Call to Action -- Visit Congressman Brady on Tuesday!

Join Us To Visit Congressman Robert Brady / US House of Representatives, Pennsylvania District 1

With Members of JUNTOS, the Cambodian Association, And the New Sanctuary Movement


When: February 2nd, 2010, 10:00 AM.
Where: We will meet at 2029 S. 8th St., in the Houston Community Center Auditorium, to march to the Congressman’s office at 1907-09 S. Broad St. for a meeting at 11:30 AM.
To ask Representative Brady to co-sponsor CIR ASAP, The Comprehensive Immigration Reform for America's Security and Prosperty Act of 2009 in support of Comprehensive Immigration Reform to promote:

-A path to legalization
-Justice for Immigrant Workers
-The Dream Act
-Security Measures that don’t target immigrant communities.
-Family Reunification

Along with testimony from community leaders, we will deliver petitions and thousands of post-cards from constituents in the Congressman’s District in favor of immigration reform.

Please RSVP!
For More Info and to Confirm, Please Call: (267)-275-7810

Philadelphia City Council Resolution -- we need you at City Hall on Thursday!

City Council Resolution in Support of Comprehensive Immigration Reform
On Thursday Councilwoman Maria Quinones-Sanchez will introduce a resolution in City Council calling on our members of congress to support Comprehensive Immigration Reform. We need to show our strong support, so spread the word and please join us at City Hall! There will also be a press conference following the council session.

Thursday, January 28, 2010 9:15a
Philadelphia City Hall, 15th & Market, Council Chambers, 4th Flr

WE NEED YOU THERE!

Hope to see you Thursday!

In Peace and Solidarity,

Jen and Peter

Reform Immigration for America Rally at St. Thomas Aquinas / Si se puede! = Yes we can!

Written by Anna C. Dugdale, Title I ESOL Teacher at St. Thomas-Aquinas School in South Philadlephia

Despite the ICE (Immigration and Custom) Raids of 30 suspected undocumented immigrants on Monday, January 11, 2010 which terrified many of the women and children whose homes were raided, hundreds of immigrant parents, students and their families from South Philadelphia came out this past Friday, January 10, 2010, on Dr. King’s birthday no less, to support the national campaign rally kick off event held in the St. Thomas Aquinas School cafeteria to advocate for immigration law reform. There is a nationwide call for action by our labor unions, community groups, faith organizations, civil rights groups and immigrant communities to push for comprehensive immigration reform this year in Washington. This rally advocates a legal path to citizenship for all immigrant workers so they may find the freedom, liberty and pursuit of happiness that our country has symbolized for all of us, as a land of immigrants.  

Monsignor Hugh Joseph Shields welcomed us on behalf of the Office of the Vicar for Hispanic Catholics, followed by Councilwoman Maria Quinones-Sanchez, who explained some of the current failures of our immigration system that leaves 12 million immigrants undocumented but who continue to work and contribute to our US economy. Thirty-year veteran immigrant attorney Jane Goldblum explained that if you do not come to the US with a 4 year college degree, it is nearly impossible to obtain a working visa. In addition, she said that it takes 5 years for a legal resident to acquire a visa for family members and during that time, many family members are compelled to work in the US illegally under the fear of deportation and the separation of their loved ones. Tswien Law, of the Greater Philadlephia Organization of Chinese Americans addressed some of the myths of immigrants and reminded us of the history of how the N. American railroads were built by Chinese American labor and that 1,000 of the 10,000 workers died on the job. Both Wayne Macmaniman and Antony Dugdale, District leader of SEIU 32BJ and Philadelphia Coordinator of UNITE HERE, Local 274, shared stories of how undocumented workers are underpaid, overworked and intimidated by the threats of deportation if they dare to speak out or stand up for fair wage and working condition civil rights. Jesus Gutierrez, a JUNTOS member, said, “Cuando se divida una familia, se divida todo el pais.” = “When we divide our families, we divide our country.”

This Southeastern Pennsylvania Campain Kick off Rally is just one of many rallies “to create awareness and build a coalition of informed people to call on the new Administration and 111^th Congress to commit to: 

• I. “Uphold family unity as a priority of all immigration policies by
• 1.) expediting the reunion of immigrant families separated due to the length visa backlogs, 
• 2.) changing family preference categories and per country caps to prioritize family unity and 
• 3.) removing bars to reentry and adjustment of status for individuals seeking to reunite with their family members.” 
• And II. “Create a process for undocumented immigrants to earn their legal status and eventual US citizenship that affordable and does not take up to 10 years to process.” (Reform Immigration for America rally hand out)
  Note: You can also read about the top 10 immigrant myths and understand the facts from the National Immigration Forum’s June 2003 sources online.   (Click here for immigrant myths and facts document.) 

On a personal note, it was heartwarming to see so many alumni of the Title I ESOL Program at St. Thomas-Aquinas school there, parents of students who are now excelling academically at local high schools and colleges. It continues to be an honor to teach and learn from these inspirational families from Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam, China and Mexico who bring so much to our community!

JEAN MONTREVIL WAS RELEASED!

Yes, this is for real!

At around 4pm on Saturday January 23rd, Jean was dropped off in front of the Varick Street Detention Center in NYC. He then stopped at the nearby Judson Church where he was welcomed by the pastors and the Sunday School kids. And as we write this, he's heading home to Jani and his kids in Brooklyn.

In the words of Jani: "Thank u for all your luv n support. my Husband is Free @ last, Free @ last...........thank God almighty he's free @ last!"

This is a testament to all the AMAZING work you have all put in, in the last 3-and-a-half weeks.

But let us remember, that even though Jean has been released, JEAN IS NOT FREE.

He is still subject to deportation and detention because the laws that tear families apart are still in place. In fact, he reports back to NY ICE offices on February 2nd.

Let us CELEBRATE the incredible work that we have done until now, and let us also keep in mind the 33,000+ people who are still in detention tonight and the MILLIONS of families that still face being separated (including Jean's family and all our sanctuary families).


And as we THANK GOD for the return of our dear brother and leader, let us also RECOMMIT ourselves to the struggle to making sure Jean and all the millions of families like his gain true freedom by overturning the unjust laws that tear families apart.

Solidarity Then and Now -- Storytelling and Inspiration from the 1980s Sanctuary Movement and the New Sanctuary Movement

Plans are coming together for our February 11th gathering at Tabernacle United Church!  Come for an evening of storytelling and inspiration with Philadelphia leaders from the ORIGINAL Sanctuary movement of the 1980s together with the NEW Sanctuary Movement of Philadelphia.   Here's a preview of what to expect....

There will be special music and dance performances, and some of the families from El Salvador and Guatemala who were accompanied by the Philadelphia sanctuary congregations will be present.

We'll be recognizing several congregations for their 1980s commitments -- CBC, FUMCOG, Tabernacle, St. Vincents, Germantown Friends, Chestnut Hill Friends, Mishkan Shalom, and possibly others. 

And we will officially welcome Mishkan Shalom and Visitation BVM as the first congregations to affiliate with the New Sanctuary Movement.

Help us spread the word.  All are welcome!

When: Thursday, Feb 11th, from 7pm to 9pm
Where: Tabernacle United Church located at Chestnut and 37th Street (enter on 37th)

Reunion for 1980s Sanctuary Congregations in Philadelphia - Feb 11th

"I am getting deported because of unjust laws"

"I am getting deported because of unjust laws"

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