Immigrant and Worker Rights Coalition (IWRC)

"Civil Writes" for the Preserving Our Civil Rights Campaign

2011-04-29T14:31:00.003-04:00

Last Saturday, April 23rd, ten volunteers from the American Friends Service Committee and the Bill of Rights Defense Committee invited Northampton residents to participate in “Civil Writes.” “Civil Writes” is a project of the Preserving Our Civil Rights Campaign. Participants were able to artistically express what civil rights means to each of them, as well as signing postcards to their city

Community Forum: Preserving Our Civil RIghts Campaign

2011-04-13T14:30:00.004-04:00

On Wednesday, May 23rd, 80 people gathered for a Community Forum for the Preserving Our Civil Rights Campaign.Speakers included Falguni Sheth, professor at Hampshire College; Jasmin Torrejon from the Committee for Justice for Jason; Hazel Dardano, community activist with ADP; Rich Hernandez from the Northampton Human Rights Commission, and Bill Newman from the ACLU of Massachusetts.Panelist and

Prayer Vigil in Support of Immigration Reform

2009-08-06T11:29:00.001-04:00

Reform Immigration for America NowPrayer Vigil in Support of Immigration Reformand the Dignity of ImmigrantsThursday August 27, 20096:00 pmNew Federal Building300 State StreetSpringfield, MA For more information contact info@a-dp.org

Obama Accused of Continuing Bush's Racial Profiling of Immigrants

2009-07-30T11:02:00.001-04:00

By Roberto Lovato, AlterNet. Posted July 29, 2009.http://www.alternet.org/story/141624/?page=entireCan a president who is, by any measure, far more forthright and lyrical than his predecessors about the pernicious effects of racism simultaneously promote and expand the racist policies of past administrations?This is the question vexing many in immigrants rights, Latino, civil rights and other

Immigrant Detainee Rights are Routinely, Systematically Violated, New Report Finds

2009-07-28T14:22:00.001-04:00

"A Broken System" is based on 18,000 Pages of Previously Confidential ICE, ABA, and UNHCR Reviews of Detention Centers LOS ANGELES - Denied access to loved ones, lawyers and basic necessities, the fundamental rights of the men and women within the nation's immigration detention system are routinely and systematically violated, according to a new report released today by the National

O'Malley decries immigrant health care cut - Articles of Faith - Boston.com

2009-07-28T11:47:00.002-04:00

O'Malley decries immigrant health care cut - Articles of Faith - Boston.comPosted using ShareThisCardinal Sean P. O'Malley, the Roman Catholic archbishop of Boston, is expressing opposition to a possible cut to state-subsidized health insurance coverage for some legal immigrants.Here's the relevant portion of his most recent blog entry: "As I do upon occasion, before I get to the events of my

MA Treasurer Statement Justifies Treatment of Immigrants

2009-07-27T12:01:00.001-04:00

Treasurer Devalues ImmigrantsBOSTON-- On Friday, State Treasurer Tim Cahill raised the ugly rhetorical justification for the state legislature's termination of healthcare coverage to 30,000 legal, tax-paying residents. Commenting on the legislature's decision to cut recent permanent residents and other immigrants from Commonwealth Care coverage, Cahill told the State House News Service that

Immigrant fighting cancer and the fear of losing care - The Boston Globe

2009-07-15T09:57:00.002-04:00

Immigrant fighting cancer and the fear of losing care - The Boston GlobePosted using ShareThisBy Kay Lazar and Maria Sacchetti, Globe Staff | July 15, 2009Eugenio Hernandez believes that coming to America saved his life.Almost two years ago, the immigrant from El Salvador was diagnosed with cancer, and his doctors in Boston fought it with surgery, radiation, and multiple checkups. It still

The Least of These

2009-06-11T14:02:00.002-04:00

Click below to watch The Least of These.The Least of These explores one of the most controversial aspects of American immigration policy: family detention.As part of the Bush administration policy to end what they termed the “catch and release’” of undocumented immigrants, the U.S. government opened the T. Don Hutto Residential Center in May 2006 as a prototype family detention facility. The

Berkshire Immigrant Center Presents Meeting on Comprehensive Immigration Reform

2009-06-09T14:20:00.000-04:00

The Berkshire Immigrant Center will sponsor a community meeting on the current status of immigration legislation and Comprehensive Immigration Reform. The event will take place on June 18th from 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm at the First Baptist Church, 88 South Street, Pittsfield, MA. The event is free, and immigrants’, advocates, and the general public are invited to attend. President Obama has made

2008-08-20T22:32:00.004-04:00

PostvilleThree months ago, the little town of Postville, Iowa, got hit by the largest immigration raid in US history. Nearly 400 workers were arrested in the raid—more than a quarter of the town’s population.For those left behind, namely the wives and children of the men taken away, the town has been turned into what some have described as an open-air prison. Dozens of immigrant women remain in

