FBI REPORT DOCUMENTS HATE CRIMES AGAINST LATINOS AT RECORD LEVEL
Hate crimes rise as anti-immigrant campaigns fill the airwaves and fuel anti-immigrant local ordinances
November 19, 2007
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Federal Bureau of Investigation Hate Crimes Statistics Report released today demonstrates the real societal impact of anti-immigrant campaigns launched over the airwaves and through anti-immigrant legislation. The report shows a sharp increase in the number of hate crimes reported against Hispanics based on their ethnicity or national origin to the highest levels since the reports were first mandated by the Hate Crimes Statistics Act.
According to the report, in 2006, Hispanics comprised 62.8% of victims of crimes motivated by a bias toward the victims’ ethnicity or national origin. In 2004, the comparable figure was 51.5%. Since 2004, the number of victims of anti-Hispanic crimes increased by 25%.
“Anti-immigrant hatred heard on the radio and cable shows reaches America’s neighborhoods with real consequences,” stated MALDEF President and General Counsel John Trasviña. “Heightened anti-immigrant sentiment has blocked immigration reform and seeks to turn local police into immigration law enforcers thus making it more difficult for victims to report crimes.
The FBI report should serve as a wake up call to our nation’s leaders to take action on comprehensive immigration reform, reduce tensions and safeguard the basic civil rights and liberties of all Americans.”
The report goes on to demonstrate the steady growth of anti-Hispanic hate crimes after 2004.
2006: 576 anti-Hispanic crimes against 819 victims
2005: 522 anti-Hispanic crimes against 722 victims
2004: 475 anti-Hispanic crimes against 646 victims
2003: 426 anti-Hispanic crimes against 595 victims
2002: 480 anti-Hispanic crimes against 639 victims
http://www.fbi.gov/ucr/hc2006/index.html
Founded in 1968, MALDEF, the nation’s leading Latino legal organization, promotes and protects the rights of Latinos through litigation, advocacy, community education and outreach, leadership development, and higher education scholarships.
Monday, November 26, 2007
HATE CRIMES AGAINST HISPANICS UP 25% SINCE 2004
Friday, November 16, 2007
Faith Community Urges Governor Kulongoski to Rescind Harmful Executive Order
November 16, 2007
Today, members of the Oregon Faith Community from Marion and Polk Counties met in Salem at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church for an ecumenical service and press conference in response to the plight of immigrants.
The faith service and press conference came following a meeting that immigrant rights advocates and growers had with 
Governor Kulongoski’s staff over the Governor’s proposed executive order that would deny driver’s licenses to immigrants. Under the Governor's executive order that he signed today, DMV would limit the documents accepted to get a driver's license, eliminating those commonly available to immigrants such as the Matricula card and foreign birth certificates.
While the Governor's executive order proposes to prevent fraud, denying drivers licenses will have a disastrous effect on public safety, while fueling the production and sale of falsified documents.
Additional Resources:
Letter from Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon
Letter from Oregon Association of NurseriesFacts on Governor Kulongoski's Executive Order
Signed Executive Order 07-22
Fact Sheet in English
Fact Sheet in EspanolPodcast
Audio of Press Conference
Farm Workers Union and Oregon Nursery Trade Group Jointly Condemn Governor’s Anti-Immigration Order
Today, the Oregon Association of Nurseries (OAN) and Northwest Treeplanters and Farmworkers United (PCUN) issued a strong response in opposition to Governor Kulongoski’s executive order that would dramatically restrict license requirements for the state’s agricultural workforce.
“Creating a national, universal identification system through the driver’s license program is fundamentally flawed,” said John Aguirre, Executive Director of the Oregon Association of Nurseries. “The governor’s order creates more problems than it solves. We have to make sure our work force can get to work.”
One major concern is the new requirement for DMV to verify social security numbers for every person who applies for or renews a license. The current online verification system is so flawed that the state of Illinois banned all businesses from utilizing the system to conduct I-9 checks for new employees.
During a morning briefing with the governor’s staff today, the OAN and PCUN issued a challenge to the governor and legislative leaders to work alongside them to pass comprehensive immigration reform that addresses the needs of labor-intensive businesses that depend on foreign workers.
“Our growers share major concerns around the availability of labor. It is essential that this governor demonstrate leadership in securing a legal, willing workforce for these businesses that are essential to Oregon’s economy,” said Aguirre.
