Perspectives: Worker Centers and the AFL-CIO National Convention – Law at the Margins

Workers Centers NewsLeave a comment

On September 8, the AFL-CIO will kick off its national convention in Los Angeles.  The last time it was held in L.A. was in 1999, case when the AFL-CIO announced its historic declaration for a legalization program for all undocumented immigrants, increased workplace protection for immigrant workers and an end to employer sanction laws, which it supported back in 1986 as part of the Immigration Reform and Control Act (IRCA).  The national convention this year in LA will also be a historic one.  With union density at around 12% (the private sector below 7%), the labor movement today is in a state of crisis.  As the recent deep recession, or depression as some economists have labeled it, has shown us, the labor movement is really the only safety net that we have in this country for the working class.

VICTORY! ICE denies Knox County 287(g) agreement – Blog – TN Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition – TIRRC

287(g) NewsLeave a comment

Last year, Sheriff Jimmy "J.J." Jones of Knox County announced he would be pursuing a 287(g) agreement–deputizing local sheriff’s deputies as federal immigration agents. For the last year, immigrant community leaders and allies have been tirelessly organizing and advocating against the program. And we did it! We just got confirmation that ICE will not be signing the 287(g) agreement in Knoxville (see notice below).  This victory comes after a year of powerful rallies and marches, fearless civil disobedience, and strong grassroots advocacy. It also comes on the heels of the termination of the program in Davidson County, a program finally abandoned after a 5-year community campaign. Read more about the fight against 287(g) in Knox County here. See the letter we submitted to DHS just a few weeks before the notice was given to Sheriff J.J. Jones here.