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January 07 U.S. Immigration Alert! A Monthly Newsletter from National…
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January 07 U.S. Immigration Alert!
A Monthly Newsletter from National Immigrant Solidarity Network
January, 2007 Issue, Volume 20
No Immigrant Bashing! Support Immigrant Rights!
http://www.ImmigrantSolidarity.org $2.00/Copy
Happy New Year 2007! In This Issue:
May Day 2007 Call (Pg 1) | Getting Ready for the 110th
Get Ready for the New Immigrant Congress (Pg 1) | Tell ICE: Release Palestinian Family
NOW! (Pg 2) | NISN Vision and Plans for 2007 (Pg 3)
Movements 2007! Immigration News Briefs (pg 4) | Jan 27-29 DC Actions,
Lobbying Day (Pg 6) | Please Support NISN! (Pg 6)
May Day 2007: Call to Action!
National Mobilization to Support Immigrant Workers!
A national day of multi-ethnic unity with youth, labor, peace and justice communities
in solidarity with immigrant workers and building new civil rights movement!
http://www.MayDay2007.org
Please subscribe to our ISN Immigrants Daily-Info E-mail List!
Send e-mail to: isn-subscribe@lists.riseup.net or visit: http://lists.riseup.net/www/info/isn
Getting Ready for the 110th Congress--An Analysis
National Immigration Forum
The 109th Congress concluded with no further mischief created on immigration policy. In fact, the Congress did not even
complete the minimum work for which they are responsible--passing the government's budget--instead funding most of the
government in a "continuing resolution" until February 15, 2007, and handing off the responsibility to the 110th Congress.
Since the election, Members of Congress have been busy re-organizing themselves. While the details of who will chair the
subcommittees are still being finalized, the broad-stroke picture is that immigration restrictionists will be in a weaker position
in the 110th Congress. The hard-line restrictionists who were in a position to block immigration reform--in the House in
particular--have either been booted out of office or, by virtue of the Republicans' loss of control of the House and thus of the
Committees, have been demoted.
In the Senate, Senator Leahy (D-VT) will Chair the Judiciary Committee, taking over from Senator Arlen Specter (R-PA). The
Immigration Subcommittee Chair will pass from John Cornyn (R-TX) to Senator Edward Kennedy (D-MA), who resumes a
role he has had many times in his Senate career. In the House, although the Democratic caucus has not made their final
decisions, John Conyers (D-MI) would get the Chairmanship of the Judiciary Committee, taking over from James
Sensenbrenner (R-WI). Press reports indicate that Zoe Lofgren of California is seeking the Chair of the Immigration
Subcommittee.
While the opponents of comprehensive reform have been demoted, it is still, basically, a 50-50 Congress representing a 50-
50 country. Comprehensive immigration reform will not come easily. Any sound immigration legislation that might pass must
have bi-partisan support. Republican divisions on immigration have been much in the news until now because Republicans
held the reigns of power. Now that the Democrats are in charge, divisions in their ranks will come under the magnifying
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glass. To pass comprehensive reform, the Democratic leadership will need Republican votes. As with just about any issue,
any legislation that stands a chance of enactment will require compromise.
Still, there is a window of opportunity for comprehensive reform. Both the House and Senate leadership (as well as the
President) are now talking about comprehensive immigration reform being a priority. If actually treated as a priority, there
could be action prior to the time, later in the year, when Presidential politics complicates the immigration debate.
In addition to this "pull factor" of opportunity, there are what I'll call "push factors" making comprehensive reform an urgent
matter. All around the country, as the budget for immigration enforcement has increased, the prevalence of immigration raids
has increased, and the ripple effect of fear among immigrants is increasing. The immigration raids, resulting in otherwise
law-abiding workers being jailed and deported, are seen as unjust and absurd, but these screws are likely to continue to
tighten until Congress acts to reform the laws in a comprehensive manner; the enforcement agency is getting more money,
and it cannot, on its own, decide not to enforce the laws on the books, no matter how bad those laws are. Another "push
factor" is the economic loss that employers are feeling in certain sectors as a result of not having the workers they need.
Unless there is a major downturn in the economy, the economic screws will continue to tighten as well.
Stay tuned for details on the immigration debate as it begins in the 110th Congress. Normally, we can expect not much to
happen in January, until after the State of the Union address at the end of the month. We will keep you informed as final
decisions are made as to who the key players will be in the Committees having jurisdiction over immigration.
Naturalization Fees Expected to Increase
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) has indicated that it will soon be proposing a fee increase for
applications for naturalization and other immigration benefits. We understand that the fee increases may be "significant."
The citizenship application fee, now $400, could double. The National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials
(NALEO) reports that USCIS has performed a comprehensive fee study required to justify their fee increases. It is being
reviewed by the White House Office of Management and Budget. The study has not been made public.
A number of factors have conspired to burden naturalization applicants (and others) with fee increases of 450 percent since
1990. Congress has mandated that USICS recover its costs for processing applications. Applicants must not only pay for
the processing of their own application, but included in the fee is the charge of processing applications for which there is no
fee--refugee and asylee applications, for example, and applications of those who successfully gain a needs-based waiver of
fees. Other factors include USCIS calculations and processes that create disincentives for greater efficiency. For example,
when the agency is sued by applicants for lengthy delays or for other reasons, the cost of the litigation is incorporated into the
application fees. In another example, applicants for certain benefits can gain quicker processing by paying a "premium
processing fee" of $1,000. That extra $1,000 per applicant accounted for nine percent of USICS's fee revenue in Fiscal Year
2005. The latest Annual Report to Congress from the USCIS Ombudsman discusses the "pervasive and serious" problems
that continue to plague USCIS processes.
A proposed increase in fees will be published in the Federal Register, with a period of time for the public to comment.
Another significant increase in naturalization fees will serve as a barrier to citizenship. We hope that advocates comment
when the opportunity to do so arrives.
==============================================================================================
Tell ICE: Release Palestinian Family NOW!
Arab American Community Coalition
NOTE: the cell phone # for San Antonio ICE Field Office Director Marc Moore is (210) 347-6414 (office phone is 210-967-
7175)
A suggested message: Why is the Ibrahim family being detained? They are clearly not a flight risk or a threat to society. Jail
is no place for a pregnant mother and her young children. They are perfect candidates for release under supervision. Why
are you punishing them with detention at taxpayer expense?
Start the New Year off Right, Please Help Save a Family
The Arab American Community Coalition (theaacc.org) has just learned of an entire Palestinian family - the Ibrahims being
held in jail in Texas while waiting an unjustified deportation. The Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) grabbed the
family of five in a Gestapo-like raid on November 3, 2006.
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The Ibrahims came to the United States legally and applied for asylum. They have been honest and forthright with
immigration from the beginning. They were denied asylum and have filed to reopen their asylum case. In the meantime, the
family is to be deported and is being held in jail! As an American citizen, the 2-year-old daughter was ripped from her
mother's arms and is in a foster home.
The plot thickens:
To make matters worse, as Palestinian refugees from the Occupied Palestinian Territories they have no travel documents.
The US government has attempted to obtain Jordanian passports for the family but the applications were denied. The family
will have to languish another month in jail while ICE contacts the Israeli embassy. Even though Israel has no jurisdiction to
issue travel documents to Palestinians to the Occupied Palestinian Territories , ICE insists on contacting Israel . In the past,
Israel has issued illegal documents with ICE flying deportees into Tel Aviv and the deportees marched across the border to
the West Bank in Palestine . It is extremely dangerous for Palestinians to enter Palestine with Israeli travel documents. The
family would be marked with suspicion.