2008-08-20T20:10:00.002-04:00

'Virtual fence' work is halted"Work on 'virtual fences' planned for Arizona's stretch of the US-Mexican border has been brought to a halt. The Interior Department has not granted the Homeland Security Department permission to use the land for constructing the surveillance towers that form the backbone of the virtual fences," said Barry Morrissey, spokesman for US Customs and Border Protection in

2008-08-20T11:51:00.004-04:00

Cancer-Stricken 34-Year-Old Chinese Computer Engineer Dies After Being Denied Care in Private US Immigration PrisonCoverage by Democracy Now! of the case of Mr. Hiu Lui Ng, the thirty-four-year-old Chinese computer engineer who died earlier this month in a Rhode Island immigration detention center. For this story, which aired yesterday, Democracy Now! interviewed Joshua Bardavid, an immigration

2008-08-19T15:49:00.002-04:00

Immigrant son lives American dream "Henry Cejudo, the son of illegal immigrants from Mexico, completed his American dream by crushing Japan's hopes of their first Olympic men's wrestling gold medal in two decades." (found on Bender’s Immigration Bulletin)

2008-08-19T15:38:00.006-04:00

Advocacy office says small firms deserve break on E-Verify "The Small Business Administration's Office of Advocacy is urging federal acquisition councils to consider exempting small firms from a regulation that would force contractors to verify workers' employment eligibility using a Homeland Security database." (found on Bender's Immigration Bulletin)

2008-08-15T10:26:00.002-04:00

ICE Raids at Dulles Airport Yesterday, ICE arrested 42 workers at Dulles Airport under the auspices of guarding our nation’s airports. “There’s no indication that any of the aliens were involved in any terrorist activity at all,” said Mark McGraw, deputy special agent in charge with the Department of Homeland Security’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency. So, thanks guys, sounds like

2008-08-15T09:23:00.001-04:00

Are Cities Warming Up to 'Don't Ask Don't Tell' Immigration Policies? Hartford, CT is joining cities across the country who are taking steps to integrate their undocumented immigrants. (more)

2008-08-15T09:09:00.003-04:00

Ill and in Pain, Detainee Dies in U.S. Hands Mr. Ng’s death follows a succession of cases that have drawn Congressional scrutiny to complaints of inadequate medical care, human rights violations and a lack of oversight in immigration detention, a rapidly growing network of publicly and privately run jails where the government held more than 300,000 people in the last year while deciding whether

2008-08-13T15:56:00.003-04:00

Visual Resistance A series of posters created by artists of Justseeds/Visual Resistance Artists’ Cooperative for use by international immigrant rights organizations. These 5 posters illustrate very beautifully and powerfully how immigrant rights are really nothing more than just human rights.

2008-08-13T09:54:00.004-04:00

Lowell rally rails against raidsby Jack Minch in The Lowell Sun online 8/09/08As thunder and lightning crackled overhead last night, Linda Pream broke down into tears as she spoke about her boyfriend, Sokon Cheurem, who is being detained on a federal warrant and facing possible deportation. Pream spoke at a rally sponsored by Deported Diaspora and other community groups at Clemente Park on

2008-08-12T10:17:00.004-04:00

Dream for immigrant teensThe Minnesota Immigrant Freedom Network (MIFN) is a nonprofit advocacy group with the mission of improving educational opportunities for immigrant youths, changing the language used in the news media to describe immigrants, and lobbying for reform at the state Legislature. (story by Bill ward in the Star Tribune) (more)

2008-08-12T10:07:00.007-04:00

Ensuring Due Process: The National Immigrant Bond FundToday, in Silver Spring, Maryland, the National Immigrant Bond Fund kicked off its fundraising campaign. The fund assists immigrants swept up in ICE raids to post bond quickly in order to secure a fair hearing in America’s courts.

2008-08-11T15:05:00.003-04:00

No More I.C.E.!Massachusetts Jobs with Justice announces a standout in Boston.Wednesday August 13, 2008We reject the presence of ICE in our communities.Urgent Action in solidarity with the immigrantcommunity and respect the humanity and dignity of immigrants.Join us Outside the JFK Building, at Government Center Plazastarting at 10:30 a.m. Sponsored by: La Colaborativa de Chelsea,Centro Presente

2008-08-11T10:19:00.001-04:00

Hometown Associations: An Untapped Resource for Immigrant Integration? WASHINGTON – With global migration rates at historic highs, the informal associations that immigrants create for social, economic development and political empowerment purposes are becoming more numerous and better networked. Though much of the

2008-08-11T10:11:00.004-04:00

As Valley border fence work begins, questions resurface "You may find that there could be an individual on the job site that is not legal even though you went through various processes to check," Vaughan said. Vaughan also said that E-Verify, the government's electronic system for checking Social Security numbers, can't be trusted to weed out illegal workers." Austin American-Statesman, Aug. 11,

