Tucson Protection Network Coalition Joins the National Fast Campaign "Not One More"

(En español sigue abajo)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 8, 2013

CONTACT: (939) 579-3534

Protection.Network.Coalition@gmail.com 

Tucson Protection Network Coalition Joins the National Fast Campaign "Not One More"

Tucson, Arizona - As the House of Representatives proceeds to discuss the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Bill (CIR) and moves forward with militarization policies that will continue to harm border communities, several members of our community will begin a fast from Tuesday July 16th through Saturday July 20th in Tucson, Arizona. The Protection Network Coalition's goal is to highlight how the immigration raids and deportations continue to separate families across the country.

"We fast in solidarity with all of those who are facing deportation proceedings, all of those who have been separated from their families and all of those who have been ripped apart from their communities. We fast to say not one more deportation," declares Eleazar Castellanos, a 46 year-old community leader at the Southside Worker Center and a fasting participant. The group's spiritual fast is one of a series of travelling fasts that have been taking place nationwide. Communities in California, Oregon, New York and Florida have also participated in the national fast. The campaign is expected to end in Washington, D.C. during the last week of July.

The Not One More fast aims to have national and local impact. On a national level, the community members who will be fasting are calling on President Obama to immediately suspend deportations. They are also demanding Congress to pass an immigration reform that is inclusive of all 11 million undocumented people in the United States, and to stop the militarization of the US-Mexico border.

On a local level, the Tucson community demands local law enforcement to stop collaborating with immigration law enforcement. Police and Border Patrol collaboration continues to divide families and terrorize communities in Tucson and across the country on a daily basis.

A Press Conference at Southside Presbyterian Church is scheduled for July 16th at 11:00 AM (at 317 W. 23rd St.) and will be the starting point of the week's activities and events.

For a soon-to-be-released list of daily activities in Tucson July 16-20, go to: www.facebook.com/events/138174623048100/?fref=ts 

More information on the National Fast available at: www.notonemoredeportation.com

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PARA DIFUSION INMEDIATA

8 de Julio de 2013

Contacto: (939) 579-3534

Protection.Network.Coalition@gmail.com 

La Coalición de Redes de Protección de Tucson se une al Ayuno Nacional: Ni Una Deportación Más

Tucson, Arizona - Mientras la Cámara de Representantes continua debatiendo el proyecto de ley de la Reforma Migratoria y avanzan con políticas de militarización anti-migrantes que continuaran dañando y destruyendo nuestra comunidad, varios miembros de la comunidad de Tucson estarán llevando a cabo una jornada de ayuno que comenzara el Martes 16 de Julio y terminara el Sábado 20 de Julio de 2013. El objetivo de la Coalición de Redes de Protección de Tucson es destacar como las redadas de inmigración y las deportaciones continúan destruyendo familias alrededor de los Estados Unidos.

"Ayunamos en solidaridad con todas las personas que se encuentran en proceso de deportación, con todos aquellos que han sido separados/as de sus familias y arrebatados/as de sus comunidades. Ayunamos para decir ni una deportación más," declaró Eleazar Castellanos, líder comunitario del Centro de Trabajadores del Sur de Tucson quien estará ayunando. Dicho ayuno es parte de una jornada nacional que se ha estado llevando a cabo a lo largo de Estados Unidos. Comunidades en California, Oregon, Nueva York y Florida han participado en el ayuno nacional. Se espera que la jornada de ayunos culmine en Washington, D.C. durante la última semana de Julio.

La Coalición de Redes de Protección de Tucson espera que la campaña tenga un impacto nacional y local. A nivel nacional, la comunidad le exige al Presidente Obama un alto inmediato a las deportaciones. A su vez, le hacen un llamado a la Cámara de Representantes que pasen una Reforma Migratoria Comprensiva que incluya a los 11 millones de indocumentados/as en Estados Unidos y que se pare la militarización en la frontera entre Estados Unidos y México.

A nivel local, la comunidad de Tucson le exige a las autoridades locales que paren la colaboración con la Patrulla Fronteriza. La colaboración entre la Policía de Tucson y la Patrulla Fronteriza continúa dividiendo y aterrorizando la comunidad de Tucson a diario.

