Release of ICE detainees shines spotlight on immigration reform debate

After news came out that Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) had released some immigrant detainees who pose no security risks in anticipation of looming budget cuts, Latino groups called for a halt to deportations of undocumented families. “It shouldn’t take a manufactured crisis in Washington to prompt our immigration agencies to actually take steps towards using government resources wisely or keeping families together, treat ” said United We Dream’s Carolina Canizales.  Pablo Alvarado, Executive Director of the National Day Laborer Organizing Network (NDLON), said ”the President should move aggressively to reunite the families currently divided by detention not only to save money but to bring immigration policy back in line with cherished national values.” ICE deputy press secretary Gillian Christensen released a statement today, saying that “as fiscal uncertainty remains over the continuing resolution and possible sequestration,

NDLON Reaction to DHS Friday Afternoon Announcement on Se Communities and Deportation Rates

12.21.2012 – Los Angeles, CA

Today, the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency (ICE) announced revisions to the controversial Se Communities deportation program. The National Day Laborer Organizing Network issued the following response:

“There is broad consensus that the criminalization of immigrants driven by ICE has led to a deep, nationwide human rights crisis. The fact that 409,000 families were separated this year should be evidence enough for the need to end programs like Se Communities altogether.” – Pablo Alvarado, Executive Director

Leaders of key immigrant groups to react to introduction of TRUST Act “3.0”


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.

Day Laborers React to Chief Beck’s announcement on SCOMM reforms in wake of TRUST ACT Veto

 
 
(Los Angeles),  In reaction to Los Angeles Police Chief Beck’s announcement today, Pablo Alvarado, director of the National Day Laborer Organizing Network and principle sponsor of the TRUST Act,  issued the following statement:
 
“We look forward to working with the Police Chief, the Mayor, the City Council, and the Police Commission to craft a policy that protects Los Angeles from the disruptions caused by the dangerous  Se Communities program.   In 1979, then Police Chief Daryl Gates wisely implemented Special Order 40 to prevent police from being entangled in civil immigration enforcement.   That policy has been undermined by Se Communities, and it is time for Los Angeles to take appropriate action.  

Loas y críticas al gobernador de California – laopinion.com

El veto del gobernador de California Jerry Brown al proyecto de ley TRUST, que hubiera limitado la cooperación de la policía local al programa federal Comunidades Seguras, ha logrado que sus usuales amigos en las agrupaciones proinmigrantes lo llamen traidor y que tradicionales críticos, como la organización antiinmigrante FAIR, lo elogien calurosamente. “El veto del gobernador es una rara victoria para los ciudadanos amantes de la ley sobre el poderoso ‘lobby’ (cabildeo) de los protectores de los ilegales”, dijo Dan Stein de FAIR, organización que lucha contra cualquier semblanza de reforma migratoria. “Por una vez, el sentido común ha prevalecido sobre un acto sin consciencia de la Legislatura que hubiera puesto en peligro la seguridad pública de California”. Para Pablo Alvarado, director de la Red Nacional de Jornaleros (NDLON), el veto de Brown al proyecto de ley AB1081 fue una “traición” a los grupos proinmigrantes y latinos que lo han apoyado en sus campañas.

President Obama Must Do Everything to Stop Abuse in Arizona as SB1070 Goes into Effect

Day laborers pledge to continue fight against discriminatory law at community level, Look to California for Alternate Direction
 
September 18. Phoenix, AZ.
In response to the lifting of the injunction against section 2b, the racial profiling provision of Arizona’s SB1070, Pablo Alvarado, the director of the National Day Laborer Organizing Network, issued the following statement,
 
“Laws requiring people to be judged by the color of their skin have no place in the US.  Not today and not ever.  While courts have yet to stop all of SB1070, all of us who believe in human rights and cherished constitutional values have an obligation to do everything we can to ensure that Arizona’s current lawmakers are on the losing side of history.
 

Immigrants Will Emerge on Winning Side of History Following Supreme Court Ruling on Arizona’s S.B. 1070

Following the Supreme Court’s ruling on Arizona’s controversial state immigration law, S.B. 1070, Pablo Alvarado, Executive Director of the National Day Laborer Organizing Network, issued the following statement:

“The court’s ruling in part confirms what we have said since the beginning: Arizona’s war of attrition against immigrants is not only inhumane, it’s also unconstitutional. However, allowing the racial profiling section to go forward poses a great risk to the constitution the court is charged to defend and to the Arizona families who will be targeted if it goes into effect. 

Aaron Hurst: Going Face-to-Face With Day Laborers

and Century, Times, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;”>Pablo Alvarado came to the United States from El Salvador in the 1990s and worked for five years as an undocumented laborer. Today he works for the National Day Laborer Organization Network (NDLON) and helps to fight for the rights and dignity of day laborers. I learned of his story when the Taproot Foundation partnered with Pablo and NDLON and recently sat down to capture his inspiring story.

The immigration debate in this country has become really ugly in recent years.

Yes. Day laborers have become the public face of immigration. They have been demonized. Many people have described the day laborers as unwanted people and criminals. People who are murdering and harassing women. I think we are capable of having a debate in which people are not dehumanized in the process.

Groundbreaking Report Contradicts Homeland Security Departments’ Claims About Jail Deportation Program


  NDLON Calls on Sec. Napolitano to Stop Fearmongering 

and Start Addressing Civil Rights Crisis in DHS Immigration Policy

 

Chicago, IL. 05.16.2012.

Yesterday, WBEZ released a report on recidivism of individuals released under Cook County’s progressive immigration detainer policy, passed in response to dragnet federal immigration programs. The study “finds no evidence that inmates freed from jail against the wishes of immigration authorities reoffend or jump bail more than other freed inmates do.”  In response, Pablo Alvarado of the National Day Laborer Organizing Network issued the following statement:

New Independent Report Exposes that More People in Sheriff Baca’s Jail Sent to ICE than to Prison

NDLON Calls On Sheriff to Follow Chicago Example, Stop Responding to ICE’s Request for Extra Incarceration of Peaceful Immigrants

04.10.2012 Los Angeles, CA
In response to the Independent report released yesterday that exposes that more people in LA County jail are transferred to Immigration than to state prison, Pablo Alvarado of the National Day Laborer Organizing Network issued the following statement calling on the Sheriff to immediately suspend voluntarily holding peaceful immigrants in extended incarceration at ICE’s request: