Feinstein Amendment Makes CIR Bill Worse, Puts Both Rights and Safety in Jeopardy

Additional Funding for SCAAP Program Incentivizes Dangerous Police/ICE Collaboration 05.09.2013 – Washington, DCIn response to Senate Judiciary Committee passage of the Feinstein 1 amendment, Chris Newman, Legal Director for the National Day Laborer Organizing Network issued the following statement: Senator Feinstein made the immigration bill worse today, putting both rights and safety in jeopardy.   The Feinstein 1 amendment…

Distance Between Beltway and Reality Evident On First Day of Immigration Reform Mark-Up

Progress to Deliver On Mandate for Equality Will Be Measured by Actions, Not Words 05.09.2013 – Washington, DC Responding to the Senate Judiciary Committee first hearing to mark-up amendments for the “Gang of 8” immigration reform proposal, Pablo Alvarado, Executive Director of the National Day Laborer Organizing Network issued the following statement: “There is an…

National Fast to Stop Deportations, Start Inclusive Reform Begins on May Day in Mountain View, CA

 

Day laborers, immigrant community start rolling fast as deportations continue at 1,100+ each day

05.01.2013 – Mountain View, CA

Maria Marroquin, director of the Mountain View Day Worker Center, and several others plan to abstain
from eating for the next eleven days, one day for each millions of undocumented people in the US
seeking political equality through immigration reform.

Support for Immigration Reform Requires Opposition to Unjust Deportations

Judiciary Hearing was lost opportunity to ask DHS Sec about top priority for Immigrants
 
04.23.2013 – Washington, DC.
 
With Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee this morning,  Senators had an opportunity to ask questions about the broken, unjust status quo.   Instead, the hearing today was characterized by  Sen. Chuck Schumer saying, “we certainly need more drones,” while Sen. Feinstein asked questions about student visa fraud and Jeff Flake mocked border crossing migrants to a room full of laughter. 
 

At 2:30pm this afternoon, the Senate Appropriations Committee will have the opportunity for more substantive questioning of the Secretary responsible for unprecedented criminalization and deportation of immigrants and the $18 billion spent annually on enforcement.  

Families Facing Deportation Confront Southern ICE Office, Ask Supporters to Make Calls

We Don’t Want to Be Deported Before the Path to Citizenship Opens

04.22.2013 – New Orleans, LA
This morning, five families who are facing deportation entered the Southern regional field office of Immigration and Customs Enforcement to demand that the office’s public advocate, Bryan Acuna, fulfill his duties by taking on their cases to stop their removals and cease the violent raids and targeting of low-priority cases that are rampant across the region.

 

Day Laborers React to Senate Immigration Proposal

Introduction Poses Test for President   Los Angeles, CA – 04.17.2013In response to the introduction of the Senate ‘Gang of 8’ immigration reform bill, Pablo Alvarado, Executive Director of the National Day Laborer Organizing Network issued the following statement:   “President Obama should seize the opportunity presented today by immediately suspending deportations, at a bare minimum for…

Lawsuit Filed Against Federal Agencies to Uncover Possible Influence on Immigration Bill

 Freedom of Information Act Suit to Shed Light on Tactics to Halt California TRUST Act

SAN FRANCISCO, April 9, 2013—The Asian Law Cacus, a legal and civil rights organization serving low-income Asian Pacific American communities, has sued federal immigration authorities for information about whether they helped defeat a bill meant to limit entanglement between California law enforcement and U.S. immigration agencies.

The lawsuit seeks information from the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency and the Department of Homeland Security under the Freedom of Information Act about possible efforts to encourage the Governor’s office and state sheriff’s association to oppose the TRUST Act, AB-4.

Had the TRUST Act passed last year, it would have restricted California’s involvement in the Se Communities program, which relies on local police to hold individuals suspected of being deportable upon arrest until ICE can pick them up for possible deportation. Last summer, the bill reached Gov. Jerry Brown’s desk with robust support from both legislative houses, but he vetoed it. 

New Music Video from La Santa Cecilia Hits Close to Home for Undocumented Cast

As Immigration Reform Again Takes Center Stage This Week…

LA SANTA CECILIA, in Partnership with Leading Migrant Rights Group and the Americas Business Council (abc*) Foundation, Spotlights the Real-Life Faces and Stories of Undocumented Immigrants with the Poignant New Video for Hit Single “El Hielo” (ICE)

Starring an Undocumented Cast of Key Figures in the Fight for Immigrant Rights, New Video by “Los Angeles’ Best Latin Alternative Band”, Directed by Alex Rivera, hits close to home for many.

In conjunction with the video’s release premiering today on VEVO, the band will now appear at immigration reform events on April 9th In Phoenix, Arizona, and April 10th at The U.S. Capitol Building in Washington D.C.

Watch the video at http://bit.lyelhielovid

 

Massachusetts Joins States Seeking TRUST to Protect Families and to Move Immigration Reform Forward

 

Immigrant Communities Rallied Today in Support of the TRUST Act authored by Sen. Eldridge & Rep. Sciortino

 

03.20.2013

Boston, MA – 

 

As momentum for federal immigration reform grows, Massachusetts is set to lead the nation by advancing the TRUST act, a state bill to provide immediate relief from deportations, strengthen public safety, and propel the national conversation on immigration reform towards inclusion.  Specifically the bill sets a clear standard for local law enforcement agencies not to submit to burdensome requests from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) most often prompted by the Se Communities (S-Comm) program to detain people for deportation who have otherwise been ordered released by the courts. The bill is authored by Sen. Eldridge in the Senate and Rep. Sciortino in the House and was introduced with 34 cosponsors.