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(Los Angeles, CA) As the national debate on immigration reform enters a new stage following the federal court injunction of Arizona's SB1070, the nativist movement has proffered a new argument to radically alter the United States Constitution. In recent days, national GOP leaders have called for a review of the 14th Amendment and its clear definition of US Citizenship. Dan Stein, President of FAIR, stated the 14th Amendment should not "enslave our thinking" in modern times.
The following is a statement of Chris Newman, Legal Director and General Counsel for the National Day Laborer Organizing Network:
"For years, the unchecked obsession by some with the undocumented status of our generation's Americans in Waiting has impeded progress on efforts to modernize immigration laws. It has always been ironic that the term "illegal alien" has been used as a justification to violate labor laws, denude civil rights protections, and undermine this country's proud heritage as a nation of immigrants. But the recent nativist attack on the 14th Amendment is beyond the pale, and it unmasks a more sinister agenda of those who are uncomfortable with changing racial and ethnic demographics. Those who wish to tamper with the 14th Amendment will join the ranks of others in history who have disgraced themselves by resisting progress. Undocumented immigrants, in their struggle for citizenship and political equality like generations before them, will defend the United States Constitution from a full-scale assault by the nativist movement. And in the process, they will defend constitutional values and advance the national interest. The immigrant rights movement can take comfort that it will be on the winning side of history.
And as for Mr. Stein's bizarre choice of words in describing the 14th Amendment, we are calling upon him for an immediate clarification and eagerly await his reply."
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Download PDF here: http://bit.ly/GOPresponse |
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Media Advisory for 7/15/2010
Contact: Devon Whitham (202) 637-5089
Ai-Jen Poo (646) 529-7000
Impacted Children and their Advocates Expose Immigration Enforcement’s Devastating Effects at “National Women and Children’s Advocacy Day” on Capitol Hill
Washington, D.C. - A coalition of labor, civil rights, immigration, women’s, and children’s advocacy groups will host a press conference on Capitol Hill on Thursday, July 15, to discuss how current immigration laws affect our children. They will call on Congress and the President to enact meaningful and reasonable changes in current immigration enforcement practices.
After the press conference, lawmakers will participate in a stakeholder-organized ad hoc hearing featuring panelists from the American Psychological Association and Legal Momentum, as well as two children from Phoenix who have each lost a parent as a result of Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio’s unaccountable enforcement policies. Experts will discuss current laws’ practical and psychological effect on children of immigrant families, and the young panelists will discuss their own personal experiences with our nation’s immigration system.
WHAT: Press conference and hearing on immigration enforcement
WHEN: Press conference 10:00 – 10:30 a.m.; Hearing 3:00 – 4:00 p.m. (Thurs., July 15)
WHERE: Press conference at Capitol Hill House Triangle; Hearing in Rayburn 2237
Co-Sponsoring Organizations: AFL-CIO, National Domestic Workers Alliance, National Day Laborer Organizing Network, Family Values at Work Consortium, Right to the City Alliance, MomsRising, Legal Momentum, First Focus Campaign for Children, Casa Latina, Center for Community Change, CODEPINK , CLASP, National Immigration Law Center, Legal Aid Justice Center's Immigrant Advocacy Program, 9to5 Working Women's Association, New Labor, Puente Movement Arizona, Refuge Women’s Commission, Tenants and Workers United, Wider Opportunities for Women, National Employment Law Project, Coalition on Human Needs, Grassroots Global Justice Alliance , Jobs with Justice, National Council of Women's Organizations, National Coalition for Immigrant Women's Rights, National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health.
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Download PDF here: http://bit.ly/a7Z4Vl |
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For Immediate Release // Excuse Cross Postings // Please Forward
Contact: Marco Loera (626) 390-6986
Date: July 14, 2010
NDLON Reaction to DeMint/Vitter Effort to Block DOJ Lawsuit
(Los Angeles) Today, Senators Jim DeMint and David Vitter introduced an amendment to block the Department of Justice from suing Arizona over SB 1070. The stated intention of the measure is to: "prohibit the funding of any suit by the Department of Justice seeking to invalidate the Arizona immigrant registration law."
The following is a statement by Chris Newman, Legal Director for the National Day Laborer Organizing Network, in reaction to the announcement:
"These Senators joined the losing side of history today with the introduction of this preposterous amendment. Like Joe Arpaio, Jan Brewer, and other politicians who scapegoat immigrants simply to make headlines, Senators DeMint and Vitter have now defined themselves as members of this generation's nullification movement. The Vitter/DeMint amendment is yet another example of the lengths demagogue politicians will go to use the issue of immigration for political posturing.
