and the ACLU.

The latest New York Times Editorial on immigration lauds Attorney General Eric Holder's efforts in reversing former Attorney General Michael B. Mukasey's ruling (or, as the editorial characterizes it, "mischief") that immigrants have no constitutional right to legal representation in deportation hearings. Mr. Holder's ruling is a positive step toward immigration reform, although the editorial notes that Mr. Holder's order "appears to leave Justice Department lawyers free to argue in deportation cases at the federal appeals court level that there is no constitutional right to effective lawyers for immigrants."

At a local level, San Francisco, one of the few cities that offers muncipal id cards for undocumented immigrants, is caught in conflict over a new law enforcement policy that would report minors with felony charges to the ICE for deportation regardless of whether they are ultimately charged. New York immigration groups, including Make the Road New York and the New York Immigration Coalition, participated in the recently-launched national Reform Immigration for American campaign, according to a report by Daily News.

Stay tuned, for upcoming news on the East Harlem Community Dialogue that took place this Monday, June 15, at Little Sisters of the Assumption.

-Rain

Immigration News Watch

With President Obama to schedule an immigration meeting with top policymakers on June 17 and Senator Reid's recent emphasis on immigration reform as a priority for U.S. Senate, the national immigration debate has heated up once again. A June 5 New York Times Editorial criticized the Obama administration's continuation of local law enforcement programs, citing, in particular, the Secure Communities Program that would allow Immigration and Customs Enforcement to check the immigration status of everyone in jail. Washington Post and the Wall Street Journal each expressed a degree of skepticism towards the passage of an immigration bill within 2009, citing energy and healthcare reform as top priorities already occupying the national agenda.

The ImmigrationProf Blog directs attention to the tragic story of Gustavo Rodriguez Adulfo, an undocumented worker who "has spent most of his adult life preparing food, sweeping floors and washing dishes at suburban Des Moines restaurants" and "paid more than $2,000 last year for state, federal, Social Security and Medicare taxes," now diagonsed with a grave illness for which he is unable to afford the $100,000 surgery fee. Rodriguez's case zooms in on the intersection of medical ethics and the law of the state, placing yet another aspect of U.S. immigration system into question.

At a local level, the Oakland City Council voted last week to offer identification cards for undocumented immigrants.

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Truth About Immigrants: Mosaic of Stories and Voices

What an East Harlem evening. Esperanza del Barrio brought in vendors of tostales and flautas, an audience of more than one hundred people trickled in as violinist Sergio Reyes and guitarist Beau Bledsoe performed, children bumbled about in the Children's Aid basketball court, strollers and parents lined the back, more curious passersby pressed against the fence for a glimpse of the exuberant and fantastically-dressed Mexican dance group, and all quieted down as dusk settled.

The main course of the night was a series of four movie screenings on the lives of immigrant vendors and taxi drivers in NYC. The documentaries were projected on to the back wall of the basketball court, each telling a story behind all too familiar scenes in New York streets. The lives of immigrants perhaps make for the most underrepresented and misrepresented stories in cinema. These documentaries, presented by Art for Change and the New York Immigration Coalition, revealed the inner hearts and voices of New York immigrant communities.

-Rain

104 Letters!

The East Harlem Against Deportation campaign aims to collect 1,000 anti-deportation letters by July 4.

As of today, May 13, we have collected 104 letters. Stories told by some of our families:

"Please stop the raids - they are destroying families.
Every family has the right to make their dreams come true - our children are the future."

[Por favor pare las redadas - destruyen las familias.
Cada familia tiene el derecho de realizar sus suenos - nuestro hijos son el futuro.]

"Trabajo con ninos de padres indocumentados y es una pena ver como ellos sufren y viven en una constante inquietud - ellos no merecen eso, nadie lo merece."

[I work with children with undocumented parents, and it's a shame to see how they suffer and live in constant fear - they don't deserve this, no one deserves it.]

A link to copies of some of our letters to come. To sign a letter, download a copy of the English or Spanish version from the links on the right-hand side (Petition Letters - English; Cartas de Petición - Español), or contact the Children's Aid Society (130 East 101st Street between Lexington y Park; 212 348 2343).

