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 Jobs with Justice Executive Committee member), CopWatch, Arinna Weisman (founding teacher of Insight Meditation Center of the Pioneer Valley), Maya Winfrey (American Friends Service). We will post photos later today.
Channel 22 News, Channel 40, The Daily Hampshire Gazette and The Collegian were present. Channel 22 News will air their coverage of the rally between 5:30 and 6:00 pm tonight.
We would like to thank everyone who contributed to the success of the Amherst Rally, and want to remind all that we will have a Northampton rally at 5 pm in front of City Hall. This second rally will be more informal with LOTS of opportunities for individuals to take the microphone and tell their stories or read their poetry.
Thursday, May 1, 2008
May Day Updates
Monday, April 28, 2008
May Day Almost Here!
Immigrant Rights Are Human Rights!
Injustice To One Is Injustice To All
May Day Rally
Amherst Common
12 – 2 pm
(in case of rain, Amherst rally will be held at Grace Church Parish Hall)
Northampton City Hall Steps
5 pm
We believe in the human right of family
- 14 million people in mixed status families
- 3 million citizen children with one or both parents undocumented
- Stop tearing families apart!
- Wages should ensure living with dignity
- Everyone has the right to form and join a union
- Immigrants’ Rights are Workers’ Rights!
- Protection from arbitrary interference with privacy, family, home
- Protection from attacks upon honor and reputation
- Immigrants are human beings!
- Protection from torture and cruel or degrading treatment or punishment
- Protection from arbitrary arrest and detention
- Guarantee legal representation and due process
- Equal protection before the law!
wmciwr@gmail.com
Co-Sponsors:
Artists for Justice, SAGE, Western Mass. Jobs With Justice, Western Mass. AFSC, Greensboro Justice Fund, Western Mass. Interfaith Coalition for Peace and Justice, Western Mass. CopWatch
Sunday, April 27, 2008
News Digest, April 26, 2008
Economy & Labor
Immigration 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: Illegal worker crackdown could cost employers $1B (Business Week)
"The government's plan to crack down on illegal workers could cost employers more than $1 billion a year and legal workers billions in lost wages, a study commissioned by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce says."
Don't Turn Social Security into an Immigration Agency (New American Media)
"On March 26, 2008, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued a proposed rule that attempts to turn a Social Security Administration (SSA) benefits program into an immigration enforcement tool. If implemented, the rule will result in tens of thousands of lawful immigrant workers and U.S. citizens losing their jobs and the loss of at least $1 billion dollars to businesses each year."
Tomato Growers Cut Crop amid Immigration Worries (National Public Radio)
"Tomato growers in New Jersey say tougher immigration enforcement may change this year's crop. It's getting harder to hire the migrant laborers — many of them from Mexico — who traditionally pick tomatoes during the few weeks when they're ripe."
"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: Illegal worker crackdown could cost employers $1B (Business Week)
"The government's plan to crack down on illegal workers could cost employers more than $1 billion a year and legal workers billions in lost wages, a study commissioned by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce says."
Don't Turn Social Security into an Immigration Agency (New American Media)
"On March 26, 2008, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued a proposed rule that attempts to turn a Social Security Administration (SSA) benefits program into an immigration enforcement tool. If implemented, the rule will result in tens of thousands of lawful immigrant workers and U.S. citizens losing their jobs and the loss of at least $1 billion dollars to businesses each year."
Tomato Growers Cut Crop amid Immigration Worries (National Public Radio)
"Tomato growers in New Jersey say tougher immigration enforcement may change this year's crop. It's getting harder to hire the migrant laborers — many of them from Mexico — who traditionally pick tomatoes during the few weeks when they're ripe."
Immigration Enforcement
U.S. Plans to Deport All Undocumented by 2012 (Mshale, African Community Newspaper)
"The raids on worksites, along with the growing number of "fugitive operations teams" that pursue individuals with removal orders and a program that increases local police cooperation in immigration enforcement, are "creating an incredible climate of fear," says Andrea Black, network coordinator of Detention Watch Network, a national coalition of individuals and nearly 100 groups advocating humane reform of the U.S. immigration detention and deportation system."