“The executive order signed today endangers the public safety of all Oregonians and jeopardizes the economic viability of Oregon’s agriculture community” Ramon Ramirez, President of PCUN. “If Congress had acted responsibly and passed comprehensive immigration reform, this policy would not have the negative impact it does today on the health and vitality of Oregon’s farm worker community.”
The Oregon Association of Nurseries, based in Wilsonville, represents more than 1,600wholesale growers, retailers, landscapers and suppliers. Oregon's ornamental horticulture industry is the state's largest agricultural commodity, with annual sales of more than $1 billion. For information visit our web site at www.oan.org or call 503-682-5089.
Contact Info:
Elizabeth Peters
OAN Director of Communications
503-250-2235
epeters@oan.org
Immigrant Rights Groups Denounce Governor Kulongoski’s Executive Order
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 16, 2007
Contact:
Erik Sorensen, Communications, CAUSA (503) 789-8213
Aeryca Steinbauer, Coordinator, CAUSA (503) 984-6816
Immigrants and allies urge Governor to abandon Executive Order that will harm public safety and erode community trust
Salem, OR— CAUSA, Oregon’s statewide immigrant rights coalition, denounces Governor Ted Kulongoski’s Executive Order #07-22 that would bar Oregon's undocumented immigrants from accessing a driver's license. Under the Governor's proposed order that he plans to issue today, DMV would limit the documents accepted to get a driver's license, eliminating documents commonly available to immigrants such as the Matricula card and foreign birth certificates. Presently under Oregon law, all residents of Oregon regardless of legal status can obtain a driver's license, an important public safety policy.
Currently, there are over 120,000 undocumented immigrants in Oregon, many of whom drive on Oregon's roads to get to work, buy groceries, and take their kids to school. As a result of the Governor’s proposed executive order, these drivers would not be allow to take drivers classes or pass driving tests, will not be able to get insurance, and will be more likely to be involved in a potentially fatal accident. Studies show that licensing drivers prevents accidents and insurance losses as drivers are tested, registered and photographed. Likewise, licensing and law enforcement agencies are better able to track unsafe drivers.
Restricting driver's license access also erodes community trust. Rather than increasing security, driver's license restrictions would result in a situation where immigrants fear discrimination and being reported to ICE. They therefore would avoid contact with law enforcement and are less likely to report crimes and assist local law enforcement fight criminal and terrorist activity. This decreases community trust and infringes upon efforts to fight crime and save lives.
“Denying licenses to immigrants is bad for public safety resulting in unsafe roads, high insurance rates and overwhelmed court systems.” said Aeryca Steinbauer, Coordinator of CAUSA. “Rather than increasing security, immigrants who fear discrimination and deportation will avoid contact with law enforcement and will be less likely to report crimes and assist local law enforcement in fighting criminal and terrorist activity. We urge the governor to rescind his order.”
Upon hearing the news of Governor Kulongoski’s action to deny licenses to immigrants on Wednesday, CAUSA and allies generated thousands of contacts urging the Governor to reconsider.
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
Protect Driver's License Access for Oregon Residents
November 14, 2007
THIS FRIDAY Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski is planning to issue an executive order that would bar Oregon's undocumented immigrants from accessing a driver's license.
Under the Governor's proposed executive order, DMV would limit the documents accepted to get a driver's license, eliminating undocumented immigrants use to qualify such as the Matricula card or foreign birth certificates. Currently under Oregon law, all residents of Oregon -regardless of legal status- can obtain a driver's license, a important public safety policy.
Currently, there are over 120,000 undocumented immigrants in Oregon, many of whom drive on Oregon's roads to get to work, buy groceries, and take their kids to school. As a result of Governor Kulongoski's proposed executive order, these drivers would not be allow to take drivers classes or pass driving tests, will not be able to get insurance, and will be more likely to be involved in a potentially fatal accident. Studies show that licensing drivers prevents accidents and insurance losses as drivers are tested, registered and photographed. Likewise, licensing and law enforcement agencies are better able to track unsafe drivers.
Restricting driver's license access also erodes community trust. Rather than increasing security, driver's license restrictions would result in a situation where immigrants fear discrimination and being reported to ICE. They therefore would avoid contact with law enforcement and are less likely to report crimes and assist local law enforcement fight criminal and terrorist activity. This decreases community trust and infringes upon efforts to fight crime and save lives.