***

La campaña El Barrio Contra La Deportación se propone colectar 1.000 cartas contra la deportación para el 4 de julio.

A partir de hoy, el 13 de mayo, hemos colectado 104 cartas. Unos relatos de nuestras familias:

"Please stop the raids - they are destroying families.
Every family has the right to make their dreams come true - our children are the future."

[Por favor pare las redadas - destruyen las familias.
Cada familia tiene el derecho de realizar sus suenos - nuestro hijos son el futuro.]

"Trabajo con ninos de padres indocumentados y es una pena ver como ellos sufren y viven en una constante inquietud - ellos no merecen eso, nadie lo merece."

[I work with children with undocumented parents, and it's a shame to see how they suffer and live in constant fear - they don't deserve this, no one deserves it.]

Mostraremos pronto un enlace a las copias de unas de nuestra cartas. Firmar cartas, descargue una copia de la versión inglés o español de los enlaces en la barra lateral (Petition Letters – English; Cartas de Petición – Español), o contacte el Children's Aid Society (130 East 101st Street entre las avenidas Lexington y Park; 212 348 2343).

Immigration News Updates

May 11, 2009
A Utah couple allegedly offered work visas for exposing an immigration scam instead are being deported to their native Uruguay, their lawyer said.

Critics call the case a classic example of illegal immigrants being exploited by criminals and the U.S. immigration system.

Read More

*In New York City, the Manhattan DA's Office offers assistance to fraud victims regardless of immigration status. Cases are processed by the Immigrant Affairs Program, set up in December 2007 to specifically address concerns of the immigrant population.

May 4, 2009
The Supreme Court on Monday rejected a favorite tool of prosecutors in immigration cases, ruling unanimously that a federal identity-theft law may not be used against many illegal workers who used false Social Security numbers to get jobs.

Read More

Anti-Immigration Sentiments Triggered by Swine Flu, Comprehensive Immigration Reform Still an Uphill Battle

MSNBC discusses anti-immigration rhetoric employed by talk show host Michael Savage and talk radio host Jay Severin. The article, by Brian Alexander, outlines historical examples in which disease outbreak has led to fear mongering and ostracization of "the other". The piece notes that a counter-effort has been mobilized by Latino rights groups and ends by noting the necessity of"fighting racism with information":

Blame-the-victim reactions can be fought with clear, accurate information about the disease and about how it is spreading, said Dr. Larry Kline, a San Diego physician and member of the United States-Mexico Border Health Commission. “People get snippets of information here and there, and unfortunately much of it is inaccurate. That makes things ripe for blame and blame and fear never helped anybody.”

Read More

Washington Independent published an article in the same spirit, and links the swine flu case to the uphill battle of comprehensive immigration reform. It highlights the Thursday, April 30 meeting on immigration immigration in the Senate Judiciary Committee:

The hearing was full of powerful arguments for why comprehensive immigration reform would boost the U.S. economy, enhance public safety and reinforce American values of hard work, family unity and entrepreneurship. Former Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan testified to how legalizing undocumented immigrants would boost economic conditions for everyone, while Thomas Manger, Montgomery County, Md., Police Chief and Chairman of the legislative committee for the Major Cities Chiefs’ Association, testified that legalization would improve relationships between local communities and police officers and help law enforcement do its job.

Read More

Click here for a complete list of witnesses in the Senate hearing.