Bad guys a priority over migrant sweeps (Arizona Republic)
"I ask you, as a citizen who pays our salaries and expect police leaders to make critical decisions on your safety, would you want your police departments chasing down illegal aliens or would you rather they spend their time cuffing fugitives, gangsters, burglars, thieves, armed robbers and child molesters?"
Hiring Law Snares Zero Employers (Arizona Republic)
"However, outside of Maricopa County there have been minimal complaints, with nine of the 15 county attorneys telling The Arizona Republic they have not received a single one. Meanwhile, not one civil suit has been filed against an employer...Critics of the law say Arpaio's employer-sanctions enforcement measures that target employees are another example of him using one law to enforce another, not unlike his department's practice of using minor traffic violations to arrest illegal immigrants and get them deported."
In Mississippi, Work Is Now a Felony for Undocumented Immigrants (Truthout.org)
"...it will become a felony for an undocumented worker to hold a job. Anyone caught "shall be subject to imprisonment in the custody of the Department of Corrections for not less than one (1) year nor more than five (5) years, a fine of not less than one thousand dollars ($1000) nor more than ten thousand dollars ($10,000) or both." Anyone charged with the crime of working without papers will not be eligible for bail."
L.A. civil rights attorney files claims over federal immigration raid (Los Angeles Times)
"A longtime Los Angeles civil rights attorney is trying a new strategy to push federal immigration authorities to change the way they conduct workplace raids. Peter Schey filed 114 federal claims for damages late Thursday on behalf of U.S. citizens and permanent residents who were temporarily detained during a recent raid at Micro Solutions Enterprises in Van Nuys."
Immigrant Detention"The raids on worksites, along with the growing number of "fugitive operations teams" that pursue individuals with removal orders and a program that increases local police cooperation in immigration enforcement, are "creating an incredible climate of fear," says Andrea Black, network coordinator of Detention Watch Network, a national coalition of individuals and nearly 100 groups advocating humane reform of the U.S. immigration detention and deportation system."
Bad guys a priority over migrant sweeps (Arizona Republic)
"I ask you, as a citizen who pays our salaries and expect police leaders to make critical decisions on your safety, would you want your police departments chasing down illegal aliens or would you rather they spend their time cuffing fugitives, gangsters, burglars, thieves, armed robbers and child molesters?"
Hiring Law Snares Zero Employers (Arizona Republic)
"However, outside of Maricopa County there have been minimal complaints, with nine of the 15 county attorneys telling The Arizona Republic they have not received a single one. Meanwhile, not one civil suit has been filed against an employer...Critics of the law say Arpaio's employer-sanctions enforcement measures that target employees are another example of him using one law to enforce another, not unlike his department's practice of using minor traffic violations to arrest illegal immigrants and get them deported."
In Mississippi, Work Is Now a Felony for Undocumented Immigrants (Truthout.org)
"...it will become a felony for an undocumented worker to hold a job. Anyone caught "shall be subject to imprisonment in the custody of the Department of Corrections for not less than one (1) year nor more than five (5) years, a fine of not less than one thousand dollars ($1000) nor more than ten thousand dollars ($10,000) or both." Anyone charged with the crime of working without papers will not be eligible for bail."
L.A. civil rights attorney files claims over federal immigration raid (Los Angeles Times)
"A longtime Los Angeles civil rights attorney is trying a new strategy to push federal immigration authorities to change the way they conduct workplace raids. Peter Schey filed 114 federal claims for damages late Thursday on behalf of U.S. citizens and permanent residents who were temporarily detained during a recent raid at Micro Solutions Enterprises in Van Nuys."
