El Comité Responds to the United States Supreme Court Ruling on Arizona’s Anti-Immigrant SB 1070 Legislation

MEDIA ADVISORY

For Immediate Release: Thursday June 28, 2012

Contact: El Comité Pro Reforma Migratoria Y Justicia Social, 206.324.6044/253.347.4229.  info@elcomitewa.org

El Comité Responds to the United States Supreme Court Ruling on Arizona’s Anti-Immigrant SB 1070 Legislation

 

SEATTLE - El Comité Pro Reforma Migratoria y Justicia Social views the United States Supreme Court ruling on Arizona’s SB 1070 as a failure on part of our judicial branch to protect the basic rights of immigrants and people of color from harassment and racial profiling. On the morning of Monday, June 25^th 2012, the Supreme Court passed down its ruling on the aforementioned, contentious bill. In a 5-3 decision the court ruled that three of the key provisions were unconstitutional, save for the provision that allows for police in Arizona to stop and ask documentation from people presumed to be in the United States without proper documentation.

In April of 2010, Arizona Governor Jan Brewer signed SB 1070, sparking contentious debate as to whether states can enforce federal immigration law. The act of signing SB 1070 was perhaps one of the biggest threats to civil liberties in communities of color, setting a dangerous precedent that will reverberate nation-wide. Central to the debate is the provision that allows law enforcement to stop and detain people suspected of being undocumented. Although other provisions were struck down, the fact of the matter remains that in Arizona, police are still able to exercise discriminatory policing based on a person’s appearance.

In Maricopa County, Sheriff Joe Arpaio, was found to utilize excessive and discriminatory force against the Latino community, as reported by a United States Department of Justice investigation. As a whole, the social climate in the state that introduced SB 1070 is one that enables discrimination and hostility toward immigrants and people of color in general.

El Comité Pro Reforma Migratoria Y Justicia Social reiterates the earlier point that in spite of the striking down of three provisions of SB 1070, perhaps the most controversial of these provisions, was left intact by the Supreme Court decision. Of concern with the decision, is the fact that various copycat laws have been passed since the introduction of SB 1070 in Arizona. As we have done over the course of the last twelve years, we will continue to work to ensure that all are given the opportunity to have a dignified existence, regardless of race, class, gender, sexual orientation, nationality or documented status.

EDUCATE, ORGANIZE, MOBILIZE!

For more information, contact the following: El Comité Pro Reforma Migratoria Y Justicia Social, 206.324.6044/253.347.4229.  info@elcomitewa.org

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PRESS RELEASE: El Comité Pro Reforma Migratoria Y Justicia Social addresses rumors about action on May 1st.

MEDIA ADVISORY

For Immediate Release: Sunday April 29, 2012

Contact: El Comité Pro Reforma Migratoria Y Justicia Social, 206.650.2106. info@elcomitewa.org, Twitter Tag: #SeattleMayDayMarch2012

El Comité Pro Reforma Migratoria Y Justicia Social addresses rumors about action on May 1st.

The May Day March and its participants wish to clarify any misinformation being circulated by fringe groups and officials within the Seattle Police Department.

 

SEATTLE – El Comité Pro Reforma Migratoria Y Justicia Social wishes to reiterate and reaffirm that we in no way encourage the dissemination of any information that encourages our participants to engage in reckless, poorly thought out activities that place our participants and their families in any danger.  Contrary to reports that have been disseminated in the media, the vast majority of participants in May 1^st activities do not have the intent of placing participants in danger. Our annual march is set with the intent of engaging the general population in bridging the barriers that divide our worker and social justice communities. True to the spirit of May Day, this march will make every effort to ensure that all are able to participate and connect with one another to progress a vision of community that seeks social justice for all, regardless of immigrant status, race, gender, nationality, ability, and sexual orientation.

On Tuesday, there will be two events; an Occupy Seattle sponsored program at Westlake during the day, and our annual march from St. Mary’s Church, in the evening. We are working with members of Occupy Seattle to make each of our events both safe and effective. Over the course of the last 12 years, we have encountered many challenges with threats of violence from right-wing extremists and white supremacists that have arisen from the work we do. Each and every year we and our allies have worked diligently to overcome such difficulties, to ensure that those who are on the economic and social margins have a space to voice their grievances in the midst of repeated attacks on our labor and immigrant communities. It is in unity that we find power, and it is in peaceful demonstration that we show our greatest strength. This march has, and always will be an event for the people. We will not take any threats of violence lightly and we will ensure that this event, like others past, is also a peaceful procession.