Civic Participation Forum

Wednesday, April 29, 6 p.m - 8 p.m.
The Children’s Aid Society, East Harlem Center
130 East 101st Street between Lexington and Park Avenues

Guest Speakers:

Councilwoman Melissa Mark-Viverito
The Mexican Consulate
New York Police Department

- Learn how the government can help immigrants regardless of immigration status
- Learn about the importance of civic participation
- Learn what you can do to support immigration reform

Miércoles, 29 de abril, 6 p.m. - 8 p.m.
The Children’s Aid Society, East Harlem Center
130 East 101st Street entre las avenidas Lexington y Park

Invitados Especiales:

La Consejal Melissa Mark-Viverito
El Consulado Mexicano
Departamento de la Policia de la Ciudad de Nueva York

- Aprenda como el gobierno puede ayudar a los imigrantes sin importar el estado legal
- Aprenda la importancia de la participacion civil
- Aprenda lo que usted puede hacer para apoyar la reforma migratoria

Supreme Court Makes It Easier to Fight Deportation

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court made it easier Wednesday for immigrants seeking to avoid deportation to get another chance at a court hearing.

The decision came in the case of Jean Marc Nken, who came to the United States in 2001 and did not leave when his visa expired.

Nken has since applied for asylum, married a U.S. citizen and had a child, who also is an American. But immigration authorities and federal courts have repeatedly rejected asylum claims, which include the prospect of persecution if he is sent back to the African nation of Cameroon, where he says he was detained and beaten for participating in anti-government protests.

The federal appeals courts have split on what standard to apply to requests to temporarily block deportation while taking another look at immigration cases. The 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond, Va., applied a very tough standard to Nken's request for a stay and rejected it.

But Chief Justice John Roberts, writing the 7-2 decision, overturned the appeals court and sent it back for reconsideration, saying courts should use a less stringent standard. "The whole idea is to hold the matter under review in abeyance because the appellate court lacks sufficient time to decide the merits," Roberts said.

But justices warned the courts not to start routinely offering stays in deportation cases.

"The alien must show both irreparable injury and a likelihood of success on the merits, in addition to establishing that the interest of the parties and the public weigh in his or her favor," Justice Anthony Kennedy said.

And the threat of deportation isn't enough to show irreparable injury, Roberts said. "Aliens who are removed may continue to pursue their petitions for review, and those who prevail can be afforded effective relief by facilitation of their return," Roberts said.

Read More (AP)

WASHINGTON (AP) — Una decisión de la Corte Suprema de Estados Unidos facilitará a los inmigrantes que busquen evitar ser deportados tener otra oportunidad de recibir una audiencia judicial.

La decisión se produjo en el caso de Jean Marc Nken, quien vino a Estados Unidos en el 2001 y no se fue cuando expiró su visa.

Nken desde entonces solicitó asilo, se casó con una ciudadana estadounidense y tuvo un hijo, también ciudadano, pero las autoridades de inmigración y los tribunales federales han rechazado reiteradamente sus pedidos de asilo, que alegan la perspectiva de persecución si es enviado de regreso a la nación africana de Camerún, donde dice fue detenido y golpeado por participar en protestas antigubernamentales.

Leer más (Telemundo)

"East Harlem Against Deportation" Campaign is Formally Launched in Press Event on 101st Street!

East Harlem, NY – Elected officials and community leaders today launched East Harlem Against Deportation, an innovative organizing effort to oppose flawed deportation and detention policies that are tearing families apart in this working-class neighborhood of Northern Manhattan.

The East Harlem Against Deportation campaign will include a letter-writing campaign to President Obama, outreach events, an internet blog, as well as the formulation of a specific policy agenda to protect undocumented immigrants and their families in New York.

The campaign is organized by a coalition of local elected leaders: State Senator José M. Serrano; Congressman Charles B. Rangel; Congressman José E. Serrano; Assemblymember Adam Powell IV; Manhattan Borough President Scott M. Stringer; and Councilmember Melissa Mark-Viverito. Elected leaders were joined by representatives from various non-profit organizations including: Amnesty International / USA, whose recently released “Jailed Without Justice” report detailed a dramatic increase in the number of immigrant detentions over the past decade; and The Children’s Aid Society, which has taken a lead role in organizing families as well as collecting appeal letters to send to the White House.

“Our country has deported more than 100,000 parents of US citizens in the last decade. That is an appalling number,” said Senator Serrano. “Too many of those deportations took place in East Harlem, a community that has nurtured generations of hard-working immigrants. When I think how a single unjust deportation tears at the fabric of our families, our schools and our community, I am emboldened to fight for change.”