Immigrants Transferred After Riots (Daily Journal)
"Just one day after a riot broke out at a Lancaster detention center, federal officials began moving dozens of immigrants out to undisclosed facilities."
Imprisoned families: on the real tour (Commentary, Houston Chronicle)
"Opening more family detention facilities is a troubling prospect in and of itself, considering that ICE has been specifically instructed by congressional appropriations committees to prioritize alternatives, such as effective, less-expensive electronic monitoring. But one can only hope the mistaken model of converting a former prison into a "homelike" environment won't be duplicated."
Federal Legislation - SAVE Act"Just one day after a riot broke out at a Lancaster detention center, federal officials began moving dozens of immigrants out to undisclosed facilities."
Imprisoned families: on the real tour (Commentary, Houston Chronicle)
"Opening more family detention facilities is a troubling prospect in and of itself, considering that ICE has been specifically instructed by congressional appropriations committees to prioritize alternatives, such as effective, less-expensive electronic monitoring. But one can only hope the mistaken model of converting a former prison into a "homelike" environment won't be duplicated."
Flawed Act Will Not Solve Our Immigration Problems (Forward, The Jewish Daily)
"As Jews and Americans, we must ask ourselves what kind of country we are and what kind of country we want to become. Do we want to be a country that locks up millions of immigrants and children who have committed no crime? Do we want to be the kind of country where immigration agents break down the doors of people's homes in the middle of the night waving guns in their faces? Are we the kind of country that turns a blind eye to the ruthless exploitation of workers at the hands of unscrupulous employers?"
"As Jews and Americans, we must ask ourselves what kind of country we are and what kind of country we want to become. Do we want to be a country that locks up millions of immigrants and children who have committed no crime? Do we want to be the kind of country where immigration agents break down the doors of people's homes in the middle of the night waving guns in their faces? Are we the kind of country that turns a blind eye to the ruthless exploitation of workers at the hands of unscrupulous employers?"
The Immigration Maze - some good news
Steps Set for Kin of 9/11 Victims to Stay in U.S. (New York Times)
"Federal officials on Thursday opened a path to temporary legal status for illegal immigrants whose spouses or parents died on 9/11, a step the families' supporters called a breakthrough in the effort to allow them to remain permanently in the United States."
Salvadorean family who fled violence allowed to stay in U.S. (Houston Chronicle)
"An immigrant woman who sought refuge in the U.S. to escape the gang violence linked to her husband's slaying in El Salvador won't be deported to the Central American country along with her three children as the family had feared, their attorney said Wednesday."
Hispanic and Latino Reaction"Federal officials on Thursday opened a path to temporary legal status for illegal immigrants whose spouses or parents died on 9/11, a step the families' supporters called a breakthrough in the effort to allow them to remain permanently in the United States."
Salvadorean family who fled violence allowed to stay in U.S. (Houston Chronicle)
"An immigrant woman who sought refuge in the U.S. to escape the gang violence linked to her husband's slaying in El Salvador won't be deported to the Central American country along with her three children as the family had feared, their attorney said Wednesday."
Congressional Hispanics knock Democratic leaders (Associated Press)"The Congressional Hispanic Caucus denounced House Democratic leaders Wednesday as "spineless" and little better than Republicans for failing to take on comprehensive immigration reform. Leaders of the all-Democratic caucus, which numbers two dozen, criticized their party leadership at a news conference for instead scheduling hearings on enforcement legislation and specific visa issues."
Immigration Debate Riles Latinos (San Francisco Chronicle)"Take it from Janet Murguia, president of the National Council of La Raza, the nation's largest Hispanic civil rights organization. She recently delivered a passionate and important speech to the National Press Club in Washington. Her topic: the immigration debate and what she labels a wave of hate sweeping the land -- one that isn't limited to illegal immigrants, or even immigrants in general, but which is now splattering onto all Hispanics regardless of where they were born, what language they speak or what flag they wave. "Most Latinos aren't immigrants," she said. "More than 80 percent of Hispanics in this country are U.S. citizens or legal residents. But the truth is, Hispanics understand that this issue is about all of us.""
