Congratulations to the Black Immigration Network (BIN) for their recent conference in Atlanta. Several organizations from the Fair Immigration Reform Movement participated. BIN will continue to be an important resource and space for alliance building within the broader immigrant rights and progressive movements.
- Francesca Menes, Florida Immigrant Coalition
Below is a blog post link on the Black Immigration Network 3rd National Conference.
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The Justice Department says they’re putting Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio onfinal notice.
Over 100 days after first issuing a report which found Arpaio’s Maricopa Country Sheriff’s Office to be in violation of civil rights laws, DOJ has sent a letter telling Arpaio that they have concluded that an agreement “cannot be secured through voluntary means.” DOJ is required under the law to notify a party before they sue them in court.
DOJ said in a letter to Arpaio last month that they didn’t believe the issue could be settledthrough negotiations.
This was originally published by Talking Points Memo.
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Carmen and Leonor faced the cameras today and openly asked why they deserved to pay such a heavy price for wanting to have their children be happy. Both moms are scheduled to be deported within weeks. Sitting next to them, friends and loved ones, including three of their five US-born children, called on Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to grant them a chance of a lifetime to reach their American Dream together as a family.
Thousands upon thousands of US-born citizens will likely spend this Mother’s Day facing an uncertain future and a broken family. According to a March ICE report, 46,486 parents of US-born citizens were deported from the United States during the first half of 2011. In contrast, the New York Times reports that in the decade between 1998 and 2007, nearly 100,000 such parents were deported. An estimated 4 million US-born children have a least one parent who is an unauthorized immigrant.
“We are looking at the fruits of an untenable system that continues to rot. Families with deep roots in the community, hard-working men and women, entire communities are compromised by the blind enforcement machinery that this Administration has failed to stop, despite their continued assurances that more humane policies are forthcoming,” stated Angelica Salas, executive director for the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles.
The rate of humane decision-making by ICE in at least 300,000 deportation cases clogging up the immigration court system has been so dismal, that watchdog Family Unity Commissions have been established in Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, New York, North Carolina, Washington, and Wisconsin.
Los Angeles Commission member, Jessica Dominguez, stated: “It is urgent that we work together to find justice for these families and their US-born citizens. America is the country where these families have flourished and where they hope their children will be happy. Why make these families pay the huge toll of banishment?”
Rosemary Allegra, an American of Italian descent, just learned that her friend Carmen has been wearing an electronic ankle bracelet during the past 8 months and may soon be deported. “It makes me angry to know she has been treated this way. This is for bad people and by God she is not a bad person. Her family is very loving, hard-working, and they have reared their children the right way, trying to live the American way,” she adds.
As to the Commission’s urgent petition to keep families together, “Our request is for humane policies to be adhered-to and it has nothing to do with election-year politics. We have to care more about human life and family unity than political survival and party harmony,” said Ms. Salas.
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Inmigrante ecuatoriana de beneficia, pero activistas exigen más soluciones al gobierno de Obama
Familias afectadas por la política de deportaciones vigente protestarán este lunes en Washington DC, y otras ciudades con alta concentración de hispanos, para denunciar el incumplimiento del gobierno federal de los compromisos anunciados en agosto del año pasado, que impactan en 300 mil procesos de expulsión de Estados Unidos.
La organización Casa de Maryland anunció que familias del área metropolitana de Washington DC se unirán a las familias de todo el país para denunciar el incumpliendo de compromisos asumidos por la jefa de la seguridad de Estados Unidos, Janet Napolitano, en los que “se proporcionaría alivio a familias en situación de riesgo de ser separadas”.
En un comunicado, la organización denunció la existencia de soñadores en riesgo de deportación (jóvenes que calificarían para la residencia en caso que el Congreso apruebe el DREAM Act), madres atrapadas por procedimientos de la Oficina de Aduanas y Control Fronterizo (ICE) mientras enfrentaban casos de violencia domestica, y un líder de los derechos de los indígenas quien actualmente se encuentra llevando el caso de una masacre de gobierno ante la OEA.