In closing, we ask any individual or entity to immediately cease any attempt to subvert and dismantle the work that we have undertaken for over 12 years. We welcome any and all who wish to work with us and offer support in solidarity. Likewise, we echo the long shore worker’s point which they emphasized in their struggle in Longview, that we as workers and community members are the only ones who can directly address the matters that afflict our communities. We respect the work that many other social justice organizations undertake. As such, we expect this same mutual respect in regard to our own internal workings and democratic structure. There is no need for petty tactics, misinformation, and infiltration of our events for the self-interest of narcissist, self-anointed “activists” who use intimidation and political terrorism to satiate their own egotistical needs. Let us all join as one to ensure we all coexist in a dignified way as workers, community members, students, as human beings.

EDUCATE, ORGANIZE, MOBILIZE!

For more information, contact the following: El Comité Pro Reforma Migratoria Y Justicia Social, 206.650.2106.  info@elcomitewa.org, Twitter Tag: #SeattleMayDayMarch2012

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Organizational Endorsements for the 2012 May Day March.

El Comité Pro-Reforma Migratoria y Justicia Social

May 1st Action Coalition

American Federation of Teachers 1789

Aerospace Machinists Lodge 751

Allyship

Backbone Campaign

Bethany United Church of Christ

Coalition of Anti-Racist Whites

Casa Latina

Community Alliance for Global Justice

El Centro de la Raza

Hod Carriers & General Laborers Local 242

Latino Civic Alliance

Martin Luther King Jr. County Labor Council

Movimiento Estudiantil Chicana/o de Aztlan de Seattle U.

Movimiento Estudiantil Chicana/o de Aztlan de U. of Washington

National Organization for Women

Office and Professional Employees International Union Local 8

Orgullo P’urhepecha

Pacific Northwest American Friends Service Committee 

PUSO

Seattle Committee In Solidarity with the People of El Salvador

Service Employees International Union Local 1199

Service Employees International Union Local 775

Social Justice Fund

Socialist Workers Party

St. Mary’s Parish

Teamsters Local 117

United Auto Workers Local 4121

United Communities Coalition

United Food and Commercial Workers Union 21

UNITE HERE Local 8

Washington Community Action Network

Washington Fair Trade Coalition

Washington Federation of State Employees 304

Washington New Sanctuary Movement,

Washington State Labor Council

Washington State Labor Education and Research Center

Western Washington Fellowship of Reconciliation

Washington Young Emerging Labor Leaders

Working Washington

Witness for Peace-Pacific Northwest Region

Press Release: Thousands Expected to take to the streets for 2012 May 1st March and Rally in Seattle.

MEDIA ADVISORY

For Immediate Release: Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Contact: El Comité Pro Reforma Migratoria Y Justicia Social and the May 1st Action Coalition,
ph: 206.324.6044 em:  info@elcomitewa.org Twitter Tag:#SeattleMayDayMarch2012

Thousands to take to the streets in Seattle for the 12^th Annual May Day March for Workers and Immigrant Rights on Tuesday, May 1^st 2012.

March to call for an immediate end to the forced implementation of the ‘Secure Communities’ Program (S Comm) in Washington and to protest Wells Fargo Bank for their role in funding unregulated prisons and detention centers throughout the United States

 

SEATTLE – Thousands of demonstrators are expected to take to the streets of Seattle on Tuesday, May 1, 2012 for the 12^th Annual May Day March for Workers and Immigrant Rights. In the spirit of unity and solidarity with other communities across the country, organizers in Seattle will focus on the universal theme of standing together with all workers regardless of race, class, gender, religious affiliation, sexual identity, ability, and documented status. Event details:

What: 12^th Annual May Day March and Rally for Workers and Immigrant Rights

Who: You, thousands of workers and immigrant rights supporters. We’ll be welcomed by Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn. We’ll hear testimonials from the community members, including faith based communities.

When: 3:30 p.m. Tuesday May 1st, 2012.

Where: The march will begin at St. Mary’s Church (611 20^th Ave South, Seattle, WA 98144) and a rally at its destination at the Federal Building in downtown Seattle.

Background

The theme of the 2012 march will center around justice for all workers and for an immediate end to the forced implementation of the “Secure Communities” Program in Washington State. Since its inception in 2008 under the George W. Bush Administration, S Comm has grown in scale and has contributed to record numbers of deportations throughout the U.S. In spite of the supposed intended goal of apprehending convicted felons, S Comm has led to an atmosphere of intimidation and racial profiling with many dragnet raids targeting communities of color throughout the country. These raids, often brutal and heavy-handed continue operating with absolute impunity with little to no regard for the civil and human rights of the communities targeted. Similarly, the march and rally will also focus on Wells Fargo Bank’s fudiciary support of the unregulated Private Prison-Industrial complex which controls several private prisons and immigration detention centers throughout the United States. This event marks the 12^th Annual May Day march organized byEl Comité and several other allied social justice organizations.