2008-08-08T11:27:00.003-04:00

Nebraska: Grassroots Leaders in Training (posted 8/8/08 on FIRMOn August 2nd and 3rd, a group of 15 Nebraska grassroots leaders participated in their first-ever Democracy School program. Democracy Schools, which are a project of FIRM, aim to develop basic leadership skills among new grassroots immigrant leaders across the nation....(more)

2008-08-08T08:55:00.012-04:00

Border Patrol Recruits in MassachusettsThe Boston Globe reports on the latest Border Patrol recruiting drive here in Massachusetts. While everyone else gets laid off there's no shortage of jobs that further militarize the U.S. (posted 8/3/08 by kyledeb on Citizen Orange)

2008-08-06T17:00:00.000-04:00

No volunteers yet in San Diego for self-deportationThere were no takers in San Diego Tuesday for a trial self-deportation program initiated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement." San Diego Union-Tribune, Aug. 5, 2008.

2008-08-05T11:30:00.001-04:00

Both of My Grandfathers Were Illegal Immigrants (and Lou Dobbs' Would Be Today)by Steven Wishnia, AlterNet My grandfathers, like many other illegal immigrants, helped usher in the world's greatest period of working class prosperity.

2008-08-05T10:53:00.007-04:00

Unauthorized Immigrants Getting Railroad Justice in Flashy ICE Raidsby Kathleen Walker, New American Media, AlterNetFederal immigration officials swept into Postville, Iowa on May 12 and detained nearly 400 workers at a meat processing plant. This new high-speed judicial railroad required extensive planning and coordination between the U.S. Attorneys' office in Iowa, the Department of Homeland

2008-08-03T19:02:00.003-04:00

No Human Being Is IllegalPeter Rachleff, July 26, 2008. Peter Rachleff is a Professor of History at Macalester College in St. Paul, and a specialist in labor and immigration history.http://www.zmag.org/znet/viewArticle/18264

Menendez to tour immigrant detention facility in Elizabeth

2008-07-29T19:44:00.001-04:00

U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez is planning to tour an immigrant detention facility in Elizabeth today as part of his push to improve detainee health care. Menendez (D-NJ) is proposing a bill that would mandate better health care for those held in immigration custody. The measure is in response to nationwide reports of immigrants receiving substandard health services or dying in custody.link to article

Immigration News Digest, July 17 2008

2008-07-17T23:31:00.005-04:00

In this Digest...Local NewsPostville UpdatesImmigration EnforcementImmigrant DetentionThe Immigrant Vote, The Latino VoteArizona's Sheriff Arpaio (who, by the way, is from Springfield, MA)Other News Legislative UpdatesLocal NewsDozens Arrested in Raids at Courthouses (Providence Journal) Federal immigration agents and state police raided six Rhode Island courthouses yesterday, arresting dozens of

Imagine 2050: Smell Something Burning? It’s Probably Arizona

2008-07-10T22:41:00.000-04:00

Great posting about what is happening in Arizona.With over 181 bodies recovered in the deserts in 2007, fifty five pieces of anti-immigrant legislation to be submitted in 2008, and a local Sheriff who resembles Bull Connor (a southern police officer and KKK member in the 1960's) more than Wyatt Earp, Arizona is becoming to immigrants rights, what Mississippi was to the 1960s civil rights

Detained Documentary in Amherst

2008-07-08T20:28:00.001-04:00

Food for Thought Books andWestern MA Coalition for Immigrant & Worker Rights present: DETAINED: THE NEW BEDFORD IMMIGRATION RAID A film by Jenny Alexander On March 6, 2007, US Immigration officials raided a New Bedford, MA factory that makes vests and backpacks for US soldiers. Many of the 361 undocumented immigrants who were detained in the raid were women with small children. Showing:

Four on the Fourth Road Race

2008-06-30T12:27:00.003-04:00

The Center for New Americans is holding their Third Annual Four on the Fourth Road Race on Friday, July 4 at 8:30 am. The four mile course tours downtown Northampton. Early registrants will receive a t-shirt.All proceeds will benefit CNA's free educational programs for immigrants and refugees in the Pioneer Valley.For more information call Northampton Running Company at 413.517.0059 or log on to

News Digest - June 19, 2008

2008-06-19T20:03:00.000-04:00

TopicsLocal NewsCriminalization of Undocumented ImmigrantsCrimes Against ImmigrantsEnforcementDetentionImmigration MazeElectionsState Immigration Enforcement Federal Legislation - UpdateGeneral Local NewsOrtiz, pride of Sox Nation, joins US as a citizen (Boston Globe) Ortiz joined 226 immigrants from 57 countries as they raised their right hands and took the Oath of Citizenship at the John