Casa de Maryland dijo que también corren riesgo de deportación familiares de veteranos (soldados que han participado en guerras vistiendo el uniforme estadounidense), personas que cuidan a ciudadanos y residentes permanentes y otras personas con circunstancias humanitarias, y que a la fecha las autoridades sólo han fallado favorablemente a favor de un reducido número de casos.
¿Qué opina de la política de deportaciones del gobierno de Obama? Participe en el Foro de Inmigración.
Resultados mínimos
En Baltimore sólo 230 expedientes fueron cerrados, cifra que representa apenas el 5% de los casos revisados, apuntó.
Agregó que al mismo tiempo que el gobierno revisa miles de casos, el número de deportaciones se ha disparado debido a programas como el tan criticado “Comunidades Seguras”, que costó más de $200 millones en 2011 y ha dado lugar a un número récord de deportaciones, sumando más de 1 millón desde que el Presidente Barack Obama asumió el cargo, el 20 de enero de 2009.
Simultáneo a la protesta frente a la sede de ICE, en Washington DSC, Casa Maryland dijo que se registrarán acciones similares en otras ciudades, entre ellas Chicago, Nueva York, Boston y San Francisco, donde de pedirá a Napolitano “proporcionar alivio para las familias y para las comunidades afectadas por el sistema quebrantado de inmigración”, dijo Susana Flores, de la oficina de comunicaciones de Casa de Maryland.
Uno entre miles
Mientras familiares de alistan para acudir a la protesta en la capital estadounidense y otras ciudades impactadas por las deportaciones, una ecuatoriana que iba a ser expulsada se vio beneficiada el domingo por las medidas anunciadas por el Departamento de Seguridad Nacional (DHS) en agosto del año pasado.
Sara Martínez, une empleada doméstica de 47 años y madre de una ciudadana estadounidense de seis, podrá quedarse.
La mujer dijo a periodistas que vivía con miedo desde que el año pasado fue arrestada y bajada de un autobús, cerca de Búfalo, reportó The Associated Press.
Su hija, entonces de cinco años, “estaba viendo, aterrorizada y llorando”, dijo Martínez, al agregar que la niña perdió peso y todavía está en terapia por el trauma. “Siempre me pregunta si la Policía me va a alejar de ella”, agregó.
La historia de Martínez
Martínez llegó legalmente a Estados Unidos en 2005 con una visa de seis meses, pero se quedó más tiempo porque dijo que el padre de su hija estaba en suelo norteamericano.
El caso fue tomado por la legisladora demócrata por Nueva York, Nydia Velázquez, y la organización Coalición de Inmigración de Nueva York, como parte de un esfuerzo nacional para limpiar las listas de inmigrantes a ser deportados que no representan una amenaza a la seguridad pública.
Del 7 al 18 de mayo, la oficina de ICE en Nueva York cerrará parcialmente para que los empleados puedan acelerar el proceso con más de 16 mil casos pendientes que están atrasados a nivel nacional.
Cuántos van
El pasado 25 de abril y en medio de críticas por el bajo número de favorecidos, el gobierno federal anunció que el 7.5% de poco más de 179 mil casos de deportación que comenzaron a ser revisados a partir del 18 de agosto de 2011 recibieron la suspensión de sus expulsiones.
El porcentaje equivale a 16,500 expedientes que se hallaban pendientes en las cortes de inmigración.
ICE dijo que las suspensiones se decretaron tras la revisión de 300 mil casos iniciadas en agosto del año pasado luego de la emisión de una orden ejecutiva, en atención a quejas por retrasos y para beneficiar a personas sin historial criminal.
ICE insiste en que mantiene su discreción para revisar casos pendientes frente a la Oficina Ejecutiva de Revisión de Inmigración (EOIR) del Departamento de Justicia.
El anuncio oficial
El 18 de agosto de 2011 el gobierno federal anunció que
Revisaría 300 mil expedientes para determinar si algunos extranjeros podían verse beneficiados con la suspensión de sus órdenes de deportación.
