Category Archives: Immigration Blogs

Born to immigrant parents, forced to defy stereotypes, and committed to working hard, New York Knicks point guard Jeremy Lin is an inspiration to many people in this country, not just NBA fans. His success dares children to excel in spite of any preconceived notions attached to them by others. His perseverance encourages others to never give up, even when your back is to the wall.

It’s interesting to wonder if any of this would be possible in an America that codifies discrimination and hate. Would Jeremy Lin’s immigrant parents have found this country so appealing if they had lived in an Arizona where people who look different can be harassed by local law enforcement? Would they have wanted their children to grow up in an Alabama where teachers can interrogate students about their immigration status?

There are countless Jeremy Lins in America today. Men and women, boys and girls with the potential for greatness in them, who have been pre-judged, overlooked, or are just waiting for an opportunity to shine. The world is lucky to have heard Lin’s story.

What I see when I look at Lin is inspiration. I see a person who stared rejection in the eye and didn’t quit.  A man that has had to defy stereotypes ever since he first played organized basketball.

But above all, I see someone that people of all races can look to and believe that with hard work and determination, anything is possible.

Unfortunately, when many people see someone that looks like Jeremy Lin, they think of his immigration status. Instead of seeing a person that wants to succeed and contribute to his or her community, they let fear and a misinformed sense of nationalism cloud their vision.

The question now is how many more Jeremy Lins will we miss if they have their way?

New ruling comes in wake of costly lawsuits filed against county sheriffs

NASHVILLE—The Tennessee Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Commission today voted to do away with citizenship verification procedures it had unanimously approved on October 15th, 2010. The procedures were the byproduct of Senate Bill 1141 of 2010, legislation sponsored and passed by State Senator Delores Gresham (R-Somerville).

During the 2010 legislative session, Senator Gresham pushed forward SB1141 over the strong objections of sheriffs and civil rights organizations alike, even as critical questions about implementation remained unanswered:

“What kind of documentation would be required to prove that you’re a citizen…would there be any kind of legal recourse? Could that person later on when they were released and get a hold of their papers, would they then be able to sue the jailer for unlawful detention?” —Senator Beverly Marrero questioning Senator Gresham during debate in Senate Judiciary Committee

“I don’t know.” —Senator Delores Gresham (the bill’s sponsor), in response

In its meeting this morning, the POST Commission ruled that statewide participation in the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Secure Communities program more than satisfies any requirement that jailers share information with ICE. The revoked procedures remain the subject of several lawsuits, including one filed in Davidson County contending that the POST Commission drafted the policy in violation of Tennessee’s Open Meetings Act and the Tennessee Uniform Administrative Procedures Act. Additional lawsuits in various states of litigation contend that, because of the hastily drafted law and its implementation, county sheriffs across the state are detaining individuals in direct violation of Federal law, the Fourth and Fourteenth Amendments, and the Tennessee Constitution.

The following is a statement from Stephen Fotopulos, Executive Director of the Tennessee Immigrant & Refugee Rights Coalition:

“We are encouraged by the POST Commission’s decision to scrap these flawed procedures that call for unlawful interrogation and detention of foreign-born individuals. The previous policy was carelessly drafted, essentially requiring sheriffs across the state to engage in unlawful and unconstitutional acts and burdening local taxpayers with unfunded mandates and costly legal challenges. This entire episode provides a stark reminder of the dangers of turning local government employees into federal immigration agents, as well as a cautionary tale for the Tennessee General Assembly to more fully consider the costly implications of passing state-based immigration laws.

“While the ruling today is a first step in correcting the damage, we urge the commission and the Tennessee Attorney General to further clarify the responsibilities and restrictions on local jailers when participating in the so-called ‘Secure Communities’ program. Secure Communities has recently been plagued with nationwide controversy, as just last week news broke of a 14-year-old girl in Dallas—an American citizen who did not speak a word of Spanish—who was mistakenly deported to Colombia, South America.”

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