For more information, contact the following: El Comité Pro Reforma Migratoria Y Justicia Social and the May 1^st Action Coalition, 206.324.6044. info@elcomitewa.org, Twitter Tag: #SeattleMayDayMarch2012

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El Comité Pro-Reforma Migratoria y Justicia Social, May 1st Action Coalition, American Federation of Teachers 1789, Aerospace Machinists Lodge 751, Allyship, Backbone Campaign, Bethany United Church of Christ, Coalition of Anti-Racist Whites, Casa Latina, Community Alliance for Global Justice, El Centro de la Raza, Hod Carriers & General Laborers Local 242, Latino Civic Alliance, Martin Luther King Jr. County Labor Council, Movimiento Estudiantil Chicana/o de Aztlan de Seattle U., Movimiento Estudiantil Chicana/o de Aztlan de U. of Washington, National Organization for Women, Office and Professional Employees International Union Local 8, Orgullo P’urhepecha, Pacific Northwest American Friends Service Committee,  PUSO, Seattle Committee In Solidarity with the People of El Salvador, Service Employees International Union Local 1199, Service Employees International Union Local 775, Social Justice Fund, Socialist Workers Party, St. Mary’s Parish, Teamsters Local 117, United Auto Workers Local 4121, United Communities Coalition, United Food and Commercial Workers Union 21,UNITE HERE Local 8, Washington Community Action Network, Washington Fair Trade Coalition, Washington Federation of State Employees 304, Washington New Sanctuary Movement, Washington State Labor Council, Washington State Labor Education and Research Center, Western Washington Fellowship of Reconciliation, Washington Young Emerging Labor Leaders, Working Washington, Witness for Peace-Pacific Northwest Region.

Secure Communities, Irate Activists (Courtesy of the Seattle Weekly)

Secure Communities, Irate Activists

[http://www.seattleweekly.com/2012-04-11/news/secure-communities-irate-activists/]

A heavy-handed ICE decree will only do harm, pro-immigrant forces argue.

By Keegan Hamilton Wednesday, Apr 11 2012

The program with the reassuring name Secure Communities took effect last Tuesday in all 39 Washington counties, despite objections from activist groups claiming that the effort to fingerprint and deport undocumented immigrants erodes community trust in law enforcement, costs taxpayers money, and disproportionally targets individuals guilty only of traffic violations or other minor offenses.

Secure Communities was originally introduced in 2008 by ICE (Immigrations and Customs Enforcement) and promoted as a way to rid the country of felonious illegal immigrants. It’s supposed to work like this: When people are booked into local jails, their fingerprints are submitted to an FBI database, which ICE then cross-references with their own records to check for previous immigration violations. If an offender pings in the system, ICE will ask local authorities to detain the inmate until their agents arrive to transport the offender to a federal detention center, where he or she likely will face deportation.

Initially, local law-enforcement agencies were allowed to “opt in” to the Secure Communities program. A handful of Washington counties volunteered to take part, including Yakima, Franklin, and Benton—all counties with large Latino populations. The Washington State Patrol, however, resisted statewide implementation of the program, following the lead of New York, Massachusetts, California, and other states. ICE had planned to roll out the program nationally next year, but two weeks ago the agency abruptly announced that participation in Secure Communities would be mandatory statewide.

The move has drawn sharp criticism from legal advocacy and immigrant-rights groups, both of which point to statistics from the Department of Homeland Security as proof that nearly 80 percent of the people deported through Secure Communities have either never been convicted of a crime or are guilty only of minor offenses.

“I call it the insecure communities program,” says Ann Benson, directing attorney of the Washington Defender Association. “It’s costing us money, it’s not making us safer, it’s contributing to racial profiling, and it’s undermining the criminal-justice system. Those are things I see daily working with criminal prosecutors and courts.”

In Washington, data from the six counties that opted in to Secure Communities over the past three years shows that 84 percent of those deported through the program either had no criminal conviction (25 percent) or were charged or convicted with Level 2 or 3 offenses (59 percent), non-felonies that include speeding tickets and other traffic infractions. That, says Toby Guevin, the senior policy and legislative manager at Seattle-based immigrant rights group OneAmerica, has made Latino community members less likely to call the police when something bad happens.

“Secure Communities is a broad dragnet that catches everybody,” Guevin says. “Regardless of what your crime is or why you’ve been brought in, you’re fingerprinted. As a result, witnesses of crimes or victims of crime are really hesitant to call the police.”

In addition to breeding mistrust, Benson says Washington taxpayers are usually forced to foot the bill for detaining undocumented immigrants while ICE processes their fingerprints and sends agents to transfer offenders to federal facilities. ICE can order inmates to be held for an additional 48 hours beyond the normal period during which an individual must be charged or released, and that time frame does not include weekends—meaning that in some cases a person can be detained for up to five days before facing charges.

“It’s really gumming up the criminal-justice process,” Benson says.

SAVE THE DAY: MAY 1st, 2012

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Asamblea Anual 2012/Annual Assembly 2012

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