The family in jail:
The pregnant mother, Hanan Ahmad, is in one cell with her 5-year-old daughter, Fatem. The 7- and 12-year-old sisters -
Maryam and Rodaina - share another cell. The 15-year-old boy, Hamzeh, is in yet another cell at T. Don Hutto jail. The
father and husband, Salaheddin Ibrahim, is being held in another jail in Haskell , Texas . Born in the US , the youngest
daughter, only 2-years-old, is living with strangers in a foster home.
The little 5-year-old girl, Faten, is constantly getting in trouble with the guards for not standing still during population counts,
which are taken four times daily. Maryam, the 7-year-old cries for her mother at night. Maryam, Rodaina and Hamzeh have
missed nearly two months of school. The children miss their father, their baby sister, other family members and friends. The
pregnant mother feels sick, tired and overwhelmed. The family is separated and scared not knowing what the future holds.
Not only is this a waste of our tax dollars ($95 per person per day), it is inhumane and unjust!
For More information please visit The Arab American Community Coalition (http://www.theaacc.org)
==============================================================================================
National Immigrant Solidarity Network: Vision and Plans for 2007
Lee Siu Hin
National Coordinator National Immigrant Solidarity Network (NISN)
Thank you for everyone supports our important work at 2006.
NISN will be organizing many important projects include: immigrant rights education, multi-ethnic organizing and national
campaigns:
- July, 2007 Washington D.C. 2nd National Grassroots Immigrant Strategy Conference
- Multi-languages immigrant rights educational materials (postcards, flyers and comic book)
- Spring and fall national immigrant rights education tours
- Updating our NISN web page http://www.ImmigrantSolidarity.org
- May Day 2007 National Mobilizations for Immigrant Workers Rights
- National Immigrant Support Hotlines
- NISN Internship Projects
- Opening NISN field office at San Francisco, CA
Here's how you can help NISN:
1) Join our e-mail list, so you can stay updates our work; you also can post your organizational updates and news.
2) Join our working groups and bi-monthly conference calls.
3) We need more volunteers! Includes: translators, graphic designers and community organizers.
4) Donate to us! We are volunteer-based organization purely "out of the pocket, passing the bucket" operation, your supports
will be very important!
If you're interests to help us, please call: (213)403-0131 or e-mail: info@ImmigrantSolidarity.org
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Immigration News Briefs from Across the Country
Immigration News Briefs is a weekly English-language summary of US immigration news, e-mail: nicajg@panix.com.
1. KROME DETAINEES PROTEST
On Dec. 8, Haitian and Jamaican detainees at Krome Latortue said that during his meeting at Krome, some of
Service Processing Center outside Miami in Dade County, the Haitian detainees told him about an incident on Dec. 8
Florida, refused to leave their dormitory to protest delays that involved an "altercation with guards." At least two
in obtaining travel papers from their consulates, detainees who were witnesses told a FIAC lawyer that a
immigration officials said; these delays have delayed their guard pushed and "punched" a detainee, as other agitated
stay in detention awaiting deportation. The protest led detainees watched, according to Little. A worker at the
Michael Rozos, field office director for the US Immigration facility who asked not to be identified said guards
and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Florida office of interrupted some immigration court proceedings during the
detention and removal, to visit the Krome dormitory and episode.
speak to the detainees there on Dec. 8, accompanied by a
"disturbance control team," said ICE spokesperson ICE spokesperson Gonzalez said the dormitory protest
Barbara Gonzalez. She said team members were was peaceful, with Haitian and Jamaican detainees
"dressed appropriately." While the detainees were refusing to leave their pod or dormitory to take meals. But
frustrated at the delay in travel papers, some also talked Gonzalez acknowledged that an allegation was later made
about "the amount of people at Krome," Gonzalez said. A "against a guard." She had no details. "We take all
Haitian detainee attributed the tense atmosphere to allegations very seriously and it will be thoroughly
crowded conditions. "There are just too many people here investigated and appropriate action will be taken,"
right now," he said. "We all are just desperate to get out." Gonzalez said.
Krome's publicly-stated capacity of about 580 detainees
has been exceeded for months. Gonzalez admitted on Jamaican consul Ricardo Allicock visited Krome on Dec.
