Stand Up for Immigrant Families this Easter

While families spend time with loved ones over Easter Recess, there is a deep concern that our nation's moral compass is askew when it comes to immigration.

America's Voice, a communications campaign working to win common-sense immigration reform, has launched a video and campaign calling for individuals to write a letter to their Representatives telling them you want to see humane, just, and comprehensive immigration reform.

"Keeping families together is not just a value for people of faith — it’s a human value."


While Americans view the family unit to be sacred, our nation's current immigration laws continue to trample the basic human dignity of families from coast to coast. Immigration raids tear mothers from daughters and endless backlogs keep families from re-uniting. Congress must enact just, humane and comprehensive immigration reform in 2009, and restore order and justice to our laws.

People of faith, from all traditions, are joining as one to bear witness to the consequences of our broken immigration system in their congregations, service programs, communities, and schools. They want to see an immediate end to the suffering caused by immigration raids and to make sure the 111th Congress enacts immigration reform based on the tenets of family unity, justice, and humane treatment of all persons.

Write a letter to your Representatives telling them you want to see humane, just, and comprehensive immigration reform—give them something to talk about when they’re back from Easter Recess.

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Immigration Office Cancels Planned Move to West Linn

News Brief: Immigration agency calls off West Linn move

by Ryan Frank, The Oregonian
Friday June 13, 2008, 1:32 PM

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services will not move to West Linn after all.

The immigration agency and the U.S. General Services Administration, the federal government's landlord, came under pressure from Portland politicians and Oregon's congressional delegation for pursuing the West Linn move. The move would have taken the immigration out of downtown Portland -- the hub of the region's transit system -- to one of the most difficult suburbs to reach by bus. >>continue

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OPB: Workers Mark Anniversary Of Del Monte Fresh Raid

By April Baer
OPB News
Workers' rights groups are marking the anniversary Thursday of an immigration raid on a Portland food-processing plant. April Baer reports that some of the workers arrested that day are still trying to get their cases resolved.

One year ago, Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested 168 people at Portland's Del Monte Fresh Produce plant.

Since then, dozens have been deported, or left the country in other ways. Only a handful are left.

At a vigil in front of the Del Monte Fresh plant, protestors made speeches and sang songs, including this Woody Guthrie classic from the 40s, about migrant workers.

"...north to Oregon to gather your hops..."

David Leslie of Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon says federal immigration raids aren't hitting the problem at its source.

David Leslie: "We felt then as we feel now that this raid, one year ago, did nothing to further the faith community's call for the development of a humane, respectful, and family-centered approach to immigration reform."

Some of the arrested workers are trying to file a class action lawsuit to recoup wages they earned before the raid. >>continue

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Advocates to Call Attention to Unfair Working Conditions and Broken Immigration System

MEDIA ADVISORY
June 11, 2008

Contacts:
DeEtte Waleed, (503) 550-3510
Marco Mejia, AFSC Portland, (503) 740-8035
Robert Brown (503) 267-9346
Erik Sorensen, CAUSA (503) 488-0263

Immigrant Rights Advocates to Call Attention to Unfair Working Conditions and Broken Immigration System
Portland, Ore. — Today, the Oregon New Sanctuary Movement, Oregon immigration rights and labor groups, and immigrant families will hold a press conference calling attention to unfair working conditions and our broken immigration system that terrorizes innocent people.

What: VIGIL AND PRESS CONFERENCE

Who: Immigrants, social justice advocates, people of faith and labor unions

When: Wednesday, June 11th, 2008, 10:30 am

Where: Del Monte plant, 9243 N Rivergate Blvd, Portland OR

This morning's press conference and vigil is part of the week of action and prayer for the families torn apart by Fresh Del Monte ICE Raid that occurred one year ago today. On June 11th, 2007, the Fresh Del Monte Produce fruit and vegetable processing plant in North Portland was raided by agents from the Department of Homeland Security Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). 167 immigrant workers were torn from their livelihood and their families. Many were taken to a private prison near Tacoma and deported. A small number of women who were pregnant or had very young children were put under house arrest. Today the families are still struggling to rebuild their lives.

