Public Radio International features Philadelphia New Sanctuary in report on immigration issues

Listen to this brief audio clip from today's PRI "The World" segment on immigration enforcement issues and Secure Communities.  http://media.theworld.org/audio/043020103.mp3

The report features challenges by immigration activists to local-federal law enforcement collaboration on immigration enforcement under the "Secure Communities" program of Homeland Security.

Highlights include the story of a Philadelphia high school student and family from El Salvador, plus comments by Jen Rock of Philadelphia New Sanctuary Movement.

ICE MEMO LEAKED: ICE USES SPIN AND DECEPTION IN RESPONSE TO RIGHTS GROUPS' FOIA AND EVENTS

Washington DC, Today a six page internal memo from Immigration and Customs Enforcement was leaked to the press. The memo contains ICE's media strategy in response to rights groups' "Uncovering the Truth on ICE and Police Collaboration" campaign—a week long effort of rallies and press conferences in 14 cities to denounce the dangerous and disastrous police-ICE partnerships that led to the human rights crisis in Arizona. The week of advocacy was launched on Tuesday in conjunction with a FOIA lawsuit filed in the Southern District of New York by the National Day Laborer Organizing Network, the Center for Constitutional Rights and the Immigration Justice Clinic of Benjamin Cardozo School of Law to demand records relating to the Secure Communities program.

The memo included targeted op-eds in "major newspapers in the right cities where protests are planned."  On the day of the launch John Morton, director ICE placed op-eds in Atlanta, GA, Miami, FL, and Morristown, New Jersey—sites of the campaign.

The following is a statement of Sarahi Uribe, organizer with the National Day Laborer Organizing Network and national coordinator of the "Uncover The Truth" campaign: 
"It is deeply disturbing that Immigration and Customs Enforcement responds to our simple request for truth and accountability with an aggressive strategy for spin and deception. At a time when its clear that the federal government's irresponsibility gave rise to the crisis in Arizona, rights groups now feel under attack for demanding basic answers from our government."

For a copy of the memo and listings of local events visit: www.uncoverthetruth.org

Uncovering the Truth about Police and ICE Collaboration

Check out the website at http://uncoverthetruth.org to find information about special actions happening this week aimed at “Uncovering the Truth on Police and ICE Collaboration.”

NSM of Philadelphia -- as well as many other national and local immigrant rights, criminal justice and social justice groups throughout the country -- will be featured in stories and photos.


The “Uncovering the Truth” week of activities is intended to be a coordinated effort to get local groups asking questions about police and ICE collaboration in their communities, and to get lawmakers in Congress focused on holding the Department of Homeland Security accountable.

Deportation programs like the Department of Homeland Security’s misnamed “Secure Communities” program are set to be in every U.S jail by 2013 without the public, elected officials, and sometimes police chiefs themselves knowing. Indeed, the program has been advanced in secrecy despite significant public attention paid to the devastating consequences to communities where police enforcement of immigration law has been piloted.

Read more about the Uncovering the Truth campaign ...

Bike for Immigrant Justice -- The 2000 Mile Trip Begins on Saturday!

This Saturday, NSM member Sheila Dhand begins her bike trip from Philly to New Orleans (2000 plus miles!) as way to raise awareness about the issues of immigration in the U.S.  As she visits communities along the way, Sheila  hopes to motivate people to action against the injustices that are being committed towards millions of immigrants across the country.  Please join us for the big send off --

Date:	Saturday, May 1, 2010
Time:	9:00am - 12:00pm
Location:	Clark Park, West Philadelphia (43rd and Baltimore Ave)

To stay connected to reports on the big adventure, visit Sheila's blog "Bike for Immigrant Justice" and join the "Sheila's Bike for Immigration Justice" Facebook group!

Al Dia Article about Sheila's Bike Ride

Al Dia sdhand | April 24, 2010 at 4:41 pm | Categories: Uncategorized | URL: http://wp.me/pROv4-1f

http://www.pontealdia.com/philadelphia/pedaleando-2.000-millas-por-justicia-migratoria.html
English Translation:
Despite being an American, Sheila Dhand says that she knows that is going on right now with undocumented people.
"I think it's important that people realize that this problem affects not only immigrants but also for us because with the deportations and anti-immigrant laws that are happening in different states, we are becoming a society without conscience. "
This young woman, just 25 years and daughter of Indian immigrants, will tour in favor of immigration reform out of Philadelphia to conclude in New Orleans where she expected to meet various organizations to urge immigration reform to different representatives.
"I am very aware of what is happening, I became involved in an organization that helps immigrants and decided to travel 2,000 miles on my bike ... this will take me about 7 weeks which start running the first of May. "
Dhand will pedal 15 miles every day and will be making various stops to meet with people to discuss the raids and those faced by immigrants.
"I think we need immigration reform because it is not fair that people are being judged by their immigration status, these immigrants have helped so much in the country's economic development and U.S. is not not paying them in a fair way. "

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Don't Miss It! May 2nd Family Unity BBQ/ 2nd de Mayo Barbacoa por la Unidad Familiar

en español abajo...