“I applaud New York State Sen. Serrano, Councilmember Melissa Mark-Viverito, the Children's Aid Society, Amnesty International and other community leaders for galvanizing our community to take action on this issue,” said Congressman Charles B. Rangel. “The future of this nation rests on all of us pulling together to get this economy going. The undocumented who live among us are as a part of our communities as those who have been born here. They go to work, pay their taxes and send their children to school. They are not "illegal aliens" but real people who dream of a better life for their children and families, as we all do.

“We must find a way to fix our broken immigration system so that those who play such an important social and economic role in our neighborhoods can have an opportunity to reach their potential and keep this country strong.”

“Anti-immigrant talking heads would do well to visit our community-based organizations in East Harlem,” said Councilmember Melissa Mark-Viverito. “ They would find a vibrant community of loving parents, people of faith and initiative, helping our economy, and working tirelessly to learn English. For too many years the mentality has been Dehumanize and Deport. But the overwhelming majority of immigrants in East Harlem embody the greatness of America. We must not relegate them to the shadows of fear,” said the Councilmember.

“The Children’s Aid Society is pleased to support ‘East Harlem Against Deportation,’” said William Weisberg, Ph.D., Chief Operating Officer of The Children's Aid Society. “We have been proud to serve New York City’s immigrant communities for the past 156 years and strive to provide high quality services and opportunities for all children and families. As a united East Harlem community, we can combat feelings of fear and isolation with a strong message of hope and support for keeping families together."

“Today 200 ICE detainees in Port Isabel, Texas are on a hunger strike to protest the inhumane conditions at their detention center,” Rosa Clemente, Campaign Director of Immigrant Rights, Amnesty International/USA . “There is evidence of abuse, and violations of human rights law, throughout the Department of Homeland Security’s ICE detention system. Amnesty International is proud to be a voice of activism for the 30,000 immigrants held in indefinite detentions everyday in the US, and we are asking that DHS and Secretary Janet Napolitano quickly implement all recommendations listed in our report ‘Jailed without Justice.’ No human being should be unjustly caged.”

The number of US-born children with undocumented parents increased to four million in 2008, according to the Pew Hispanic Center. There are nearly one million undocumented residents in New York State, with perhaps 12 million across the country. While the Obama administration has suspended aggressive workforce raids by the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement, deportation proceedings continue to move forward.

The elected officials praised the President for his willingness to review existing immigration policy and work with Congress to enact reform. But they cautioned that rhetoric from anti-immigrant forces remains virulent, and has the potential to stoke violence and racism throughout the country, particularly in bad economic times.

The East Harlem Against Deportation builds upon a national effort by Congressman Luis V. Gutierrez and the members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus to generate widespread support for sensible immigration reform through grassroots organizing efforts across the country. On January 10, 2009, one such event at Iglesia La Sinagoga in East Harlem drew hundreds of residents who spoke out against unjust deportation, and submitted testimony detailing how their families had been impacted.

“Too many innocent individuals and families are at risk of being deported and having their lives devastated by the unjust and discriminatorily aggressive enforcement practices of the previous administration. We need to protect such individuals from further harm and immediately revamp US deportation policy and practices in a sensible and humane way,” said Manhattan Borough President Scott M. Stringer.

Lanzamiento Oficial de la Campaña de East Harlem Contra la Deportación!

East Harlem, NY – Oficiales elegidos y lideres de la comunidad se unieron hoy para lanzar East Harlem Contra la Deportación, un esfuerzo innovador organizado en contra de tácticas de deportación y detención dañosas que están separando familias a la fuerza en este barrio trabajadora del Norte de Manhattan.

La campaña de East Harlem Contra la Deportación incluye una campaña de letras escritas para el Presidente Obama, eventos para la comunidad, un blog de la internet, y la formulación de agendas políticas especificas para proteger inmigrantes indocumentados y sus familias en Nueva York.

