NDLON in the News

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Connecticut official faults US handling of immigrant

An adviser to Connecticut’s governor is criticizing the U.S. government’s detention of a Mexican immigrant under the federal Se Communities program. Mike Lawlor, the governor’s top aide on criminal justice policy, joined advocates at a rally Thursday condemning the initiative that took effect statewide earlier this year. The immigrant, 34-year-old Josemaria Islas of New Haven, was arrested in July on charges that he tried to steal a bicycle. His lawyers said he was wrongfully arrested and the charges were later reduced to misdemeanors, but instead of being released, he was turned over to federal agents at the request of U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement. Lawlor said the case shows why the program that shares arrestee fingerprints with ICE could lead immigrant communities to lose trust in police officers.

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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.

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Labor Secretary Visits Staten Island – WNYC

Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis visited a day worker center on Staten Island that has been involved in cleanup efforts after Sandy. She toured the Midland Beach neighborhood on Thursday. Solis said the federal government is trying to reach different parts of the population to let them know about opportunities arising through recovery efforts following Sandy. “The President … reiterated the importance and significance of us working on a broader scale to make sure that we really reach the vulnerable populations, online that we really provide jobs, ” she said. “This is an opportunity to help build back infrastructure, housing, and to help provide incentives for more economic development.” The Department of Labor gave a 27 million dollar grant to the New York State Department of Labor to assist with cleanup and recovery efforts earlier this month.

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TRUST Act to be reintroduced 2 months after Gov. Brown vetoed it

A San Francisco state lawmaker plans to introduce a revised version of the TRUST Act, the measure that would restrict the ability of law enforcement agencies in California from enforcing federal immigration laws. Governor Brown vetoed the original bill in September. San Francisco Assemblyman Tom Ammiano (D-San Francisco) intends to unveil the new Trust Act on Monday. His office has not yet said what revisions have been made. Activists have billed the TRUST Act as an “anti-Arizona” law aimed at keeping undocumented immigrants arrested for minor offenses from being turned over to immigration officials for deportation. The proposed law was intended to counter the federal Se Communities program, which shares law enforcement fingerprint data with the FBI and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). It would require local police to release people who have been arrested once  bond is posted, as long as they have no serious convictions.

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