TAKE ACTION NOW and tell Governor Kulongoski that all Oregon residents, regardless of immigration status, should have access driver's licenses for the sake of public safety.
Call Governor Kulongoski at 503-378-4582, fax him at 503.378.6827 or send him a message online at: http://www.governor.state.or.us/Gov/contact_us.shtml (sample message below)
We are calling on all immigrant rights supporters to flood the Governor's phone, fax, and email with messages.
Subject: Protect public safety--preserve driver's license access for all Oregon Residents
Dear Governor Kulongoski,
I urge you to suspend your action in passing an executive order that limits documents Oregon residents can use to obtain a driver's license. Denying licenses to immigrants puts public safety at risk. Restricting driver's license access also erodes community trust. Rather than increasing security, driver's license restrictions would result in a situation where immigrants fear discrimination and being reported to ICE. They therefore would avoid contact with law enforcement and will be less likely to report crimes and assist local law enforcement fight criminal and terrorist activity.
The State of Oregon needs to have a realistic system that respects the rights of our hard-working, tax-paying residents to have access to a document that is fundamental to day-to-day functioning.
I join Oregonians in urging you to support driver's license access for all residents of Oregon.
Sincerely,
[Your name]
[Your address]
Anti-immigrant Activists Unveil Initiative for Oregon’s 2008 Ballot
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 14, 2007
Contact:
Erik Sorensen, Communications, CAUSA (503) 789-8213
Aeryca Steinbauer, Coordinator, CAUSA (503) 984-6816
Salem, OR--Yesterday, during a press conference at the Oregon State Capitol, anti-immigrant activists from Oregonians for Immigration Reform (OFIR) unveiled their omnibus anti-immigrant proposal. Their proposed Initiative Petition #112 titled, “Respect for Law Act”, would require state employees to cooperate with immigration enforcement, would place limitations on voter registration and restrict driving privileges to individuals.
The press conference comes in response to recent approval of IP 112’s ballot title by the Oregon Supreme Court. Proponents now must await certification on the explanation page from the Secretary of State's office before they can begin circulation. In an action alert sent out on Monday, OFIR announced that they hope to begin gathering signatures next week and will mail sheets to their supporters as soon as they get approval. They will need to gather 82,769 valid signatures by July 3, 2008 in order to qualify the measure for the ballot.
IP 112 would not only revoke driver's license access for undocumented immigrants, but require proof of citizenship in order for individuals to register to vote, and force state workers, police, and teachers to enforce immigration laws. In addition to scapegoating immigrants, the measure would disenfranchise and intimidate the elderly, minorities, and low income people-groups that commonly do not have access to documentation. IP 112 is an affront to public safety and would result in an increase in unlicensed, uninsured drivers on the road.
CAUSA and its allies are set to fight the ill-conceived measure by educating Oregonians about its true costs and urging them to decline to sign IP112. CAUSA will also work in broad bi-partisan coalition of organizations and individuals to defeat this measure should it qualify for the ballot. "We are launching a public education campaign to educate Oregonians about the harmful consequences of this measure. Oregonians everywhere should be concerned about its damaging effects on public safety and it’s potential to increase insurance rates.", said Aeryca Steinbauer, Coordinator for CAUSA.
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
Marion-Polk Faith Community to Hold Service Responding to the Plight of Immigrants
November 13, 2007
Rev. Gail McDougle, First Congregational United Church of Christ, 503-363-3660
Aeryca Steinbauer, Coordinator, CAUSA 503-984-6816
What: Ecumenical Service and Press Conference in Response to the Plight of Immigrants in our Midst
When: Friday, November 16, 2007 at 11:00 A.M. (Press Conference to follow at 11:30 A.M.)
Where: St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church, 1010 Columbia St NE at Portland Road, Salem, OR 97301
This Friday, members of the Oregon Faith Community from Marion and Polk Counties will gather in Salem at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church for an ecumenical service and press conference in response to the plight of immigrants.
Following the ecumenical service, leaders of faith communities in Marion and Polk Counties will release a co-signed statement calling for compassionate and just treatment of immigrants and humane immigration reform that honors the dignity of every person. A plan of action will also be presented to respond to potential immigration enforcement raids and their impact on children, families, friends, neighbors, schools, businesses, and churches.