New England NewsImmigration Debate Riles Latinos (San Francisco Chronicle)"Take it from Janet Murguia, president of the National Council of La Raza, the nation's largest Hispanic civil rights organization. She recently delivered a passionate and important speech to the National Press Club in Washington. Her topic: the immigration debate and what she labels a wave of hate sweeping the land -- one that isn't limited to illegal immigrants, or even immigrants in general, but which is now splattering onto all Hispanics regardless of where they were born, what language they speak or what flag they wave. "Most Latinos aren't immigrants," she said. "More than 80 percent of Hispanics in this country are U.S. citizens or legal residents. But the truth is, Hispanics understand that this issue is about all of us.""
Summer employers brace for shortage of foreign workers (New York Times)
"Breakfast will not be served this summer at Cape Cod's Crown & Anchor. The Provincetown resort and entertainment complex usually hires 10 to 12 people from Jamaica and Eastern Europe each summer as cooks, housekeepers and maintenance workers. But new visa restrictions mean the guest workers it used last year aren't expected back. With fewer workers, the resort's management realized it wouldn't have the manpower to serve three meals a day."
Temporary worker standoff irks businessowners (Kennebec Journal, Morning Sentinel)
"If the law is not renewed, Maine's seasonal businesses could take a financial hit. The population of Wells explodes from 10,000 to 50,000 during the summer and businesses cannot find enough workers."
Immigration debate erupts in R.I. fueled by budget crisis (Boston Globe)"The state's budget deficit for next fiscal year is about 10 percent of expected state spending, and the governor and lawmakers have been making deep cuts in programs like education, social services and aid to local communities to close the gap. So it's not surprising that illegal immigrants are now in the governor's sights, said Darrell West, a political scientist and pollster at Brown University. "Illegal immigrants are a convenient target because they don't vote, they tend to be poor and they don't have a lot of political power," West said."
Bartenders serve up drinks, customs checks (Boston Globe)"All the 33-year-old illegal immigrant wanted was a beer. After nearly a decade in this country, the Irish national knew to steer clear of police and federal agents. But he was stunned this month when a bartender at the Orpheum refused to serve him because his passport lacked a US Customs stamp."
"Breakfast will not be served this summer at Cape Cod's Crown & Anchor. The Provincetown resort and entertainment complex usually hires 10 to 12 people from Jamaica and Eastern Europe each summer as cooks, housekeepers and maintenance workers. But new visa restrictions mean the guest workers it used last year aren't expected back. With fewer workers, the resort's management realized it wouldn't have the manpower to serve three meals a day."
Temporary worker standoff irks businessowners (Kennebec Journal, Morning Sentinel)
"If the law is not renewed, Maine's seasonal businesses could take a financial hit. The population of Wells explodes from 10,000 to 50,000 during the summer and businesses cannot find enough workers."
Immigration debate erupts in R.I. fueled by budget crisis (Boston Globe)"The state's budget deficit for next fiscal year is about 10 percent of expected state spending, and the governor and lawmakers have been making deep cuts in programs like education, social services and aid to local communities to close the gap. So it's not surprising that illegal immigrants are now in the governor's sights, said Darrell West, a political scientist and pollster at Brown University. "Illegal immigrants are a convenient target because they don't vote, they tend to be poor and they don't have a lot of political power," West said."
Bartenders serve up drinks, customs checks (Boston Globe)"All the 33-year-old illegal immigrant wanted was a beer. After nearly a decade in this country, the Irish national knew to steer clear of police and federal agents. But he was stunned this month when a bartender at the Orpheum refused to serve him because his passport lacked a US Customs stamp."
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Def Poetry - Paul Flores - Brown Dreams
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 Tampa Tribune's article, "Immigrant Troops Important to Military," 39,000 non-citizens, currently serve in the military, with Mexican immigrants accounting for the majority.
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