Dec. 14 that the number of detainees at Krome was 927. 11 to meet with the more than 50 Jamaican detainees
Gonzalez said 120 detainees would be transferred there. Allicock said many of the detainees were frustrated
elsewhere on Dec. 19 and 50 others would be deported that they would not spend the holidays with their families
soon. back home because they have yet to be deported. The
majority of the Jamaicans there have been waiting less
In late September, dozens of detainees signed a letter to than two months to be deported, he said. [Miami Herald
the Miami Herald complaining about conditions at Krome. 12/16/06]
Another 255 detainees complained in a November letter
that overcrowding at the facility is "causing a lot of tension 2. US AND CANADA DEPORT 99 AFRICANS
that leads to confrontations, unsanitary dorm, showers, Over the weekend of Dec. 16, ICE officers returned to the
and clogged toilets...." US after deporting 82 Nigerians and 17 Liberians on a
joint charter removal flight conducted with the government
Florida Immigrant Advocacy Center (FIAC) executive of Canada. It was the largest US deportation flight to
director Cheryl Little said Krome "is becoming more and Africa in two years. The flight used chartered commercial
more overcrowded. It's getting dirty inside, and people are aircraft and was staffed by officers of the ICE Office of
getting ill because of it." Little said one of her lawyers went Detention and Removal Operations. Eight of the Nigerians
to Krome Dec. 8 and was told by a guard that there was a were deportees from Canada; escorting officers from
"riot " and that the facility was in "lockdown." Little said the Canada accompanied the flight. The others deported on
lawyer "was told that he couldn't go in, and that he better the flight had been housed at detention facilities across
check before coming over the weekend because it might the US; they were brought to the Batavia Federal
still be in lockdown." Gonzalez said there was no Detention Facility near Buffalo, New York, shortly before
lockdown, and visiting hours were normal over the the flight. More than 60 of the deportees had criminal
weekend of Dec. 9. records. [ICE News Release 12/19/06]
Ralph Latortue, the Haitian consul in Miami, went to 3. MAINE ACTIVIST'S HOME RAIDED
Krome Dec. 13 for an annual holiday visit with Haitian On Dec. 14, more than a dozen ICE agents raided the
detainees. Latortue told the Miami Herald that 60 of the 83 home of longtime immigrant advocate Ben Guiliani in
Haitians at Krome complained of mistreatment, lack of South Portland, Maine. The agents were seen carting out
medical attention and overcrowding. He said some numerous boxes of evidence and computer equipment,
detainees, particularly those with criminal records, according to the Maine Public Broadcasting Network. A
complained about delays in travel documents. Under friend and fellow activist said agents also showed up at
current Haitian government regulations, Latortue said, Guiliani's office elsewhere in the city. Guiliani said he was
authorities in Port-au-Prince must pre-approve the return out of state when the agents showed up at his house, but
of Haitians with criminal records, and the process can take that family members were home. Nobody has been
months. Latortue said 75% of the 83 Haitians at Krome charged or arrested, he said. The immigration agency
have criminal records. notified South Portland police of the operation shortly after
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9 am, but did not provide specifics of the investigation, compromised undercover operations. Vilsack and Dardis
said Police Chief Ed Googins. said they will not cooperate with federal immigration
officials in the future unless they act more responsibly and
A US citizen of Mexican descent, Guiliani has headed the provide better coordination with state officials. [Des
Maine Migrant Workers Advocacy Group and has involved Moines Register 12/20/06]
in workplace lawsuits against Wal-Mart and the former
DeCoster egg farm, alleging bias and discrimination On Dec. 15 in Colorado, immigrant rights advocates
against Latino workers. He helped win major gathered in Greeley, Durango, Colorado Springs, Pueblo,
improvements in working and living conditions at Grand Junction and other communities to hold candlelight
DeCoster. He currently heads a firm called Azteca vigils and join hands to support the families separated by
Consulting Associates Inc., which is involved in a variety the raids and protest the treatment of the 260 workers
of government and business matters, including import and arrested in the Dec. 12 raid at the Swift plant in Greeley.
export, Hispanic relations, labor search management and "This tragedy is not about 'identity theft' or 'criminal
safety consulting, according to incorporation records. activity' as...ICE contends," wrote the Colorado Immigrant
[Portland Herald (ME) 12/15/06] Rights Coalition in a press release announcing the vigils.
