New immigration law sets dangerous precedent

 Posted by on 2009/07/05  Comments Off
Jul 052009
 
New immigration law sets dangerous precedent

By Chris Burbank As you begin the experience of the U.S. Holocaust Museum in Washington, D.C., one of the first images you encounter is a photo of a Nazi soldier standing with a German police officer. Conspicuously, the identical theme exists at Yad VaShem, Israel’s memorial to Holocaust victims. The Nazi propaganda and hatred effort did not begin with imprisonment and genocide. It was instituted subtly, declaring the criminality of those deemed inferior. Laws were developed and regulations restricting movement, mandating identification and limiting human rights were also passed. Co-opting the trusted local constabulary was instrumental in enforcement of those laws. Unfortunately, throughout history local law enforcement has been an extremely effective arm of oppression. How many individuals in the MORE

Weekly Immigration Wire: Marching Toward Justice!

 Posted by on 2009/01/24  Comments Off
Jan 242009
 
Weekly Immigration Wire: Marching Toward Justice!

I’VE BEEN FOLLOWING NEWS FROM MEXICO for a few years now, and as I’m sure you know, most US media ignores Mexico, and to our detriment. This is baffling to me because our cultures, our land, our labor, and our peoples are so intertwined as to be two parts of one whole. It is easy to forget this in the midst of much rigid talk of maps, borders, and walls. But reality is knocking at our door. Welcome to the new White House administration, in which we move forward with purpose. On President Obama’s very first day in office, immigrants and allies marched on ICE headquarters to signify their for change. Racewire reports that yesterday, “hundreds gathered in DC, a day after MORE

Change Immigrants and Labor Can Believe In

 Posted by on 2008/12/02  Comments Off
Dec 022008
 
Change Immigrants and Labor Can Believe In

Since 2001 the Bush administration has deported more than a million people–including 349,041 individuals in the fiscal year ending just prior to the election. It has resurrected the discredited community sweeps and factory raids of earlier eras, and started sending waves of migrants to privately run jails for crimes like inventing a Social Security number to get a job. Every day in Tucson seventy young people, including many teenagers, are brought before a federal judge in heavy chains and sentenced to prison because they walked across the border.  It’s no wonder that Latinos, Asians and other communities with large immigrant populations voted for Barack Obama by huge margins. People want and expect a change. Ending the administration’s failed program of MORE