Moreover, the argument that SB 1070 is designed to enhance border security is simply rubbish. Immigrants are not drug mules, as Governor Brewer suggests. The plain truth is that SB 1070 is not only unconstitutional, it makes Arizona—and the country—less safe.
Thankfully, the federal courts will have the last word on the legality of SB 1070. And hopefully Congress will someday move beyond the vituperative politics of fear in order to bring our immigration policy in line with our constitutional values."
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Download PDF here: http://bit.ly/9qeOC4 |
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For Immediate Release // Excuse Cross Postings // Please Forward
Link to lawsuit here: http://politi.co/dmlm25
Date: July 6, 2010
(Phoenix/Los Angeles) Today, the Department of Justice filed a lawsuit challenging Arizona's SB 1070. The National Day Laborer Organizing Network (NDLON) with its member organizations in Arizona have resisted the new law, organizing community members, holding large-scale marches, and participating as counsel in a lawsuit against SB 1070 with a coalition of civil rights partners. Today, Pablo Alvarado, director of NDLON, issued the following statement:
"Arizona's demagogue leaders have scapegoated immigrants, subordinated Latinos' civil rights, and fallen down a slippery slope. They have received a free pass for too long in part because they have engaged in persecution of a class of people they have tried to dehumanize and deem 'illegal.' Today, our country is standing up to say, 'NO MORE! No more dehumanization. No more criminalization. No more racial profiling. No more Arizonas.'
"The people Jan Brewer calls 'illegal' will one day be citizens of this country, they will become leaders of Arizona, and they will have succeeded in strengthening the Union and defending our Constitution along their path. Today, we ask Governor Brewer, "What part of federal don't you understand? What part of unconstitutional don't you understand? What part of the Fourteenth Amendment don't you understand?’
"Immigration reform will not be won with one single piece of legislation. It will be won when immigrants achieve the political equality we deserve. We will earn our right to stay here by unifying the country and redeeming its proud tradition as a nation of immigrants. We will mark the victory achieved in defeating Arizona's SB 1070 as a seminal moment in this enduring struggle. We are confident justice will prevail."
Chris Newman, legal director for NDLON and counsel on a lawsuit challenging 1070 said:
"The Department of Justice took the extraordinary step of filing this lawsuit to defend the Constitution from attack. Our federal government will not allow a fragmentation of the Union because of anti-immigrant hysteria. Our legal system will not tolerate Arizona's latest attempt at nullification. Our courts will not allow the 14th Amendment to be trampled upon.
We are confident federal courts will prevent this odious legislation from ever seeing the light of day. Meanwhile, while the legal process is under way, we will continue to urge the Obama administration to take other necessary steps to prevent states and localities from arrogating federal authority."
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Link to PDF here: http://bit.ly/NDLON-DOJLawsuit |
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For Immediate Release // Excuse Cross Postings // Please Forward
Date: July 1, 2010
National Day Laborer Organizing Network Response to President's Speech
(Los Angeles, CA) In reaction to today's speech by President Obama on United States Immigration Policy, Pablo Alvarado, director of the National Day Laborer Organizing Network issued the following statement:
"As the federal government fails in its responsibility to modernize immigration laws, citizens and immigrants alike are suffering. American immigration policy is currently out of line with its national values, and the vacuum created is being filled by the likes of Sheriff Joe Arpaio and Governor Jan Brewer. Comprehensive immigration reform has become a political football in Washington DC, but the terms of debate have been defined by racist politicians from the south who have demonstrated a willingness to scapegoat immigrants, destroy families, and single out communities of color for short-term political gains.
All three branches of the federal government must act: the courts must defend cherished constitutional values, congress must write new immigration laws that provide equality to this generation's Americans in Waiting, and the President must show leadership. Today, the President described the failure of existing immigration law. This is not an abstract or purely academic matter: millions of people's lives hang in the balance while the President is charged with enforcing immoral, unjust laws.
We recognize existing political constraints, but we are hopeful the President's speech is followed-up with action. In the near term, we expect immediate intervention by President to prevent a human rights crisis in Arizona from getting any worse than it already is."
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Dowload PDF here: http://bit.ly/d02wNi |
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Press Room