"It is about women and men working to feed their families
4. SWIFT RAIDS PROTESTED and provide for a better life." [Denver Daily News
On Dec. 14, dozens of activists in Des Moines, Iowa took 12/19/06; Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition Press
part in a rally protesting the arrests by ICE of some 90 Release 12/14/06] On the evening of Dec. 18, a crowd of
immigrants at the Swift plant in Marshalltown, Iowa. The 75-100 people from across the region gathered at the
Marshalltown raid was one of six such raids on Dec. 12; in office of El Comite de Longmont in Longmont to protest
all, ICE agents arrested 1,282 workers at Swift & Co. the raids. The group lit candles and marched down Main
meatpacking plants in six states, claiming the sweeps Street before rallying on the steps of the Longmont Safety
were part of an investigation into identity theft. and Justice Center. Many carried signs that read, "No
[WHBF.com 12/15/06] On Dec. 17, clergy members spoke human is illegal." Others spoke of a basic human right of
out at an evening service in Des Moines called to protest people to try to improve their life and that of their family,
the raids. About 200 people came to Grace United regardless of borders. [Greeley Tribune 12/19/06] In San
Methodist Church to hold candles and pray in solidarity Antonio, Texas on Dec. 21, Latino activist groups held a
with detainees and their families. The "Making Room at news conference to condemn the raids and call for an end
the Inn" event included multilingual speeches, prayers and to such worksite enforcement until Congress can come up
hymns. "Jesus was not mindful of Social Security with comprehensive immigration reform. [San Antonio
numbers, or countries of origin, or of native languages," Express-News 12/21/06]
said the Rev. Barbara Dinnen of the Las Americas
Comunidad de Fe of the United Methodist Church. [Des On Dec. 15, over 200 people picketed outside the ICE
Moines Register 12/18/06] offices in Chicago to protest the raids. The protest was
initiated by the March 10th Movement, and members of
In a letter to President George W. Bush on Dec. 20, Iowa the Centro Sin Fronteras, Coalition of Immokalee
governor Tom Vilsack complained that ICE officials were Workers, Mexico Solidarity Network and the United Food
not responding to family members' inquiries about loved and Commercial Workers (UFCW) union also took part.
ones detained in the Swift raids. "To this day, the The UFCW represents workers at five of the six raided
whereabouts of some of these people are still unknown," Swift plants. [Party for Socialism and Liberation (PSL)
Vilsack wrote. "Considering the hardship this has on their 12/21/06] On Dec. 20, more than 30 people rallied in
families, silence as to their condition is not acceptable." below-freezing temperatures outside the Wallace F.
