NDLON

 Urge President to End Instead of Expand 287(g), Honor Promises of Reform   Washington, DC 12.13.12  Today rights groups across the country are participating on a national call-in day to the White House urging the Administration to terminate the fundamentally flawed 287(g) deportation program instead of expanding it to 11 new counties.  On the heels of the President’s recent reelection and his renewed promises on immigration reform, rights groups urge him to take immediate, concrete action to undo the damage of misguided deportation policies that run counter to the goal of legalization.  The federal 287(g) program, which deputizes local police and corrections officers to do the work of immigration agents, has been plagued by controversy. This year Department of Homeland Security proposed phasing out its use in its 2012 budget.  However, the program is still active in 57 jurisdictions and on December 17th, DHS will consider approval of 11 additional counties in Massachusetts, North Carolina, Tennessee, Oklahoma, Alabama, and Virginia. In a strongly worded letter to President Obama in 2009 demanding the program’s termination, the Congressional Hispanic Caucus described the program as “dangerous to community safety.” The letter echoed the criticism of community members, local elected leaders, and law enforcement and was followed by three scathing reports in 2010-2011 by DHS’s Office of Inspector General and the national condemnation of the program from over 500 civil society organizations and editorial boards,  Today’s national call-in day takes place in advance of a December 17th meeting in which Immigration and Customs Enforcement will review the 11 pending agreements and review whether it will continue activation of the 57 active agreements. “ The President was re-elected by Latinos with a mandate to fulfill his promises on immigration reform. Ending the fundamentally flawed 287(g) program sends a clear signal that the President is serious about reforming the dysfunctional status quo that criminalizes Latinos and tears thousands of families apart,” said Patricia Montes of Centro Presente in Somersville, Massachusetts. “It is perplexing that after criticism from both inside and outside the government, ICE is looking to expand into five jurisdictions in Massachusetts,” said ACLU of Massachusetts Staff Attorney Laura Rótolo. “Our counties should not bear the cost and burden of enforcing federal immigration law.” “Local and state law enforcement should be in the business of protecting communities, not enforcing federal immigration law,” said Margaret Huang, executive director of Rights Working Group.  “The evidence is clear; the 287(g) program is a failed experiment. It…

(Español)   Todos y todas en la Red Nacional de Jornaleros estámos de luto por la pérdida de Jenni Rivera. Ella no sólo tuvo un impacto a través de su música, sino a través de tomar una posición firme para las Latinas y para inmigrantes y contra la discriminación y leyes como SB1070. Estamos eternamente agradecidos a ella por marchar con nosotros en Arizona. Siempre será recordada. Nuestros corazones están con su familia y con todas las personas alrededor del mundo que están sufriendo su pérdida. (English)Everyone at the National Day Laborer Organizing Network is mourning the loss of Jenni Rivera. She not only made an impact through her music but through taking a strong stand for Latinas and for immigrants and against discrimination and laws like SB1070. We are forever grateful to her for marching with us in Arizona and she will always be remembered. Our hearts go out to her family and everyone else around the world who is grieving her loss.   ###

San Francisco, CA - December, 04, 2012.This Afternoon Attorney General Harris issued a bulletin that clarified that ICE hold requests are voluntary in nature and local law enforcement have full discretion to reject submission to them. The announcement comes one day after the reintroduction of the TRUST Act (now AB4). The TRUST Act has received broad support including faith leaders and Congressional representatives and the promise from the Governor to sign a new version this session.  Governor Jerry Brown has pledged to make the TRUST Act a priority for the coming term.   Reactions from Advocates below: "Whether someone is subject to deportation as the result of a minor infraction ought not depend on what County the person is in; the Attorney General's guidance demonstrates the need for a statewide policy in the form of legislation such as the TRUST Act," said Thomas A. Saenz. President and General Counsel of MALDEF. "Attorney General Harris's bulletin affirms the urgent need for the TRUST Act to be signed into law, immediately.   A consensus exists in California that Secure Communities has been a disaster, and it is now clear that the lone voices of opposition to TRUST ACT last year were misguided," said Chris Newman, Legal Director of the National Day Laborer Organizing Network (NDLON).  He continued, "It simply makes no sense for California to comply with voluntary requests and to fill jails with peaceful immigrants at state expense, in order to fuel a broken, unjust  federal deportation system." "AG Harris' acknowledgement that ICE holds are voluntary underscores the need for statewide legislation.  Law enforcement should  not respond to ICE holds because they undercut community policing strategies by making immigrant victims and witnesses to crime fearful of coming forward.  With over 82,000 deportations under S-Comm from California  the need for the TRUST Act is more urgent than ever," explained Angela Chan, Senior Staff Attorney at the Asian Law Caucus.   Reshma Shamasunder, Executive Director of CA Immigrant Policy Center said: "Today's announcement from California's top law enforcement leaders should eliminate the confusion among some sheriffs about the legal force of detainers. These cruel and costly requests are voluntary. But that alone won't end the suffering of thousands of Californians who are torn from their families each month. The only logical next step is a strong, statewide standard that limits these burdensome requests. The only logical step is the TRUST Act."  ###

Hours after bill presented in Sacramento, influential LA leaders will urge Gov. Brown to take swift action; Passage of bill will be catalyst for national immigration reform What:  Press conference featuring leaders of major community organizations, hailing the reintroduction of the TRUST Act in Sacramento.  When:  Monday, Dec. 3, 2012, 3:30 PM Where:  Headquarters of Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund, 634 S. Spring St., Los Angeles Who: Confirmed Executive Directors include: Pablo Alvarado, National Day Laborer Organizing Network; Vincent Chin, Chinese for Affirmative Action; Thomas Saenz, MALDEF; Reshma Shamasunder, CA Immigrant Policy Center.