Una Conferencia de Prensa tendrá lugar en:

La Iglesia Presbiteriana en Southside

el 16 de Julio a las 11:00 AM (en 317 W. 23rd St.)

La misma será el comienzo de las actividades y eventos programadas para la semana del 16 al 20 de Julio.

Para ver el programa de actividades y eventos en Tucson del 16 al 20 de Julio visite nuestra página: www.facebook.com/events/138174623048100/?fref=ts 

Más información sobre el ayuno nacional disponible en: www.notonemoredeportation.com

Make your Call for Justice -- Support the Dream

As you may know, today the U.S. Senate is set to consider the DREAM Act as an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act. We urge you to call your Senator to urge his/her support of DREAM, to provide an opportunity for undocumented students to gain legal immigration status. Moreover, we ask you to urge the Senators to include community service to the list of criteria for access to this program, restoring a provision of the original bill that was designed to embrace a broader cross section of the students who could benefit from this important program.

Please take a few minutes to call (202) 224-3121 to connect to your Senators' offices and ask that they take action to support DREAM, the Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act.

The DREAM Act -- particularly if it is broadened to include a greater number of immigrant youth and students -- deserves consideration as a "stand alone" bill. But in these weeks leading up to the mid-term elections, it has instead been offered by Senator Harry Reid (D-NV) as an amendment to the "must pass" defense appropriations bill. We resent that DREAM is being held hostage by the defense bill. We are very much aware that military conflicts produce millions of refugees and migrants every year, and in fact, many potential DREAM students and their families fled areas of conflict. Whether or not DREAM is included in the Defense Authorization Act, we further support the diversion of defense funds to education and social services.

The vote today will determine if DREAM will move forward at all and it faces stiff opposition. Tens of thousands of young immigrants -- "undocumented and unafraid" -- and their supporters have rallied to support DREAM. We need to send a message to Congress that we stand on the side of justice and in support of immigrant youth and students, for their future, and that of their families.

And whatever the vote on DREAM, we need to continue to work to make it more accessible for young immigrants: broaden access to include community sevice as a criteria; provide more funds for public education and for job training. Make the dream of a brighter future a reality!

Make your call now to 202-224-3121. Ask to speak to each of your Senator's offices.

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Who could benefit from DREAM?

* Just one year old, Daniel came to the U.S. from Mexico with an older sister to reunite with their parents. He is currently a student at the state university. He aspires to go into politics and give back to his community.

* Diana was three when she came to the U.S. She graduated from college with a degree in business and marketing. Since she is undocumented, she currently makes her living by cleaning houses and doing childcare. But she continues to hope for more meaningful employment where she can put her skills to work.

* John was born in Canada, but came to the U.S. when he was two as the child of a Filipino mother and Salvadoran father. He grew up in Oakland, graduating from high school in 2008. An exemplary student, John felt discouraged from applying to college because he would be ineligible for financial assistance due to his undocumented status. Since high school, John has become one of the youth leaders of ASPIRE, a Bay Area support group for undocumented Asian youth.

About the DREAM Act:

A number of different versions of the DREAM Act have been introduced over the past several years. Under the current proposal, upwards of 800,000 young undocumented immigrants could be eligible for conditional relief, and eventual permanent legal status if they meet certain critieria, including:

* Entered the U.S. before the age of 16

* Have lived continuously in the U.S. for the last 5 years

* Have completed high school (graduation/GED) or have been accepted into college

* Are between 12 and 35 years old at time of application

* Meet a "good moral character" standard

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National Network for Immigrant and Refugee Rights

310 8th St. Ste. 303 | Oakland, CA 94607

Tel: 510.465.1984 | fax: 510.465.1885 | http://www.nnirr.org

NNIRR: Immigration Blueprint Reveals Challenges for Immigration Fairness

For Immediate Release
March 20, 2010

Immigration Blueprint Reveals Challenges for Immigration Fairness
Hard Work, Commitment Needed to End Trauma of Current Policies, Ensure Human Rights

For more information, contact:
Catherine Tactaquin 510.459.4457 (mobile)
510.465.1984 ext. 302 (office)

OAKLAND, CA: The "blueprint" for immigration reform recently released by Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) points to a difficult road ahead for decent, fair immigration reform. The National Network for Immigrant and Refugee Rights is very concerned that the provisions described by the senators would extend and deepen harsh enforcement practices that have caused trauma and separation for immigration families, fostered racial profiling and led to tragic deaths at the U.S.-Mexico border of migrants seeking a better life.