La Asociación Americana de Abogados de Inmigración (AILA) advirtió de inmediato a la población indocumentada que la medida adoptada por el ejecutivo -y que afecta la política de deportaciones- no se trata de una “amnistía”, y recomendó estar atentos a posibles estafas por parte de tramitadores o notarios que realizan gestiones no autorizadas.
John Morton, director de ICE, dijo en esa oportunidad que el gobierno aplazaría por tiempo indefinido la deportación de ciertos inmigrantes sin autorización para estar en el país, que tengan una orden de deportación vigente y que carezcan de antecedentes penales, quienes podrían tener la posibilidad de solicitar un permiso de trabajo siempre y cuando cumplan con una serie de otros requisitos.
El gobierno también advirtió que la medida era discrecional, afecta o impacta a aproximadamente 300 mil indocumentados en proceso de deportación y que cada caso será revisado minuciosamente por las Cortes de Inmigración.
Pero AILA apuntó que no existe una manera “segura” de calificar para ser beneficiario del anuncio hecho por el Departamento de Seguridad Nacional (DHS), y que tampoco existe una garantía de que un caso será considerado por las autoridades para ser revisado.
Consulte un abogado
AILA añadió que antes de dar un paso, los inmigrantes que crean que pueden acceder al beneficio deben primero consultar con un abogado autorizado con licencia para ejercer la ley de inmigración, y que por nada se pongan en contacto con las autoridades de inmigración, porque “pueden ser arrestados y puestos en proceso de deportación”.
“Sólo un abogado de inmigración con licencia para ejercer puede evaluar su caso y brindarle un consejo legal adecuado, e informarle acerca de sus derechos”, subrayó AILA.
En el caso de los notarios o tramitadores migratorios, AILA dijo que se debe “tener cuidado” y advirtió que el anuncio en el cambio de política sobre deportaciones se pueden generar situaciones de estafas y diversos otros tipos de fraudes notariales que afectan severamente a la comunidad inmigrante de Estados Unidos.
En Estados Unidos viven alrededor de 11 millones de indocumentados, según datos del DHS y del Pew Hispanic Center (un grupo de Washington que estudia los movimientos migratorios). Unos 300 mil de ellos, que tienen órdenes de deportación reunirían los requisitos para que una corte de inmigración revise sus casos.
La medida del 18 de agosto solamente aplica o afecta a aquellos casos que ya están en el sistema (de las cortes de inmigración), tienen una orden de deportación, carecen de antecedentes criminales, no representan una amenaza para la seguridad nacional y que por el elevado número de casos existentes (unos 300 mil) obstruyen los procesos.
En cuanto a solicitudes para presentar un caso, AILA dijo que “no hay no hay ningún formulario” y tampoco “ninguna cuota que pagar”, y que el gobierno irá dando a conocer las formas en cómo se deberá proceder.
Más en Univision.com: http://noticias.univision.com/inmigracion/noticias/article/2012-05-07/denuncian-fallida-politica-deportaciones#ixzz1uLbnzIQI
This was originally published by Univision.com.
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A Brooklyn mom who failed three times to get the feds to cancel her deportation finally has won a reprieve — and she broke down in tears when she found out.
“We were crying,” Sara Martinez of Sunset Park said Sunday, a week after the Daily News wrote about her plight.
The 47-year-old Ecuadoran house cleaner, whose 6-year-old daughter was born here, was ordered to leave the country after border agents detained her on a bus from Rochester to the city.
She was hoping the government would cut her a break after President Obama announced he wanted to focus on deporting illegal immigrants with criminal records.
The feds are closing about 7% of the 300,000 deportation cases under review, but Martinez had been told that even though she has a clean record, hers was not among them.
Immigration advocates said her case highlighted Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s uneven hand in applying Obama’s new policy.
After her appeals to ICE were denied three times, she got the good news on Friday.
“I’m just doing what any mom would do for her children,” she said. “There are thousands of others out there with my story.”