Last year, community leaders, elected officials, faith communities and community organizations came together to denounce the raids in a press conference at Fresh Del Monte in North Portland. Portland Mayor Tom Potter at the time denounced such actions by The Department of Homeland Security saying that “Our nation would be better served if this kind of energy was focused on creating a comprehensive approach to immigration reform that provides a path to citizenship; addresses the immigration backlog that keeps families apart.”

Among those to speak today include David Leslie, Executive Director of Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon, Margaret Butler, Executive Director of Portland Jobs with Justice, Alice Perry, Immigrant Rights Specialist of American Friends Service Committee, and Rev. Kate Lore, Social Justice Ministry Director of the First Unitarian Universalist Church of Portland

Organizations co-sponsoring the week of prayer and action include: Oregon New Sanctuary Movement, with Portland Immigrant Rights Coalition, Comite de Solidaridad y Apoyo Mutuo, Jobs with Justice, American Friends Service Committee, Portland Central America Solidarity Committee, Witness for Peace NW, Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon, Bridgeport UCC, Zion UCC, the Jobs with Justice Faith-Labor Committee, CAUSA, Ascension Catholic Church, Peace and Social Concerns Committee of the Multnomah Friends Meeting, the Social Justice Council of the First Unitarian Church, Justice Commission of Ainsworth UCC, and the Justice Witness Ministry Team of the Central Pacific Conference of the UCC.

For more information on the Oregon New Sanctuary Movement, visit www.oregonsanctuary.org or call (503) 550-3510 or email portlandsanctuary@gmail.com.

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Resources:
Let My People Stay Calendar of Events

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The Truth About Immigrant Detentions

From our allies at FIRM:

Possibly related posts:
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Pope Benedict Encourages Compassion and Humanity for Immigrants

During Pope Benedict's visit last week, he called for humane treatment of undocumented immigrants. While meeting with U.S. leaders and dignitaries, he reached out encouraging Americans "to continue to welcome the immigrants who join your ranks today, to share their joys and hopes, to support them in their sorrows and trials and to help them flourish in their new home."

Of his main concerns the Pontiff stated was the need to "protect family unity and immigrants’ human rights". In addressing ICE raids, he said regarding the separation of families that it “is truly dangerous for the social, moral and human fabric” And that, “families should be protected, not destroyed”.

Although the Pope’s message on immigration was embraced by many, there were a few vocal individuals that rejected it. This week, several articles highlighted the Pontiff's message of compassion and humanity towards immigrant families. Here are two articles highlighting that message of compassion and those usual suspects that oppose it.

Oppenheimer: Pope is right to urge humane treatment for immigrants

Andres Oppenheimer
The Miami Herald

Pope Benedict XVI's calls for humane treatment of undocumented immigrants during his trip to the United States got anti-immigration zealots more riled up than usual. Good! I'm beginning to like this pope.

Soon after the pope called on Americans to fight "all forms of violence . . . so that immigrants may lead dignified lives," and a White House statement suggested he brought up with President Bush the need to give immigrants and their children "humane treatment," some of America's most vocal opponents of immigration went ballistic.

CNN's anchor-procrastinator Lou Dobbs, the hero of most U.S. anti-immigration groups, shook his head with more than his usual dose of bitterness in his April 16 broadcast and charged that the pope was visiting Washington to "push the amnesty (for undocumented immigrants) agenda." >>read full article

Pope Speaks Up for Immigrants, Touching a Nerve

By DANIEL J. WAKIN and JULIA PRESTON

Even as he was flying to the United States, Pope Benedict XVI spoke of protecting immigrant families, not dividing them.

He raised the issue again in a meeting on Wednesday with President Bush, and later that day spoke in Spanish to the church’s “many immigrant children.” And when he ends his visit to New York on Sunday, he will be sent off by a throng of the faithful, showing off the ethnic diversity of American Catholicism. >>read full article

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