Surely, the thousands of people who will rally in Washington tomorrow and in local areas in the coming days want immigration legislation that treats immigrants fairly, that recognizes their dignity and rights. Unfortunately, the blueprint outlined by the senators and praised by President Obama is not an outline for bold and enlightened legislation. As a "starting point" for real congressional engagement, it sets a low bar for the debate, placing harsh and failed enforcement strategies at its heart in hopes of drawing conservative support, regardless of the human rights consequences of such policies.

While still vague and without many details, the blueprint emphasizes increases in worksite and border enforcement as an apparent trade off for a "tough but fair" legalization program. It promises green cards for the "best and the brightest" -- more of the "brain drain" scenario -- and refers to so-called "circular migration" as a rationale to provide temporary worker visas to lower-skilled immigrants to work in the U.S. These workers would presumably save their earnings, send remittances home, and then return to their home countries. This is a recipe for disaster, and merely sets up the prospect of more exploited migrant workers with fewer rights, including workers with little access to green cards and who could eventually become undocumented.

The senators acknowledged that Americans support legal immigration, but did not mention changes needed in our core legal immigration program. Instead, they mention that in "20 years" Americans "will embrace more welcoming immigration policies" after the tide of undocumented has apparently been contained. We hope this does not mean that they are not prepared to support important changes to the current legal immigration program, emphasizing family unity, as part of the immigration package.

It's bad enough that the "tough but fair" legalization program they describe would further criminalize the undocumented and would create unnecessary barriers to eligible applicants.

When President Barack Obama took office in January 2008, we sent him an Open Letter joined by thousands of community members, rights advocates and allies in faith, labor and civil rights communities. We urged the new President to commit to principles of human rights. We asked him to end the raids, detentions and deportations that have caused so much hardship in our communities as a prerequisite to a genuine commitment to provide the undocumented with access to legal status.

We continue to urge the Administration and members of Congress to focus on core reforms:

• Suspend detentions and deportations while humanitarian policy alternatives are in place, and to reinstate due process;
• Support legalization without the onerous hurdles of past proposals that will limit applications;
• Uphold family reunification as a core principle of immigration policy, and expand and expedite legal immigration;
• End guestworker programs -- provide access to green cards;
• End the criminalization of immigrants, by repealing employer sanctions, and stopping the militarization of the border and local police collaboration programs;
• Strengthen labor law enforcement for all workers, regardless of citizenship or immigration status;
• Ensure immigrant access to services.

Immigration is not just a domestic policy issue; it is tied to policies that create displacement and forced migration. In committing to tackle immigration reform this time around, policymakers also need to ensure that U.S. foreign and economic policies promote global sustainable economic development and environments, job creation, and peace, so that migration is an option and not a last resort for economic survival.

Despite the President's and the senators' promises to move forward on immigration reform, we have no illusions about the difficult road ahead. But there is an important step that can be taken now. We urge the Administration to act swiftly to support immigrant community participation in this critical Census 2010. Suspend immigration enforcement activities so that immigrants, many fearful and unaware of the Census, are encouraged to complete and return their Census forms. This also affects their lives and the lives of us all over the next 10 years. (Read our letter to President Obama and DHS Secretary Napolitano on enforcement and the census here.)

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National Network for Immigrant and Refugee Rights
Red Nacional Pro Derechos Inmigrantes y Refugiados
310 8th Street Suite 303
Oakland, CA 94607
Tel (510) 465-1984
Fax (510) 465-1885
www.nnirr.org

Share NNIRR's latest human rights report, click here Guilty by Immigration Status