She said she stayed in the U.S. after coming here in 2005 so her daughter could get a good education. She described the threat of deportation as a “nightmare.”
In the city, barely more than 207 cases under review have been closed.
“We remain concerned,” said Rep. Nydia Velázquez (D-Brooklyn). “It took months and a massive campaign for ICE to follow its own rules. Cases like Sara’s are too common.”
Chung-Wha Hong, executive director of the New York Immigration Coalition, said Martinez could have become one of “many senseless deportations that have been ripping our community apart.”
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Six people protesting the state’s controversial immigration law were led away and detained Thursday morning after a sit-down protest near the Alabama Senate chamber.
The protesters prayed and sang “Amazing Grace” and “This Light of Mine,” and called for the repeal of the controversial law before being led to a separate room in the Alabama State House. Two senators knelt and prayed with the protesters, but were not detained.
The six were released later in the day.
Rev. Angela Wright, pastor of Beloved Community United Church of Christ in Birmingham, identified the protesters as the Rev. Fred Hammond of Tuscaloosa; Clemencia Robledo of Tuscaloosa; Hope Hamilton Schumacher of Birmingham; John Estes of Birmingham; Salvadore Cervantes of Montgomery and Drew Statham of Birmingham. Wright said they were members of Alabama’s Conscience, a group seeking repeal of the law, known as HB 56.
The protesters wore white T-shirts with “Repeal Alabama’s Pain” written in red. Schumacher called “For all mothers separated from their children,” as security came by. Schumacher brought her baby with her to protest; the child was given to another member in the crowd before Schumacher was arrested.
“Stop the pain of Alabama,” Cervantes said while being detained.
Pat Harris, the secretary of the Senate who presides over the daily operations of the chamber, said those who were handcuffed were not arrested and that no charges were pressed. He said they were handcuffed initially after they blocked the walkways outside of the Senate chamber and that, after they had been asked to move out of the aisle, some began to assemble again in the walkway. Harris said the protesters were taken downstairs and he discussed the incident with security.
“We made the decision not to press any charges,” Harris said
The Senate is expected to consider changes to the law that passed the House last month. A date has not been set. Opponents have called for the repeal of the law, and have increased demonstrations and protests at the State House in recent weeks.
“The purpose was twofold,” Wright said. “One purpose was to express moral outrage and opposition to HB 56, Alabama’s inhumane immigration law, and secondly to challenge the Senate to take action and to move through their fear of standing up to the opposition they face.”
Sens. Bobby Singleton, D-Greensboro and Quinton Ross, D-Montgomery, knelt and prayed with the six as they were led away by Capitol Police. Singleton demanded the police take them away as well.
“They have a right for their voices to be heard,” Singleton said. Neither man was detained.
Both Singleton and Ross want to see the law repealed. Ross said the law was destructive.
“We need to be thinking about keeping families together,” he said. “We don’t need to destroy families.”
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Today the Alabama Senate is expected to vote on an immigration bill that would make changes to the law that the Alabama governor signed last year, called HB56. The Alabama House has already voted out HB658, which repeals aspects of HB56, but makes other parts of the law even harsher on immigrant families. Also today, a group of faith leaders and community members engaged in civil disobedience at the Alabama capital to protest the immigration law.
Statement from Rich Stolz, Interim Director, Fair Immigration Reform Movement (FIRM):
‘The proposed changes to HB56 reflect the tremendous work put in by Alabama residents – immigrants, business leaders, faith leaders, citizens of all ethnicities and legislators – who care about Alabama’s residents, economy, reputation and future. The courageous actions taken by opponents of HB56, including those offering themselves for arrest today, are an inspiration.
Regardless of the outcome of the Senate vote today Alabama can expect months, if not years, of litigation no matter how the Supreme Court rules in the Arizona v. United States. The changes being proposed to HB56 fall far short of repeal, and are unlikely to address its underlying flaws. Discrimination and hate cannot be tweaked.’
Here is a link to view today’s action: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/standupalabama.
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Standing FIRM
