The Weekly Diaspora: We Can Prosper Together

by: The Media Consortium

Thu Oct 22, 2009 at 12:36:02 PM EST

By Nezua, Media Consortium Blogger

For the most part, it's been a good week for immigration reform. The Senate approved a measure that will end the "Widow Penalty," which rescinded applications for U.S. residency if one's spouse of two years or less years dies, and on Tuesday, as RaceWire reports, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors passed legislation that restores the right of due process to immigrant youth.

Weekly Diaspora: A Return to Reason

by: The Media Consortium

Thu Oct 08, 2009 at 11:16:38 AM EST

By Nezua, Media Consortium Blogger

After the shadowy Bush years, the emergence of reasonable policy can be a little surprising. Immigration law has suffered from a lack of planning and is often influenced by fear rooted in the Sept. 11 attacks. But the national dialogue on immigration has begun to grow healthier. Activists, immigration advocacy groups and Latino and Asian American communities dug in and are working toward reform. Right wing and anti-immigration voices have less sway. This week we see two tangible and positive developments on this front: An announcement from the White House regarding detention policy reform and a letter against aggressive enforcement sent to the White House from the Congressional Hispanic Caucus.

Continuing (and Expanding) 287g: Why we can't afford more of the same

by: rachelfirm

Tue Jul 14, 2009 at 07:03:18 AM EST

Last week, it was announced that the Department of Homeland Security was signing 11 new local law enforcement agencies onto the program known as 287(g). The program grants local law enforcement agents the authority to enforce federal immigration laws. The destructive program cultivates a culture of fear among immigrants and communities of color, pours resources into the rounding up of immigrants instead of the protection of public safety and has been condemned by everyone from independent think-thanks to the Police Foundation.  

So why is DHS continuing this failed program? While the announcement was made alongside the pledge of a long overdue "review" of the program, it is a mistake to expand any failed enforcement program in the absence of satisfactory comprehensive immigration legislation.

Let me be clear, this is the program that gives Sheriff Joe "I don't have to answer to the DOJ" Arpaio the authority to round up Latinos like cattle and ignore his commitment to the actual protection of the public. This is the program under which Juana Villegas de la Paz was shackled to her hospital bed while giving birth to her child. This is the program that was found to "create a climate of racial profiling and insecurity" by a leading national university.  

I am disappointed that the announcement of a review of this program was accompanied by an ill-advised expansion. This, more than anything, points to the need for a FULL OVERHAUL of immigration policy. We cannot continue failed programs in the absence of comprehensive reform.

As an editorial in the NY Times today stated:

Enforcement-only schemes were the rage back when anti-immigrant demagogues were in full roar and Bush officials wanted to show how tough they were. They bring us no closer to an immigration system that works. Mr. Obama promised fresh ideas on immigration reform. So far we don’t see them.

Unified Labor Movement Supporting "Rights-Based" Immigration Reform

by: nezua

Tue Apr 14, 2009 at 15:40:14 PM EST

LOOKS LIKE THERE'S SOME ORGANIZING going on behind the scenes. This is pretty big. And overall, it's very exciting news.

The nation's two major labor federations have agreed for the first time to join forces to support an overhaul of the immigration system, leaders of both organizations said on Monday. The accord could give President Obama significant support among unions as he revisits the stormy issue in the midst of the recession. ...

The accord endorses legalizing the status of illegal immigrants already in the United States and opposes any large new program for employers to bring in temporary immigrant workers, officials of both federations said.

-Immigration Accord by Labor Boosts Obama Effort

I've already offered my feelings on that angle (illustrated below).  But follow me behind the cut for a liveblog of most of the call.

Weekly Immigration Wire: Congress Signals Change for Immigration Policies

by: The Media Consortium

Thu Mar 12, 2009 at 12:07:10 PM EST

By Nezua
TMC MediaWire Blogger

Since the Obama administration came into power, the absence of movement on immigration issues has made activists on both sides of the debate anxious. Most reasoned that there was so much on the new President’s agenda, critical issues would have to wait for their turn.

Zach de la Rocha Calls on Fans to Turn the Tide Against Hate, March in Arizona

by: rachelfirm

Tue Feb 24, 2009 at 12:30:14 PM EST

Who: National Day Laborer Organizing Network, Puente Arizona, and Zach de la Rocha  

What: March to Stop the Systematic Persecution of Migrants and Latinos in AZ.  

Where: March Start Location for Feb 28th: 300 E Indian School Rd, Phoenix, AZ 85012  

When: March to Stop the Hate in Phoenix to be held 9:00 am on February 28.  

In the last month Sheriff Joe Arpaio intensified his on-going escalation of attacks against Latinos by segregating the county jail and parading undocumented migrants shackled in a chain-gang into "tent city." He erected and surrounded the tent with an electric fence in a grotesque display of human degradation.  

Zach de la Rocha of Rage Against the Machine responded to the news by saying, "To witness what is happening in Arizona and remain neutral is to be implicated in human rights violations that are occurring right here on US soil against migrants. History will not be kind to Joe Arpaio.   He will be remembered with other infamous sheriffs like Bull Connor who subjugated and terrorized communities for shortsighted political gain.  I hope everyone will join me in protesting Sheriff Joe."  

To take action NOW sign the petition asking for the Department of Justice to investigate Sheriff Joe Arpaio.

www.sheriffjoemustgo.com

Conservative Pundit Kondracke Predicts Comprehensive Immigration Reform May Pass in 2009!

by: dee321

Mon Jan 12, 2009 at 22:00:11 PM EST

Kondracke said the ANTI Immigration Reformers will continue to push their so called "ANTI Amnesty" (Mass Deportation) platform, but to no avail.

Operation Endgame: Pro-Migrant SanctuarySphere

by: symsess

Mon Jul 28, 2008 at 07:33:49 AM EST

'A line was crossed at Postville' at Orcinus on Erik Camayd-Freixas' article.

A Clue to the Future of ICE Raids at Dream Act Texas. ACLU on Operation Endgame which is the plan to remove all undocumented immigrants by 2012. More information in Wikipedia on Operation Endgame and A Search for Operation Endgame.

Hell Between Four Walls: Part I, Caught Inside an ICE Detention Center, Part II and Part III.

Race, Politics & the Deadly Rise of (Corporate) Media Sovereignty at Of América.

Nowhere was the threat more palpable than around that most critical of media issues of our time, Net Neutrality, the struggle to keep the internet open and free from the clutches of the exploiters of journalists, the purveyors of candy-coated UnTruth and enablers of government secrecy: Big Media.

Don't Ask Us To Believe, Bring Us Hope: Pro-Migrant SanctuarySphere

by: symsess

Thu Jul 24, 2008 at 08:25:37 AM EST

.....fill out the questionnaire.

Two of the members from the SanctuarySphere, Kety and Liza, spoke last night at Obama's Platform For Change in New York.  Liza reminded us that health care, food, education, housing, safety and work are all human rights.  She also asked that the term "illegal immigrant" and "illegal alien" be dropped from the discussion on immigration as it has become a tool of extremists in this country.  She asked instead that everyone use the term "undocumented worker."  Hearing the audience clap after this statement was quite promising.  Kety brought up The Sanctuary and the questionnaire asking that we take a holistic approach immigration problem.  To finish she stated quite eloquently:

I'm here because that our nation can be something amazing, something beautiful and great, but I think that we the people here - and I think the Democratic Party has a long way to go to actualize it.  I think you have the chance now with Obama - so, let's make it happen.

Sadly there were more ICE raids this week.  This time it was Ohio - Immigration raids Ohio restaurants, arrests 58.