Films for Thought Series

2008-06-19T10:27:00.005-04:00

We have been fortunate to connect with Food for Thought Books, a worker-owned collective in Amherst, which has been holding a monthly Films for Thought series open to the public. Last Wednesday, June 11th, we teamed up with Food for Thought's Javiera Benavente and Casa Latina's Edgar Cancel to screen Morristown: In the Air and Sun and hold a conversation about the issues of immigration, labor,

News Digest - June 9, 2008

2008-06-09T21:40:00.002-04:00

TopicsLocal News Iowa Raid UpdatesHuman Trafficking and Slavery in U.S.EnforcementDetentionCitizenship BacklogElectionsState Immigration Enforcement Federal Legislation - UpdateGeneralEditorialsLocal News Visas denied, dreams in limbo (Boston Globe) In recent years, an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 foreign workers have traveled to the Cape and islands each year on seasonal H2B visas, including

The Hours - video

2008-06-07T18:34:00.002-04:00

There are more than 35,000 same sex binational couples in the United States, but their unions are not recognized by the government for immigration purposes. The Uniting American Families Act seeks equal immigration rights for same sex couples.This video, from the Immigration Equality Blog, documents Joanna and Brittany's story. For them to remain together, Brittany will have to leave her friends,

Films for Thought - Morristown: In the Air and Sun

2008-06-06T20:22:00.004-04:00

Films for Thought Series present Morristown: In the Air and Sun directed by Anne Lewis followed by a post-screening discussion on immigration Wednesday, June 11th at 7pm Food For Thought Books (106 N. Pleasant St., Amherst) This event will be a fundraiser to support those affected by the recent immigration raid in Postville, Iowa.Morristown offers a working class look at globalization from

Our Immigration Past, Present and Future

2008-06-04T14:28:00.005-04:00

There are certain ideals we proudly carry in our collective cultural legacy.All men are created equal...I have a dream...Give us your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free...Sadly, in many anti-immigrant arguments I've encountered, this last one has been modified to exclude those without immigration papers. In fact, if this argument had been accepted less than a hundred

News Digest - May 27th, 2008

2008-05-27T23:06:00.001-04:00

TopicsLocal News & OpinionIowa Raid UpdatesCorruption & AbuseEnforcementDetentionAlliesEconomyOpinionLocal News & OpinionYoung Immigrant Reaching for American Dream in Ware (MassLive - The Republican)WARE - In the 17-year-old eyes of one Polish immigrant, Ware is a good place to start reaching for the American dream. Greg W. Zalinski, who arrived here as a 9-year-old from his hometown near Krakow

News Digest - May 22nd, 2008

2008-05-22T16:22:00.004-04:00

TopicsLocal NewsIowa Raid Coverage RoundupEnforcementDetentionEconomyUndocumented Immigrant YouthImmigration LawGeneralLocal News Tuition Aid for Illegal Immigrants Falters (Boston Globe)Governor Deval Patrick has decided against taking action to allow illegal immigrants to pay resident tuition and fees at state colleges and universities this fall, an administration official said yesterday,

Washington Post - Careless Detention Part 4

2008-05-19T00:00:00.003-04:00

I know this is a little late, but please take the time to read Some Detainees Are Drugged For Deportation - Immigrants Sedated Without Medical Reason, the fourth and last of the Washington Post series titled Careless Detention.Involuntary chemical restraint of detainees, unless there is a medical justification, is a violation of some international human rights codes. The practice is banned by

Photos of May Day Rallies in Amherst and Northampton

2008-05-18T14:09:00.003-04:00

After some technical difficulties (the official camera of the day broke and erased all photos), we've found another source. Thanks to everyone who was able to attend. The rallies were diverse, interactive and festive. And now we have the pictures to prove it!The Amherst noontime rally featured guest speakers including Rick Brown (Pioneer Valley Central Labor Council AFL-CIO; Western Mass. Jobs

390 Immigrants Detained in Raid In Iowa

2008-05-13T21:10:00.008-04:00

Almost 400 people have been detained in a raid at the country's largest kosher slaughterhouse, in Postville, Iowa. This is more than a third of all workers in the plant, and almost 1 in 6 residents of the town. No matter what anyone says, this raid will destroy the Hispanic population and cripple the town.The following are photos and excerpts from the Des Moines Register coverage of the

Washington Post - Careless Detention Part 3

2008-05-13T14:35:00.004-04:00

Suicides Point To Gaps In Treatment, the third of four in a series from the Washington Post, details the psychiatric care in immigrant detention centers.Mudey, 30, was a member of an outcast Muslim clan and, according to her political asylum application, had been tormented by dominant groups throughout her life. When she was 10, she said, an old woman cut off her genitals with a razor blade. As a

Washington Post - Careless Detention Part 2

2008-05-13T14:22:00.003-04:00

In Custody, In Pain is the second in the Washington Post series on medical care in immigrant detention centers.Underneath her baggy jail-issue pants, Yong Sun Harvill feels the soft lump just below her left knee. Sometimes it tingles. Sometimes it is numb. Like her cancer felt when it arrived behind the knee a few years ago. She noticed the lump under the thin, blue cotton in August, five months

Washington Post - Careless Detention Part 1

2008-05-13T14:12:00.006-04:00

The Washington Post has a series on medical care in immigrant detention centers. The first in the series, titled System of Neglect, is an overview of effect immigration enforcement and policies have had on detention centers.