Vilsack urged Bush to also disclose the identities and Bennett Federal Building in downtown Salt Lake City, Utah
locations of the detainees to community leaders and to protest ICE's arrests of 154 workers during the Dec. 12
faith-based leaders in the six states "so officials can better raid at the Swift plant 60 miles away in Hyrum. A union
address the needs of family members left behind." Vilsack member held a sign demanding "workers' rights, human
referred to a morning news conference on Dec. 20 in rights" for undocumented laborers. "We see this as a
which Bush called for immigration reform, saying that racist act of state terrorism," said David Hansen, a
"such changes... will come too late for the families with member of the advocacy group Brown Berets in Salt Lake
children who are searching for their parents today." ICE City. The protesters wore yellow bracelets to symbolize
spokesperson Jamie Zuieback responded that privacy the ones ICE apparently used to mark brown-skinned
concerns prevent immigration officials from publishing the workers during the raid at the Swift plant in Hyrum; white
names of detainees, but they will work with Vilsack "on workers were given blue bracelets and were not required
matters of specific concern." [Des Moines Register to prove their citizenship, witnesses said. ICE
12/21/06] A day earlier, Dec. 19, Vilsack and Maj. Gen. spokesperson Lori Haley said she knew nothing of the
Ron Dardis, the top officer of the Iowa National Guard, yellow bracelets, but denied that ICE agents targeted Swift
wrote to Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff, employees because of their skin color. A handful of
calling ICE's actions in the raids "completely members of the anti immigrant Utah Minuteman Project
unacceptable," saying agents undermined the public's held a counter-protest across the street, waving signs that
trust in government, potentially jeopardized the safety of read, "defending our borders, culture and language." [Salt
law enforcement personnel in Iowa and could have Lake Tribune 12/21/06; KCPW News 12/21/06]
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Bring the Mandate for Peace to Washington DC on Jan. 27-29: March and Lobbying Day
Organized by: United For Peace & Justice (UFPJ), endorsed by National Immigrant Solidarity Network (NISN)
Join United for Peace and Justice (http://www.UnitedforPeace.org) in a massive march on Washington, D.C., on Sat.,
January 27, 2007 to call on Congress to take immediate action to end the war. On Mon, January 29, UFPJ will call for
Congressional Lobbying Day, NISN will support the UFPJ call and organize immigrant Congressional visit and
lobbying at the same day, we encourage peace and immigrant rights activists to come to Washington D.C., tell the
new Congress: Act NOW to Bring the Troops Home! And Support Full Amnesty to the Immigrants!
For more information, please contact NISN DC field office: (202)595-8990, e-mail: info@ImmigrantSolidarity.org
Please Donate to National Immigrant Solidarity Network!
All Donations Are Tax Deductible!
We need to reach our $50,000 goals by the end of the October!
Can You be part of the history to support us to support our immigrant organizing?
Friends:
I am again personally appeal for fund raising appeals for National Immigrant Solidarity Network. This is the
critical moments for the immigrant rights, and peace & justice movements! Right-Wing anti-immigrant, pro-war,
anti-labor forces in the Washington D.C. are pushing their racist agendas to against immigrants and more
money for the war. We need to continue organize ourselves to send our LOUD VOICE to the Congress and the
President our mass dissent!
Make check payable to ISN/AFGJ and it will be tax deductible! Send your check to:
ActionLA / The Peace Center
8124 West 3rd Street, Suite 104
Los Angeles, California 90048
____ $100.00 ____ $ 50.00 ____ $ 35.00 ____ Other Amount $___________
($35 or more will receive 1 year free subscriptions of the Immigration Alert! Newsletter)
About National Immigrant Solidarity Network Please subscribe to the U.S. Immigration Alert!
A Monthly Newsletter from National Immigrant
ISN is a coalition of community, immigrant, labor, human Solidarity Network
rights and student activist groups, founded in 2002 in
response to the urgent needs for the national coalition to 1 year subscription rate (12 issues) is $25.00
fight immigrant bashing, support immigrant rights, no to the
sweatshops exploitation and end to the racism on the It will help us pay for the printing costs, as well as funding
community. Please visit our website: for the NISN projects (additional donations to the ISN is tax
http://www.ImmigrantSolidarity.org deductible!)
Contact Information: Check pay to: NISN/AFGJ
E-mail: siuhin@aol.com
(213) 403-0131 (Los Angeles)
(212) 330-8172 (New York) ActionLA / The Peace Center
(202) 595-8990 (Washington D.C.) 8124 West 3rd Street, Suite 104
Los Angeles, California 90048
Please donate to ISN! (All donations are tax deductible!)
Check pay to: NISN/AFGJ
Send to: ActionLA / The Peace Center
8124 West 3rd Street, Suite 104
Los Angeles, California 90048
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