Family Unity BBQ
Sunday, May 2nd

at Mifflin Park (6th and Ritner)
from 1 pm to 6 pm
part of a national week of action called
"Uncovering the Truth about Collaborations between the Police and ICE " 
Hosted by New Sanctuary Movement of Philadelphia, The Cambodian Association of Greater Philadeland and JUNTOS    
 
Please come celebrate these important events with your family at a multicultural barbecue.  Enjoy good food from different countries, sports, games and music. We will celebrate family unity and call for the end of all collaboration between the Philadelphia Police Department and Immigration and Customs Enforcement.  We are coming together to celebrate and call for Family Unity!

 

 

 

 Barbacoa por la Unidad Familiar
Domingo, 2 de Mayo
Mifflin Park entre 6th y Ritner
1 pm a 6 pm
parte de una semana nacional de acción
"Descubriendo la verdad sobre la colaboración entre la policía y la migra"
Actividad patrocinada por el Nuevo Movimiento Santuario, JUNTOS, y la Asociación Camboyana.
 
Venga a celebrar con su familia en un ambiente multicultural con gente de diferentes países, con música, deporte y comida. Queremos celebrar la unidad familiar y la unión multicultural, y decir a la ciudad de Philadelphia ya basta con las políticas que permiten que ICE y la policía colaboren. ¡No más a las deportaciones de nuestros familiares y amigos!

  

 

Philadelphia Rally for Immigration Reform - Saturday April 10th

	11:30am on Saturday, April 10, 2010
	National Constitution Center
	500 block of Market St.
	Philadelphia, PA

On March 21st, hundreds of thousands marched on Washington to demand Congress act NOW to deliver comprehensive immigration reform. Now it is time to bring this movement home, and to let our Pennsylvania Congressional delegation know that they have no choice but to act.

Join us and stand up for our families, our communities, and our future. NSM and many other Philadelphia groups will take part in this rally organized by Reform Immigration for America.

Councilwoman Maria Quinones Sanchez has confirmed that she will attend. Additional invites have gone out to Sens. Casey & Specter, Reps. Brady & Fattah, Mayor Nutter, and Councilman Kenney.

There are several cultural performances planned, including Aztec Mexican dance groups, Kyo Taiko drummers, a youth breakdancing group, and a Spanish language rapper. Additional invitations are going out
to a group of Samba drummers, Irish dancers, and others.

Coalition Meeting April 8th at 7pm / Reunion de Coalición 8 de abril a las 7pm

New Sanctuary Movement of Philadelphia

Coalition Meeting - Next Steps following Solidarity Event and March on DC

Thursday, April 8 @ 7pm

Visitation BVM Church, 300 E. Lehigh Ave in the school basement

We've had two very exciting events in the last month - the "Solidarity - Then and Now" event honoring the original Sanctuary Movement, and the march on Washington DC for Immigration Reform. Come join us for an evening of reflection, sharing, and a discussion on how we can build on these two events. We look forward to seeing you!

Nuevo Movimiento Santuario de Filadelfia

Reunion de Coalición - Próximos pasos 

despues del evento de solidaridad y la marcha en Washington DC

Jueves, 8 de abril a las 7pm

Iglesia Visitacion, 300 calle Lehigh, en el sótano de la escuela

Nosotros hemos tenido dos eventos llenos de entusiamo en los ultimos dos meses - el evento "Solidaridad - Antes y Ahora" que honró el Movimiento Santuario original, y la marcha a Washington DC por la Reforma Migratoria. Ahora le invitamos a que nos acompañen para reflexionar, compartir, y discutir lo podemos construir siguiendo estos dos eventos.

En Paz y Solidaridad,
Jen y Peter

NY Daily News: Immigration and Customs Enforcement tactics contradict Obama's promise of immigration reform

In a NY Daily News article today, columnist Albor Ruiz writes:

As much as one would like to take President Obama at his word on immigration reform, it has become increasingly difficult.

Particularly when Immigration and Customs Enforcement is still running wild and contradicting Obama's repeated assurances that the agency would focus on dangerous criminals and not on workers and families.

"We are not going to deport our way to a controlled immigration system. The ultimate solution is comprehensive immigration reform that ensures immigrants are legal, hiring is legal, and future immigration is legal," said Frank Sharry, executive director of the advocacy group America's Voice.....

Read the complete article here.