IMMIGRATION NEWS
Most Recent News and Editorials
- Unlike Bachmann, JACL Praises Immigration Act of 1965. Read more here.
- E-Verify By The Numbers: how Congressman Lamar Smith's (R-TX) Legal Workforce Act of 2011,H.R. 2164 will hurt small business and our economy.
- From the National Immigration Law Center: Texas Republican's legislation would strip workers rights, and do nothing to help the economy.
- From LaRaza: One year later, a look at SP 1070 and Copycat Legislation. Click the "DOWNLOAD" button for a .pdf file.
- E-Verify creates a "nightmare" for Alabama businesses.
- Migrant Health Promotion's (MHP)Latest Newsletter has six important news stories you should read.
- WICIR thanks Ann Arbor's police department and police Chief Jones
- Record Wealth Gap in U.S. Blacks, Hispanics suffer huge losses.
- Department of Homeland Security widens persecution dragnet.
ACLU, MIRC Send Letters to All Michigan Jails Warning of Costly, Illegal Immigration Holds: legal mistakes that could cost Michigan taxpayers.
- Atlanta, Georgia sees the largest demonstrations in a quarter century as citizens march to protest an unfair, recently passed law.
- Adopting anti-immigrant laws results in crushing fiscal burden for states. Download and read this .pdf file.
- Changes in Mexico make emigration to the U.S. less desirable, reducing the numbers of Mexican immigrants entering the U.S.
- Georgia's new immigration law, which took effect July 1, is already having a detrimental effect on the state’s agriculture industry. "Georgia Businesses Suffering from State Immigration Law."
- A New York Times editorial laments the rise of punitive state-level immigration laws, such as those in Arizona and Alabama, and calls on the Justice Department to do more to try blocking these laws from taking effect. "It Gets Even Worse."
- Improvements in Mexico’s economy and education system have contributed significantly to a decline in illegal immigration to the United States, the New York Times reports. “Better Lives for Mexicans Cut Allure of Going North.”
House Judiciary Committee Ranking Member John Conyers, Jr. (MI-14)
What:CongressmanConyers, Jr. will hold a forum next Thursday, June 30th, at the Hope Academy in Detroit, Michigan on ICE’s recent enforcement actions at local elementary schools and against legal residents and U.S. citizens. Representatives from the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), Reform Immigration for America (RIFA) and individuals impacted by ICE’s actions will speak about the adverse impact such actions have had on the immigrant community in Detroit.
When:June 30, 2011 at 6:00 p.m.
Where: Hope Academy, 10100 Grand River Avenue, Detroit, Michigan 48204
For more information, please contact Liliana Coronado, Counsel, House Judiciary Committee at 202-225-6906.
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New York Stops Checking Immigrants
Citing "mounting evidence" that the so-called "secure communities" program not only did not reduce crime, but that it actually made things worse for law enforcement and safety efforts, Gov. Andrew Cuomo ended New York's participation in the controversial federal immigration program. Read the full story here...
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ICE Racial Profiling, Illegal Detention—ACLU Takes Case
The ICE agent pointed a gun at her, ordered her out of her car, and pounded her head into its metal trunk! Yes he actually pounded her head into the metal trunk of her car! Who is she? She's an innocent legal resident of the U.S.. She carries her papers on herself to prove her status. She's just the latest victim of the race hatred and bigotry inherent in our current immigration laws.
But some people still think that ICE (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement) only targets undocumented aliens. We need to let them know the truth! Please use all means possible to share this news story with all your contacts so we can let them know...
- the truth about racial profiling at ICE, and
- that all people of color are at risk for ICE detention, and
- that we all must demand needed changes now!
- Read the rest of the story on the ACLU site (click here)
Temporary Protected Status Extended for Haitians
On May 17, Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano announced the
extension of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haiti beneficiaries.
This extension will be effective July 23, 2011 and is for an additional
18 months. It will allow these TPS beneficiaries to remain in the United
States through Jan. 22, 2013. Read more here...
============================================Please see the President's speech on immigration reform
on May 10, 2011 in El Paso. He intends to make another push for Comprehensive Immigration Reform, but has not agreed to use executive powers to correct the situation.============================================
Congressman Clarke Questions ICE Regarding Detroit Abuses
Washington DC –During a hearing of the House Committee on Homeland Security Subcommittee on Border and Maritime Security today, Congressman Hansen Clarke (D-Detroit) raised the issue of ICE’s actions in Detroit with the Deputy Director of ICE, Mr. Kumar Kibble.Representative Clarke stated, in part:
“I want to make sure that whenever ICE conducts an enforcement action, that it’s because of specific information about the person’s immigration status, not their appearance. This kind of profiling is not only legally problematic, it’s ineffective. It’s also hampering Detroit’s economic development…The one area of Detroit that has been stabilized economically is Southwest Detroit, where immigrants have rebuilt homes and started businesses. It’s a thriving neighborhood, based on the work of immigrants.” He added, “These cases concern me because they appear to be part of a disturbing trend.”
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Three Teens Murdered in Mexican Border Town
Three teenage boys, two American citizens and one Mexican citizen, were gunned down last Saturday in a car dealership in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico. The two American children were students at Cathedral High School in El Paso, Texas. Our hearts and prayers go out to the families and friends of Juan Carlos Echeverri, Carlos Mario Gonzalez, and Cesar Yalin Miramontes Jimenez. Read more here.
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Special Showing of The 800 Mile Road
Don’t miss this great film and discussion by Charlie and Jean Rooney, members of the AZ group “No More Deaths” this Thursday, Feb. 10th, at 7:30 p.m. in the Gesu Parish Center, 17180 Oak Drive, Detroit, MI. For more information download the .pdf flyer.
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Gay Enough To Stay?
Imagine having to prove who you are inside, what defines you as a sexual being, in order to be able to stay in the United States. That, unfortunately, is what is happening today, as gay immigrants are being asked to prove their “gayness” to the satisfaction of immigration officials. Read more here.
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Does the Color of Her Skin Make Her Invisible?
Nine year old Brisenia Flores died tragically, pleading for her life, “allegedly” at the hands of gun wielding, anti-immigrant racist Shawana Forde and her accomplices Jason Bush and Albert Gaxiola. The national media gave the murder scant mention, and hasn’t yet followed up on the justice phase of this case. There are many questions we can ask of the media but they all add up to the same thing: does the murder of a little girl in America matter if she is a Mexican American? Let’s keep little Brisenia Flores in our hearts and prayers as we demand that our national media cover her “alleged” killers’ trials. Here is more information, and here is the Brisenia Flores Memorial Web Site.
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Corn Invasion Drives Desperate Migrants North
What do Cargill, Monsanto, and Archer Daniels Midland (ADM) have in common, other than being huge agri-businesses? They’ve been pouring U.S. government-subsidized (artificially cheaper) crops, especially corn, into Mexico, destroying Mexican agricultural profitability, driving farmers out of business, and farm workers across our border. Of the three companies Monsanto and ADM are publicly traded so we can see some of the effect that this corporate welfare has had on their bottom line. Take a look at this chart (below) of their stock prices over the last 10 years. The burnt orange line on top is Monsanto, the teal blue line is ADM, and the brown line on the bottom is the S&P 500 index for comparison. To learn more please watch this video about the problem (after a short message asking for support).