Friday’s event will commemorate the 18th Anniversary of the Martyrdom of Six Jesuit Priests and two women killed in El Salvador on November 16, 1989 by the Salvadoran military. The six priests and two women were killed because of their work for social justice and peace in Latin America. This anniversary commemoration is to serve as a reminder of why immigrants from around the world still flee their country of origin to come to the United States. Many are seeking to escape poverty, environmental degradation, crime, and political and economic violence.
The ecumenical service will begin at 11:00 am with a press conference to follow at 11:30 am. For more information on this event, please call First Congregational Church, United Church of Christ at 503-363-3660 or CAUSA – Immigrants Rights Coalition (503) 984-6816
Monday, November 12, 2007
César E. Chávez Boulevard
We are less then a week away from a historic vote on renaming Interstate Avenue to Cesar E. Chavez Boulevard. With your support, partnerships with community based organizations, and an unwavering commitment to honoring Cesar E. Chavez, we will be successful.
On Tuesday, November 6th, Latino Network convened a group of leaders from diverse communities to add their voices and wisdom to the ongoing debate of re-naming N Interstate Avenue to César E Chávez Boulevard. The press conference highlighted the broad community support for renaming Interstate Avenue and established even stronger partnerships and alliances.
We have received confirmation that on Thursday, November 15th, at 3pm Portland City Council will consider two resolutions. Mayor Tom Potter will introduce a resolution asking for a vote on renaming Interstate Avenue. Commissioners Randy Leonard and Sam Adams will continue discussion on their resolution to dissolve the current process and renaming committee, and start a new complicated and drawn out process with a different renaming committee. A vote is expected on both resolutions.
It is important that ALL of our supporters to rename Interstate Avenue to Cesar E. Chavez Boulevard attend the November 15th, 3pm council meeting. Your presence will make difference and demonstrate all of the people impacted by the decisions that are made and outcome of the vote. Plan on attending, arrive early if you want to sign up to testify, and bring others with you.
Leading up to this date, continue to make your opinions heard by contacting the city commissioners:
Mayor Tom Potter, (503)823-4127, mayorpotter@ci.portland.or.us
Commissioner Sam Adams, (503)823-3008, samadams@ci.portland.or.us
Commissioner Randy Leonard, (503)823-4682, rleonard@ci.portland.or.us
Commissioner Dan Saltzman, (503)823-4151, dansaltzman@ci.portland.or.us
Commissioner Erik Sten, (503)823-3589, esten@ci.portland.or.us
Let them know how important a YES vote to renaming Interstate is to you, your neighbors and future generations.
Visit http://www.cesarechavezboulevard.com/ for the most current information.
If you have not already done so, please sign the online petition and encourage others to do the same. As mentioned before, it is a week away from this historic vote, so we need to continue to our efforts and cannot slow down.
Thursday, November 8, 2007
OP-ED: Collaboration with feds hurts community policing
by Ramón Ramírez
November 8, 2007
Anyone concerned about public safety should be paying close attention to the new policy of increased collaboration between Marion County jails and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Minority community organizations have worked for years to build trust and communication between Marion County law enforcement and communities of color. Marion County civic and business leaders must resist the attempts of some who seek to vilify the Latino immigrant community at the expense of everyone's public safety.
"Community policing" is a reciprocal policing strategy in which residents and local law enforcement each assume a role in promoting the safety of their communities. The success of community policing hinges upon a relationship of trust between community residents and law enforcement officials, a relationship that is broken down when immigrants fear immigration-related consequences for approaching state or local police.
From New Jersey to Los Angeles, chiefs of police are embracing community policing as an effective strategy to combat crime. Los Angeles is now in the early stages of a potentially historic decline in crime.
Earl Paysinger, deputy to the Los Angeles Police Department police chief, recently commented to The New York Times that the decline in crime in his city could be attributed to efforts to "reach out to communities that years ago we didn't even talk to." One of the benefits, he said, is that "people are more willing to call the police."
Sheriff Russ Isham wisely adopted community policing policies when he was a sergeant in the Salem Police Department, increasing participation in the Neighborhood Watch program from 1,900 to 5,000 households and launching a Drug Activity Response Team.
If the lines between local police and immigration authorities become too blurred, undocumented immigrants don't feel safe reporting crimes, resulting in regrettable situations for everyone including unreported burglaries, violence and drug activity.