2 Day Immigration Law Training

2008-05-08T09:55:00.000-04:00

Date: 29-30 May 2008Time: 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.Location: Legal Assistance Corporation of Central Massachusetts 405 Main Street, 4th Floor Worcester, MA This intensive two-day training will provide an overview and update on Detention/Deportation, 287(g), VAWA, and Employment Based Immigration.

Pioneer Valley Project

2008-05-06T17:15:00.004-04:00

The Pioneer Valley Project is collecting children's clothing, toys, cribs, car seats, all other equipment for kids, and disposable diapers for immigrant families. This summer we're supporting immigrant families who pay for child care out of their own pockets because it's very difficult for many of them to qualify for subsidized child care. Families pay $50-$75 a week for each child

News Digest, May 5th, 2008

2008-05-05T23:56:00.003-04:00

May 1st Rallies Immigration rights rally takes place on Amherst town common (WWLP.com) The pressures on undocumented workers are growing. Around the country there are a growing number of raids on farms and factories. There was a major immigration raid at one Bay State company last year---a New Bedford leather goods plant. Some 361 workers at Michael Bianco inc. were detained.May Day march smaller

May Day Updates

2008-05-01T15:25:00.002-04:00

The Amherst Immigrant Rights Rally was a great success! A highlight of the event was great participation from local high school and area college students. There were wonderful performances from Art Steele, Julissa, Jose Ayerve and Los Callejeros. There was a great variety and quality of speakers, including Richard Brown (President of Pioneer Valley Central Labor Council AFL-CIO and Western MA

MAY DAY RALLY

2008-04-28T22:50:00.000-04:00

May Day Almost Here!

2008-04-28T22:42:00.001-04:00

Immigrant Rights Are Human Rights! Injustice To One Is Injustice To AllMay Day RallyAmherst Common12 – 2 pm(in case of rain, Amherst rally will be held at Grace Church Parish Hall)Northampton City Hall Steps5 pmWe believe in the human right of family14 million people in mixed status families 3 million citizen children with one or both parents undocumented Stop tearing families apart!We

News Digest, April 26, 2008

2008-04-27T23:39:00.006-04:00

Economy & LaborImmigration law should reflect our dynamic labor market (Opinion, Dallas Morning News)"When large numbers of otherwise decent people routinely violate a law, the law itself is probably the problem. To argue that illegal immigration is bad merely because it is illegal avoids the threshold question of whether we should prohibit this kind of immigration in the first place."Study:

Def Poetry - Paul Flores - Brown Dreams

2008-04-22T22:49:00.003-04:00

As the Iraq war drags on and the soldier death toll rises, the United States military increasingly focuses on immigrant recruitment to fill their needs. With the coveted prize of expedited citizenship, educational financial aid and the opportunity to demonstrate their loyalty, many young men and women join, and die, before their beloved home recognizes them as one of their own.According to the

News Digest

2008-04-20T18:40:00.004-04:00

The Immigration MazeLegal Immigrants, Until They Sought Citizenship "The Servanos are among a growing group of legal immigrants who reach for the prize and permanence of citizenship, only to run afoul of highly technical immigration statutes that carry the severe penalty of expulsion from the country." New York TimesU.S. Residency Denial For Honor Student Outrages Transylvania University"As a 12

P.O.V. - Made in L.A. . Trailer | PBS

2008-04-20T02:33:00.004-04:00

Smith College and Sweat Free Communities screened the documentary "Made in L.A." last night. The packed 120 seat auditorium, filled with 5 College students and community members, was moved to laughter and tears by the inspiring story of 3 seamstresses organizing workers in Los Angeles sweatshops providing clothing for the clothing store of Forever 21.I highly, highly recommend this documentary.