East Harlem Contra la Deportación es una campaña organizada por los representantes electos de la comunidad: Senador Estatal José M. Serrano; Congresista Charles B. Rangel; Miembro de la Asamblea Adam C. Powell IV; Presidente del Condado de Manhattan Scott M. Stringer; y la Concejal Melissa Mark-Viverito; con apoyo de defensores locales, líderes religiosos, y familias. Lideres elegidos se han juntado con representas de varias organizaciones sin fines de lucro incluyendo: Amnesty International/USA, quienes recientemente publicaron “Jailed Without Justice” (Encarcelado Sin Justicia), un reporte detallando un aumento dramático en el numero de inmigrantes detenidos sobre esta década; y The Children’s Aid Society (Sociedad Apoyando Los Niños), quienes han tomado la iniciativa principal en organizando familias y en coleccionando letras para mandar ha la Casa Blanca.

“Nuestro país ha deportado mas de 100,000 padres de ciudadanos estadounidenses esta década. Es un numero espantoso,” exhorto el Senador Serrano. “Demasiadas de esas deportaciones sucedieron en East Harlem, una comunidad que ha sido casa para generaciones de inmigrantes trabajadores. Yo me pongo ha pensar en como una deportación injusta rompe la fabrica de nuestras familias, nuestras escuelas y nuestra comunidad, y me animo para luchar para un cambio.”

“Yo felicito el Senador Serrano de Nueva York, Councilmember Melissa Mark-Viverito, el Children’s Aid Society, Amnest International y los demás de los lideres de la comunidad por movilizar nuestra comunidad para acción en este asunto,” dijo Congresista Charles B. Rangel. “El futuro de esta nación depende en nuestra esfuerza colectiva para mejorar la economía. Los indocumentados son parte de nuestra comunidad igual como los que han nacido aquí. Ellos trabajan, pagan impuestos y mandad ha sus hijos ha la escuela. Ellos no son “ilegales” si no que gente real que sueñan con una vida mejor para sus hijos y familias, igual como todos.”

“Necesitamos encontrar una manera para arreglar nuestra sistema de inmigración quebrada para los que son partes importantes de nuestra comunidad y economía tengan oportunidades para que realicen sus potenciales y mantengan esta nación fuerte.”

“Los que son en contra de la inmigración deben de visitar nuestras organizaciones locales en East Harlem,” dijo Concejal Melissa Mark-Viverito. “Encontrarían un comunidad vibrante de padres amorosos, gente de fe y iniciativa, ayudando ha nuestra economía, y trabajando incansablemente para aprender el Ingles. Por demasiados años la mentalidad ha sido Deshumanizar y Deportar. Pero la mayoría de inmigrantes en East Harlem encarnar la grandeza de America. No debemos de relegarlos ha la oscuridad,” exhorto la Concejal.

“The Children’s Aid Society siente orgullo en soportar ‘East Harlem Contra la Deportación,’” dijo William Weisber, Ph.D., Directivo Principal de Operaciones de The Children’s Aid Society. “Hemos sentido orgullo en servir las comunidades de inmigrantes en la ciudad de Nueva York por 156 años y estamos esforzando para ofrecer servicios de alta calidad y oportunidades para todos los niños y familias. Como una comunidad unida en East Harlem, nosotros combatamos sentimientos de miedo y aislamiento con un mensaje fuerte de esperanza y soporte para mantener familiar juntas.”

“Hoy 200 ICE (Fuerza de Custombres de Inmigración) detenidos en Port Isabel, Tejas están en huelga de comida para protestar las condiciones inhumanas del centro de detención, “ Rosa Clemente, Directiva de la Campana de Derechos de Inmigrantes, Amnesty International/USA. “Hay evidencia de abuso, violaciones de leyes de derechos humanos dentro de la sistema de detención del ICE del Departamento de Homeland Security. Amnesty International siente orgullo en ser una voz de activismo para los 30,000 inmigrantes encarcelados indefinidamente cada dia en el US, y demandamos que el Departamento de Homeland Security y la Secretaria Janet Napolitano implementen rápidamente las recomendaciones detalladas en nuestro reporte ‘Encarcelado Sin Justicia.’ Ningún ser human debe de ser enjaulado injustamente.”

Los números de niños nacidos en el US con padres indocumentados llego ha cuatro millones en 2008, dice el Pew Hispanic Center. Hay un estimado de un millón de residentes indocumentados en Nueva York, con un estimado de 12 millón en la nación entera. Aunque la administración de Obama ha suspendido los redados agresivos del ICE, procesos de deportación continúan.

Los oficiales elegidos elogiaron el Presidente para su buena disposición en revisando la políticas de inmigración y su trabajo con el Congreso para crear reforma. De todos modos, caucionaron que el retórico de las fuerzas anti-inmigrantes persisten y tienen la potencial para instigar violencia y racismo en la nación, particularmente en estos tiempos malos de la economía.
East Harlem Contra la Deportación esta basado sobre un esfuerzo nacional establecido por Congresista Luis V. Gutierrez y miembros del Comité Congressional Hispánico para generar soporte extendido para reforma de inmigración sensible usando esfuerzas de comunidades en el país. El dia del 10 de Enero, 2009, es un ejemplo de la esfuerza de comunidad cuando sienes de residentes se unieron en la Iglesia La Sinagoga en East Harlem para hablar abiertamente en contra de la deportación injusta y para presentar testimonio detallando como sus familias han sido afectadas.

“Demasiados individuos y familias inocentes están en riesgo de ser deportados y consternados por las tácticas injustas, discriminatorias y agresivas de la administración anterior. Necesitamos proteger esos individuos y inmediatamente renovar las políticas de deportación y las practicas en una manera sensible y humana," dijo el Presidente del Bourough de Manhattan Scott M. Stringer.

East Harlem Against Deportation Campaign Press Conference

Friday, April 24, Noon
The Children’s Aid Society, East Harlem Center
130 East 101st Street between Lexington and Park Avenues

The East Harlem community will stand firmly in support of undocumented immigrants and their families, and push for a comprehensive review of the federal government’s deportation policy. In particular, elected officials will urge President Obama to put a stop to unjust and unreasonably aggressive deportation proceedings that tear local families apart. “East Harlem Against Deportation” will include organizing events and a letter-writing campaign throughout Spring and Summer 2009, as well as the formulation of a specific policy agenda to protect undocumented immigrants in New York City and State.


Viernes, 24 de abril, Mediodía
The Children’s Aid Society, East Harlem Center
130 East 101st Street entre las avenidas Park y Lexington

La comunidad del Este de Harlem apoyará firmemente a los inmigrantes y a sus familias, e insistirá por una revisión completa de la política de deportación del gobierno federal. En particular, los oficiales electos le pedirán al Presidente Obama que pare las injustas e irrazonablemente agresivas deportaciones que desgarran a familias locales. La iniciativa "El Barrio Contra La Deportación" incluirá la organización de eventos informativos y una campaña de cartas escritas, por toda la primavera y el verano del 2009. También se formulará una agenda política especifica que protegerá a los inmigrantes indocumentados de la ciudad y del estado de New York.

Immigrant Heritage Week Celebration at Children's Aid Society

Wednesday, April 22, 10 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
The Children’s Aid Society, East Harlem Center
130 East 101st Street between Lexington and Park Avenues

The event will kick off with a sneak preview of “We Are New York”, a new TV show about immigrants in New York, screened in conjunction with CUNY.

East Harlem Against Deportation letters will be distributed after the screening, followed by a community discussion of EHAD's mission and objectives.


Miércoles, 22 de abril, 10 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
The Children’s Aid Society, East Harlem Center
130 East 101st Street entre las avenidas Lexington y Park

El evento comenzará con un preestreno de “We Are New York” (Yo Soy Nueva York), un nuevo programa de televisión acerca de inmigrantes en Nueva York, presentado en conjunto con CUNY.

Cartas de “El Barrio Contra la Deportación” serán distribuidas después del avance, seguidas por una discusión comunitaria de la misión y los objetivos de EHAD.