Domestic violence advocates also have cited the damaging effects of police collaboration with ICE, as victims of battering would rather endure the abuse than risk deportation. Being serious about combating the meth epidemic in Marion County especially means we should advocate for community policing that facilitates all residents' cooperation with law enforcement.
To ensure the new policy doesn't result in unintended consequences, Marion County should consider monitoring law enforcement officers to prevent racial profiling. Eight years after the New Jersey State Police acknowledged that its troopers were focusing on black and Hispanic drivers at traffic stops, federal monitors announced last month that the department had made remarkable progress in eliminating racial profiling and no longer needed federal supervision.
And on Sept. 25, a Virginia Illegal Immigration Task Force concluded that it couldn't recommend forcing police departments to enforce federal immigration law or require officers to ask about the immigration status of anyone they encounter.
In order not to undermine the trust that has been built with communities of color in Marion County, we are committed to working with the sheriff to ensure that our police officers are behaving in the most professional manner towards all residents of Marion County.
Ramón Ramírez is the president of Pineros y Campesinos Unidos del Noroeste, Northwest Treeplanters and Farmworkers United, Oregon's farmworker union. He can be contacted at ramonramirez@pcun.org.
Event: Public Hearing on Media Ownership
The official public FCC hearing slated for Friday in Seattle
Background:
For the last four years a growing group of individuals and organizationshave been fighting the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and itsattempt to allow big media to get even bigger. This issue is now coming tothe Pacific Northwest as the FCC is holding its final hearing on this subject in Seattle this coming Friday.
Public Hearing on Media Ownership
4pm-11pm, Friday, Nov. 9 2007
Town Hall Seattle, Great Hall
1119 Eighth Avenue
Seattle, Washington
FCC Chairman Martin is attempting to fast-track the final vote beforeChristmas in an effort to implement these changes ahead of the 2008 electioncycle. The new rules, if passed, would allow one company to own the dailynewspaper, 3 TV Stations, 8 Radio Stations, the cable company and internetservice provider in a city the size of Portland. For more details on howOregon will be affected go here: http://www.oregonarm.org/pressmediaownership
The health of our media sets the baseline for our political participation,our cultural expression and our knowledge about the rest of the world.Whether people are concerned about media bias, the lack of diverse voices innews, the arts and music, runaway commercialism or the dumbing-down ofpolitical debate, it's important to understand that who owns the channels wewatch has a huge impact and to say no to allowing making big media to growany bigger.
What can you do?
Attend the hearing in Seattle and testify, or, support those presenting testimonies. Time will be tight - 2 minutes. You can also submit writtentestimony. It will be a spirited and instructive event - quite historic too!
If you want to ride on the bus to Seattle hearing with the Oregon delegation, please contact Bruce Fife ASAP at 503-235-8791 or bfife@afm99.org
Tentative timing will be to leave Woodburn at 10 am and Portland at 11:30 am
and head back south at 11:00 pm. Suggested donation is $10 but no one turned away due to lack of funds.If you can't attend the Seattle hearing, but still want to make your voiceheard, you can submit your comments online to the FCC. Your comments areinvaluable. In 2003 it was these public comments that helped us stop the FCCwhen they tried to relax media ownership rules. Submit your comments here:http://www.stopbigmedia.com/seattle.php
Contact your representatives in Washington DC. For more information on how they stand on this issue and contact information, go here: www.oregonarm.org/tellcongress
Updates on the Seattle hearing can be found at http://www.reclaimthemedia.org/
For more background check out this recent Bill Moyers show:
http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/11022007/watch.html
Friday, November 2, 2007
Study: Kids Hurt by Immigration Raids
By OSKAR GARCIA
GRAND ISLAND, Neb. (AP) — Children whose parents are arrested in immigration raids face mental health problems, including post-traumatic stress disorder, separation anxiety and depression, according to a study released Wednesday.
Researchers visited three cities where officials arrested 900 suspected illegal immigrants in workplace raids over the past year, causing 500 children to abruptly lose contact with their mother, father or both parents.
That left them with a combination of unstable supervision, stress, emotional trauma and material needs that can lead to mental health disorders, according to the study.
"Those children were born in America, and we forgot about their rights during the raids, because they were left parentless," said Steve Joel, superintendent of Grand Island Public Schools, which worked to get parents to keep their children in school following a December raid at the Swift & Co. meatpacking plant. >>continue