Oppose the SAVE Act (H.R. 4088)

2008-04-19T22:56:00.005-04:00

The Social Security Administration admits that there is a high error rate in its database, with and estimated 17.8 million errors related to name, date of birth, or citizenship status. Of these, 12.7 million of its records contain errors related to U.S. citizens, which will result in 2.5 million citizens a year at risk of losing their jobs because their will be miscategorized as

Leaflet Big Y With Jobs With Justice

2008-04-18T07:18:00.001-04:00

Saturday April 19 LEAFLET BIG Ys FOR JUSTICE @ SMITHFIELD Chicopee store (650 Memorial Drive, near MassPike exit ): 1-2pm; contact Jon, (413) 827-0301, wmjwj@wmjwj.org, for more details for the Chicopee Team, or to do another store. Amherst store (175 University Drive): Noon-1pm; Northampton store (136 North King Street - Rt. 5) &/or downtown intersection (Main & Pleasant & King)

No-Match Letters Hurt All Workers

2008-04-11T11:33:00.005-04:00

The Bush administration is still pushing for No-Match Letters, a proposed program where Social Security Administration would send employers letters listing Social Security Number (SSN) mismatches. The program would require workers to rectify these mistakes and employers to fire workers who are unable to do so within a specified time period.The American Civil Liberties Union, along with the

Breaking the Chains Program at WBAI

2008-04-03T16:56:00.003-04:00

For those who missed it, WBAI (a New York based Peace and Justice Community Radio Station) had an hour-long report on April 1st, 2008, focusing on the war on immigrants. Titled Global Movements, Urban Struggles, the program includes conversations with...David Fraccaro, Coordinator of the *Sojourners* Program, a prison visiting program based at Riverside Church, serving primarily immigration

May Day Rally

2008-04-01T15:09:00.013-04:00

Immigrant Rights Are Human Rights! Injustice To One Is Injustice To AllMay Day RallyAmherst Common12 – 2 pmNorthampton City Hall Steps5 pmWe believe in the human right of family14 million people in mixed status families 3 million citizen children with one or both parents undocumented Stop tearing families apart!We believe in the human right to work Wages should ensure living with dignity

Welcoming Massachusetts

2008-04-01T14:10:00.003-04:00

The Welcoming Massachusetts campaign urges individuals, organizations and elected officials to take a moral stand on immigrants and immigration policy. The goal is to collect 10,000 pledges by July 1st, which will then be presented to legislators at the MA State House. The following is the actual pledge.I commit to publicly reject the politics of division and isolation that fan anger and hate

Immigrants Day in Berkshires

2008-03-03T19:19:00.003-05:00

The 5th annual Immigrants' Day in the Berkshires was a great success! The four hour event included great dancing and poetry by Williams College students, music by the Cantilena Chamber Choir, performances by Multicultural Dancers and an amazing band, Los Ciegos del Barrio. Guests had a great time dancing along, especially the little ones. Senator Benjamin Downing attended the celebration.

ICE Is Detaining and Deporting Citizens

2008-02-25T19:21:00.002-05:00

Testimony of Kara Hartzler, Florence Immigrant & Refugee Rights Project, AZ House Judiciary Committee’s Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, Refugees, Border Security and International Law at a “Hearing on Problems with ICE Interrogation, Detention, and Removal Procedures.”February, 2008 Good afternoon. My name is Kara Hartzler, and I am an attorney at the Florence Immigrant and

2008-02-14T10:36:00.004-05:00

Thank You...for giving to the fund to feed immigrant farmworkers and their children over the winter. In November we gave food to 80 immigrants, in December to 40 people and in January to over 100 people. Your donation has allowed us to purchase food at the Food Bank of Western Mass. But, we still need your help. Most families won't have steady work until late March or April and are

Immigrants Come Here Because Globalization Took Their Jobs Back There

2008-02-10T15:16:00.000-05:00

Excellent article by Jim Hightower on AlterNet.The wailing in our country about the "invasion of immigrants" has been long and loud. As one complainant put it, "Few of their children in the country learn English ...The signs in our streets have inscriptions in both languages ... Unless the stream of the importation could be turned they will soon so outnumber us that all the advantages we have

May 1st 2007

2008-02-03T15:30:00.000-05:00

May 1st is only a few months away! Here are some photos from last year's rally in Amherst and march to Northampton.High school students.Speak OutMarch from Amherst to Northampton.

Immigration in Spain and the Pioneer Valley

2008-01-28T07:27:00.000-05:00

The Republican newspaper has a great article in today's paper in which Jim Ayres (of Center for New Americans) is interviewed. Among other topics, "Immigration bill a lost opportunity" details some of the ways stalled Comprehensive Immigration Reform (CIR) has affected communities in Northampton/Amherst, Holyoke and Springfield.If you are interested in volunteering a couple of hours a week as an

Good Neighbor Fund

2008-01-27T15:04:00.000-05:00

The Sprinfield-based Alliance to Develop Power is holding their Good Neighbor Fund Kick-Off in Amherst on Tuesday, January 29th. For more information, click here.

What is Detention?

