NDLON in the News

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Se Communities Program: A law enforcement project that didn’t work

Many police organizations regretted participation In what was lauded a few years ago as “ . . . future of immigration enforcement, ” local law enforcement agencies are no longer obligated to comply with the Se Communities Program, see a once federally-mandated policy of deporting individuals considered threatening to public safety. California Attorney General Kamala Harris earlier this month released county and municipal law enforcement agencies from detaining and transferring illegal immigrants to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for deportation. Since March 2011, more than 150,000 convicted criminal aliens have been booked into ICE custody resulting in more than 75,000 deportations. It is reported that law enforcement nationwide arrests about 1 million non-citizens accused of crimes. The program was controversial from its start.

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Immigration reform: Obama needs to close gap between rhetoric and reality

Obama Inauguration“We must act,” declared President Barack Obama in his second inaugural address. “We cannot afford to delay.”

On a diverse stage that reflected the legacy of our country’s social movements for gay, women, and civil rights, the president spoke about the nation’s unfinished journey towards greater equality. Making reference to the voices of past civil rights leaders, the president forcefully spoke to meet the nation’s challenges, especially our duty to advance equality for gays, women, and immigrants.

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Cientos de personas reclaman en Chicago una moratoria a las deportaciones

Cientos de personas desafiaron hoy el intenso frío de Chicago y salieron a la calle para exigir a Barack Obama en el día de su segunda investidura como presidente, que decrete de inmediato una moratoria en las deportaciones y “ponga fin a la destrucción de familias” indocumentadas. “Nosotros también tenemos un sueño: que un día no habrá deportaciones y que todos los inmigrantes serán tratados con dignidad y respeto, que podremos mantener juntas a nuestras familias”, dijo el reverendo José Landaverde, uno de los organizadores de la marcha. Con la ayuda de un megáfono, el pastor de origen salvadoreño arengó a los manifestantes que portaban carteles y marchaban acompañados por la música de una banda juvenil con tambores y trompetas.

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Illinois Families Separated by Deportation Ask President Obama for Moratorium

 

March and rally on first day of the President’s 2nd term features stories of families broken up by immigration authorities, highlighting the need for policy that keeps families together.

 

The immigrant community in Chicago is calling for the President to grant immediate relief from deportations by ordering a moratorium.  While Congress deliberates, they say, the President can use his executive authority to make immediate changes to reverse his record on deportations.  President Obama’s first term was marred by a record 1.5 million people deported; 409,000 in the past year alone.  While he has announced his drive for immigration reform, the Chicago area witnessed an increase in aggressive enforcement. The week after President Obama’s reelection, ICE performed unheard of raids on an area Pallet factory and a Northwest side day laborer corner.

 

 

Below is a list of speakers at today’s march.

 

Speaker’s Stories:

 

Josefina Mora is a mother of three United States citizen between 5 and 10 years old. Her husband, Urbano Olmedo Lopez, has been away from his family since November 2012, after he was turned over to immigration authorities by local police during a driver’s license check point. When he was stopped he was on his way to court for another traffic ticket involving his lack of driver’s license. He arrived to the United States in 1985, at the age of 9. He has one prior deportation from his youth, but for the last 12 years that he has been married to Josefina, he has stayed out of trouble with the police and immigration.  Josefina describes Olmedo as a good parent and a hard-working husband. One of the hardest things for he has been the effect his detention has had on her children, one of whom has a hernia and the other an ear problem. She says it has been difficult to keep up with their medical needs without her husband, as he used to take them to the before his detention. Josefina also fears that the detention is having a psychological effect on her children, and is looking to take them to counseling, “I see them cry every night, and ask me when their father is coming home,” she explains.

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Key Questions for the White House on Immigration Reform

Questions for the White House on Immigration ReformWhile President Obama has repeatedly pledged to make immigration reform a centerpiece of his next term, not one question was asked of him on this topic by reporters during yesterday’s White House press conference.  

Though the debt ceiling was the issue of the day, it is fair to assume immigration will take center stage in future White House press briefings.  

To clarify and define what can be expected of President Obama’s reform proposal, and to further advance the national debate about immigration reform, tough questions should be asked that cut through political spin and rhetoric.  

Below are just a few specific questions that we at the National Day Laborer Organizing Network feel should be asked of the White House.  We encourage others to add their questions below in the comment section. 

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