NDLON

(Originally published at Politic365.com)Despite the fact that political winds are blowing away from Arizona-style attrition politics, some officials in that state are determined to keep their tent staked in the ground, by hook or by crook.  For those living under the shadow of Maricopa County Sheriff Arpaio, looking at federal immigration reform comes with a specific perspective and particular issues to be resolved. When asked what his favorite song is, Arpaio immediately snaps back, ‘My Way’ by Frank Sinatra.  One can see why.  Even as Congress crafts proposals to reform our immigration system, which will possibly include some form of legalization, a well-oiled deportation machine continues to churn in Arizona.  Through interlocking departments, it criminalizes and deports the very people who stand to benefit from that same legislation.  For such reform to be meaningful, it must improve the lives of the people of Maricopa County and reign in the immigration and law enforcement actions that were once considered rogue and now look as if they’re taking root system-wide.

As the momentum for meaningful immigration reform continues to build, one person who stands out as moving in the opposite direction is ICE Director John Morton.   His record as director and as the person who has overseen the expansion of immigration enforcement and the resulting record deportations during the Obama Presidency has prompted organizations to call for his firing and has created a credibility issue for the administration.As Morton is called to testify in front of Congress, below are five questions we would like to see asked.   

"We must act," declared President Barack Obama in his second inaugural address. "We cannot afford to delay." On a diverse stage that reflected the legacy of our country's social movements for gay, women, and civil rights, the president spoke about the nation's unfinished journey towards greater equality. Making reference to the voices of past civil rights leaders, the president forcefully spoke to meet the nation's challenges, especially our duty to advance equality for gays, women, and immigrants.guardianimmigration reforminaugurationobama's 2nd termsarahi uribe

Mientras el Presidente Obama ha dicho varias veces que la reforma migratoria será un tema central durante su siguiente término, los periodistas ni siquiera le hicieron una pregunta sobre este tema durante el conferencia de prensa.  

Immigration reform has been on the national agenda for more than ten years, and it is a paramount issue for millions of voters.  On Tuesday, a question was finally asked of both presidential candidates about their views on this defining issue of our time.  The discussion was too brief and frankly raised more questions than answers.  American voters deserve to hear a more thorough discussion of each candidate's views, and tonight's foreign policy debate is a perfectly appropriate opportunity for President Obama and Mr. Romney to debate the issue further.   While the impact of failed US immigration policy is felt most strongly at the community level and must be resolved by a domestic policy agenda that provides equality for this generation's immigrants, immigration itself is a quintessential transnational issue that can rightly also be discussed within the context of US foreign policy.  Last Tuesday's superficial exchange about immigration included two revelations that both candidates- and the press- should follow-up on:

Written by Jessica Acee, Board member of the Workers Justice Project. A vigil was held September 25th for Winston Gillette, a construction worker killed 2 weeks ago when the roof of the building he was working on caved in on him.  That building, located at 227 Carlton Ave in Brooklyn's Fort Green neighborhood, was under construction by Professional Grade Construction company.   To date, the company has not issued an apology.

Day laborers of La Jolla, Pasadena center, Mountain View center, Williamsburg and Bay Parkway had received the workforce development trainings. The three key themes, which are a priority to the women and men day laborers, are: Branding and marketing, customer satisfaction and work ethics. Through various activities bases on popular education methodology day laborers learn and share experiences on this three topics. Due to the bad economy and the high unemployment rate in the nation day laborers had been force to increased and implement new marketing strategies to attract new employers. The workforce branding and marketing workshop helps day laborers learn basic elements on creating a marketing plan. It also teaches how to develop a brand strategy for day laborer centers. Finally the marketing workshop provides the 6 marketing strategies that can realistically implemented at a center creating ownership of the marketing strategy among day laborers.  

S-Comm/Trust Act Forum in Escondido, CA   On June 25th, 2012, we had a forum on S-Comm and the Trust Act in Escondido, CA with our member organization San Diego Day Laborers and Household Workers Association and other San Diego organizations such us AFSC-SD, Escondido Human Rights Committee, Oceanside Human Rights Committee, ACLU-SD, CIPC, etc. There were 150 people from the community. Chief Maher, the Escondido Chief of Police, also went and stayed during the forum. The community didn't feel intimidated and confronted him about the abuses and racist practices of his Police Department.    We discussed S-Comm, the Trust Act and the next steps to make sure the Trust Act passes in California. The community committed to work for the passage of the Trust Act in CA, and for a local action to denounce the abuses by the Police and ICE in Escondido. The organizations committed to have another forum in San Diego and to keep working together to push for the passage of the Trust Act.   Foro en Escondido, CA, sobre S-Comm/El Acta de la Confianza El 25 de junio del 2012 tuvimos un foro sobre S-Comm y el Acta de la Confianza en Escondido, CA, con nuestra organización miembro Asociación de Jornaleros y Trabajadoras de Casa de San Diego y otras organizaciones de San Diego, como AFSC-SD, Comité de Derechos Humanos de Escondido, Comité de Derechos Humanos de Oceanside, ACLU-SD, CIPC, etc. Había 150 personas de la comunidad. El Jefe de Policía de Escondido también fue y se quedó durante el foro. La comunidad no se sintió intimidada y lo confrontaron sobre los abusos y las prácticas racistas de su Departamento de Policía.    Hablamos sobre S-Comm, el Acta de la Confianza y los siguientes pasos para asegurar que el Acta de la Confianza pase en California. La comunidad se comprometió a trabajar para hacer que el Acta de la Confianza pase en CA, y hacer una acción local para denunciar los abusos de la Policía y ICE en Escondido. Las organizaciones se comprometieron a tener otro foro en San Diego y seguir trabajando juntas para empujar el Acta de la Confianza.

On June 13 and 14 we had a leadership development school for the day laborers in Santa Cruz County, California. Among others, we facilitated the workshops on how to prevent wage theft, how to organize a corner, work ethics and we did the day laborer power analysis. We also discussed with the workers the difference between and organized corner and a day laborer center; and they all decided they wanted to work towards an organized corner until they get the permit to open the first day laborer center in Santa Cruz County.   El 13 y 14 de junio del2012 tuvimos una escuela de desarrollo de liderazgo para los jornaleros del Condado de Santa Cruz, en California. Entre otros, facilitamos los talleres sobre cómo prevenir el robo de salario, como organizar una esquina, ética de trabajo y también hicimos el análisis sobre el poder jornalero. También discutimos con los trabajadores la diferencia entre una esquina organizada y un centro de jornaleros; y todos ellos decidieron que querían trabajar para lograr tener una esquina organizada mientras les dan el permiso para abrir el primer centro de jornaleros del Condado de Santa Cruz.       

La Red Nacional de Jornaleras y Jornaleros (NDLON) y nuestras organizaciones miembros están haciendo un trabajo importante en el campo de los derechos laborales y han trabajado para afrontar las necesidades de salud y seguridad desde el 2001. En el 2010, NDLON recibió la beca Susan Harwood bajo la Administración de Salud y Seguridad Ocupacional (OSHA). Este programa concede becas de educación/entrenamiento a organizaciones no lucrativas de una manera competitiva. Cada año se entregan las becas a aquellas organizaciones que hayan sido elegidas. El enfoque de este programa es de proporcionar entrenamientos y educación a trabajadores y a empleadores para reconocer, evitar y prevenir peligros de salud y seguridad en sus trabajos. Y de informarle a los trabajadores de sus derechos y a patrones de sus responsabilidades conforme al Acta de OSH.