2008-01-27T14:02:00.000-05:00

News articles rarely follow-up on what happens to immigrants once they are in detention. Unfortunately, this lack of information encourages the neglect, mistreatment and abuse of immigrants in detention facilities. The Detention Watch Network monitors these stories and fights for reform of the United States detention and deportation system. From their website:Immigrants in detention include

Local Lectures

2008-01-27T13:13:00.001-05:00

Five College Women's Studies Research CenterSpring 2008 EventsFCWSRC events are free and open to the public. No preregistration is required. Regular talks are held on Mondays and Thursdays from 4:00-5:30pm. Unless otherwise noted, all events take place at the Center at 83 College Street on the Mount Holyoke campus.For more information, see www.fivecolleges.edu/sites/fcwsrc or tele 413-538-2275.

The Immigrant Vote

2008-01-23T17:55:00.000-05:00

Nuevo Mundo: Getting Visible We all should value our voting privileges like this Mexican immigrant family. By Natalia Muñoz (The Valley Advocate) I know an 18-year-old who is the daughter of an undocumented Mexican. She is the GOP’s nightmare.But for her mother, with whom I spoke about the upcoming Feb. 5 primaries, she embodies a dream that steadied her through nine straight

Weakening VAWA

2008-01-09T17:57:00.000-05:00

The Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) was passed by the United States Congress to protect immigrant women in abusive relationships. These women are even more vulnerable since their status is held hostage by their partner. For example, imagine an immigrant woman married to a U.S. citizen, and having a child with her husband. In some cases the abusive husband will refuse to petition for his wife's

Movie: American Harvest

2008-01-09T17:46:00.000-05:00

The documentary, American Harvest, has been winning awards and praise everytime it is shown.The closest current showing will be at the Chatham Farm Film Fest at the Crandell Theater in Chatham, NY at 1:00 pm on Sunday, January 13th. Representatives of WMCIWR will be attending. Please email wmciwr@gmail.com if you would like to join us.

America's Biggest Divide

2008-01-09T17:23:00.000-05:00

With the 2008 presidential elections in full swing, candidates are busy trying to outdo each other in their anti-immigrant rhetoric. Robert Reich's article, "America's Biggest Divide," gives an eloquent and strong rebuttal.Well, I have some news for these demagogues. If they think this country or this economy can succeed in coming decades without tens of millions of additional immigrants, they’re

International Migrant's Day

2007-12-17T14:01:00.000-05:00

December 18th is International Migrants Day. According to the United Nations, in 2005 there were 191 million persons, or 3% of the world's population, residing outside of their country of origin. Some interesting facts -Migrants account for 1 in 10 people in developed nations, compared to 1 in 70 in developing regions.Where do most migrants live? Europe is first (64 million), Asia is second (53

The United States Constitution

2007-12-11T15:38:00.000-05:00

Much of the discourse on immigration enforcement has centered around the premise that immigrants, specifically the undocumented, don't have the rights that citizens do. It is true that many rights, such as the right to vote, are reserved specifically for citizens of this country. What many don't realize is that the Constitution of the United States (which you might recognize as the Supreme Law of

Comment on Comments

2007-12-11T15:30:00.000-05:00

Some of you noticed that we turned off comments on this blog for a while. This was due to the hateful personal attacks that were posted by anonymous commenters. The Coalition has decided to moderate comments and apply a policy of blocking comments that include profanity, personals attacks, and inappropriate material not contributing to dialogue and an exchange of ideas. We are also not allowing

Farmworker Food Fund

2007-12-03T21:05:00.000-05:00

These are children of immigrant farmworkers at a recent community meeting in Springfield . Their parents work in the fields to put food on our tables during the summer, and their families go hungry in the winter for lack of work.The Pioneer Valley Project and Blessed Sacrament Church are again collecting donations to purchase food at the Food Bank of Western Mass. to give out to farmworkers and

Waking Up to Life Without Immigrants

2007-11-28T12:06:00.000-05:00

Last month Oklahoma passed legislation barring services for undocumented immigrants funded at tax-payer expense. The statute, which also requires employers to verify immigration status and work eligibility, penalizes businesses for knowingly employing workers without papers. The legislation worked; many immigrants (both documented and not) have left the state, and those that have chosen to remain

The Militarization of the Border

2007-11-15T09:04:00.000-05:00

A video of Sunday's attack by Border Agents on a peaceful week long protest at the Calexico/Mexicali fence section.

Stop Your Racism Video

2007-11-14T09:50:00.001-05:00

Prince William County, Virginia

San Francisco Joins New Haven's Lead

2007-11-14T08:52:00.001-05:00

San Francisco's Board of Supervisors approved a plan for municipal ID's, regardless of immigration status. Like New Haven's municipal ID, which was approved in June, it will encourage marginalized people to collaborate with city police against crime, whether as victims or witnesses. The ID will also make it possible to open bank accounts and therefore make the undocumented less tempting of a

Liberty, Equality and Justice

2007-11-11T11:39:00.000-05:00

The following is taken directly from the Minuteman Border Fence website. Bolds are mine.We are organizing as citizen volunteers, to safeguard our beloved nation from violence, from sedition, from wholesale attack by those who do not love America and wish to see her destroyed or irremediably altered from a nation of liberty, equality, and justice, and a bastion of western civilization. We are

ICE shows it has a calculator, if not a heart

2007-11-11T11:16:00.000-05:00

I highly recommend this article from TwinCities.com. The heartbreaking story of an undocumented mother's deportation and its effect on her husband and child are all too familiar. The author breaks it down for us in terms of financial, emotional and physical devastation. And I urge you to comment at the end of the article to balance, even if only a little, the hateful speech there.

Workshop: Working with Undocumented Immigrants

2007-11-07T12:25:00.000-05:00

Maria Cuerda, of Western Mass Legal Services, will be presenting a workshop at the 7th Regional Conference on Economic Inequality and Social Change, on Thursday, November 8th. The workshop, What You Need to Know: Working with Undocumented Immigrants, is for anyone who works or comes into contact with undocumented immigrants. We’ll provide you with information about their legal and civil rights,

Criminalization of Immigrants

2007-10-04T16:43:00.000-04:00

More than 1,300 people have been arrested in southern California in the last two weeks. According to ICE, 90% of those had criminal records or had deportation orders. I know that most people reading the above stop at "criminal records" and don't really register "deportation orders." Consequently, they then equate immigrant and criminal.If you read the article carefully, you'll see that 800 were

Our First Event!

2007-09-28T14:31:00.000-04:00

We had our first community awareness event last night, cosponsored by The Western Mass Interfaith Coalition for Peace and Justice. About 50 people came to see the documentary Echando Raíces/Taking Root and learn about immigrant issues. Speakers included myself (local demographics and my experiences teaching ESOL), Ruth Trujillo (personal experiences) and Erec Vaget (Rapid Response Teams).The

Caroline Murray takes on Bill O'Reilly

2007-09-25T13:07:00.000-04:00

Caroline Murray (ADP/Casa Obrera in Springfield, MA) takes on Bill O'Reilly. My hat's off to you Caroline.Video

Excellent Story About Raided Dairy Farm

2007-09-25T12:55:00.000-04:00

A Bust, and a Blow to a BusinessIn immigration raids, unwitting employers can be victims, too

Facts

2007-09-21T14:12:00.000-04:00

I thought it might be useful for readers to have ready access to important reports and studies regarding immigration and immigrants. I'm posting some here and will create a permanent side bar category for them too.Dollars without Sense: Underestimating the Value of Less-Educated WorkersImmigration Policy CenterCommon Myths About Undocumented ImmigrantsNational Council of La RazaHealth Care

AFL-CIO and Unite Here on Lou Dobbs

2007-09-20T18:18:00.001-04:00

Thea Lea of the AFL-CIO and Bruce Raynor of Unite Here give great explanations of how the exploitation of the undocumented affects all workers, regardless of citizenship and status. And they managed to do it on Lou Dobbs' show too.

Republicans Are Shooting Themselves in The Foot

2007-09-19T15:29:00.000-04:00

The Nativists are notorious for ignoring any interpretation of numbers that might conflict with their views of immigrants as welfare leeching, anchor baby dropping, job stealing murderous pedophiles. But what really boggles my immigrant brain is that the Republican Party is so happy to go along with this that it is willing to ignore the fact that Latinos constitute one of the fastest growing

STOP THE RAIDS!

2007-09-18T19:12:00.000-04:00

How can the Immigrant Community Protect itself?A Public forumSaturday, September 22nd 6:00 pmBasement of Saint Augustine's church10 Campfield AvenueHartford, CTSpeakers Maximo Morales - Victim of a warrantless immigration arrest in Hartford Father Thomas Mitchell - Pastor, St. Augustine's Church. How can we prepare for the next ICE raid in Hartford before it happens? Jason McGahan -

Migrant Deaths

2007-09-16T11:25:00.000-04:00

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) prides itself in announcing that fewer migrants are being detained at the U.S. - Mexico border. The increased patrol of more traditional crossing routes (such as San Diego and El Paso) has indeed decreased traffic in these areas. What ICE doesn't want to admit is the growing number of migrant deaths caused by the rerouting through dangerous desert areas

Easy Targets

2007-09-12T12:28:00.000-04:00

I suppose I should count myself lucky in that I am still so amazed every time I read about someone preying on the most vulnerable and disenfranchised in our society. The current immigration raids, local and state police enforcement of immigration law and subsequent racial profiling, all add to the growing anxiety and terror (yes, terror) in our communities. Unfortunately, there are those who seek