2.1. IMMIGRANT FAMILIES
In an Immigration movement driven largely by Spanish-speaking Latinos, there haven't been many, if any, chants of "Yes, we can!" echoing through Chicago in Mandarin ( Wo mun ke yi! ), Hindi ( Hum kar saktay hae! ) or Korean ( Halsu ee da! ) But those rallying cries will take center stage Saturday during a planned Asian "town hall" meeting expected to draw several hundred people eager to have their stories heard. Among several Asian-themed Immigration events occurring nationwide this week, the rally inside the Salvation Army church in North Park is partly an effort to diversify the message of a movement whose mostly Mexican flavor has drawn intense scorn from groups resentful of illegal border crossings. The first of its kind in the city, the event is also a coming-out party of sorts for Asian immigrant organizations in Chicago that have been gaining momentum in their efforts to mobilize a community of roughly 350,000 Asian and Pacific Island immigrants in the region long unwilling to publicly air its problems. "The community is maturing in a different way. in a way to not be afraid to talk about these things," said Tuyet Le, executive director of the Asian American Institute, which is co-coordinating the meeting. "People are seeing this as their own issue." [1]
The procedure for family reunification -- a concept central to the system where a U.S. citizen can sponsor a blood relative's Immigration application -- is filled with cases of Asian immigrant parents and children who have been separated for years due to backlogs in processing. "I'm not justifying the actions of those who enter illegally, but people resort to that because it's easier for them to get in," said Tiza Burke, 60, a Filipino immigrant who said she waited 24 years for an older sister's application to be processed. For Chinese immigrants, such familial separation has undermined the immense cultural value placed on family unity since the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 -- which barred new immigrants from entering the U.S. until it was ified in 1943. Now, many decades later, the impact is still devastating, said Zhu Lei, 55, who arrived from Beijing last year to reunite with U.S.-citizen parents she hadn't seen in nine years. [1] Most of the facilities were designed to hold criminals, but the immigrants detained by ICE face only civil immigration proceedings and many have never been convicted of any crime. They include families and people seeking asylum. Only a tenth of the 33,400 beds in use are owned by ICE, and many of those beds are guarded by private contractors. [2]
Gangs are rampant in many communities. These people likely have a better chance here than back in their countries, where they have a fart's chance in a wind. If these families value above all else their safety, their happiness and their children's futures - let alone precious life itself - then welcome to the United States. TRUTH BE TOLD: I'd rather have a good portion of these immigrant families as neighbors than a good number of you so-called, self-proclaimed "Americans". [3]
The issue: Federal government considers relocating families seeking citizenship from a Texas detention center that is closing in December to Berks Family Center, Bern Township. What: A shelter housing immigrant families who came to this country illegally and are in the process of seeking citizenship or asylum. [3] No definite plans have been made to shut down the 84-bed center housing detained immigrant families captured at the borders and in other places. [3]
One highlighted the Japanese internment camps during World War II. Another boasted about Korean-American diver Sammy Lee, who in 1948 became the first Asian-American to win an Olympic gold medal. Somewhere between those dark and bright chapters is the story of Mike K., 19, an undocumented Korean immigrant hoping for reforms to allow students in the country illegally to receive conditional permanent residency. Showing his promise as a graphic designer, Mike -- who spoke on condition of anonymity -- won a high school contest last year sponsored by the Google Corp. that sought new ideas for the search engine company's home page. His entry -- a graduation-themed celebration of scholastic achievement -- couldn't be submitted because of his illegal status, he said. "I feel like I missed a big opportunity," he said, as his friends worked on their posters. [1]
With President Obama putting off the immigration reform debate until next year, immigrant rights groups are pushing the administration to suspend tough enforcement practices so illegal immigrants aren't punished under the current system. While acknowledging the need for an overhaul, Mr. Obama last week acknowledged during a visit to Mexico that his agenda is too full and said a solution will have to wait until next year at the earliest -- a backtrack from his campaign pledge to sign a bill in 2009. With immigration reform slipping away, rights groups have begun to use words such as "betrayal" in describing how they feel they are faring under the Obama administration, and several have said the only interim solution would be to suspend some enforcement so illegal immigrants don't get caught up in a system that advocates contend is broken. [4]
Last week, the Obama administration announced a series of "major reforms" in the detention of illegal immigrants, including placing federal employees inside the largest facilities to monitor detainee treatment. In doing so, John Morton, the new director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, acknowledged the current system is both inconsistent and lacks oversight. "There isn't a uniform rhyme or reason to it," he said. Morton pledged to review all the agreements ICE has to detain illegal immigrants at 350 different facilities, an operation that will cost $1.7 billion this year. [2]
An aide to Benoit said illegal immigrants comprise 12 percent ? roughly 20,500 inmates ? of the state?s prison population. The cost of housing those prisoners is expected to total $970 million in the current fiscal year ? up 146 percent compared to three years ago, according to Benoit. Under SCAAP, the state received reimbursement of about 11 percent from the federal government for the 2007-2008 fiscal year, leaving California taxpayers to foot the balance of the bill, he said. [5] We could build temporary housing there for illegal immigrants and children that are being deported and require humane holding conditions for temporary housing prior to deportation. I think it's key to remove them from this country first, not hold them here costing the taxpayer additional state funds and resources. The states aren't allowed to enforce federal law, but they are left to deal with the problems that come with illegal immigrants present in their communities. [5] The resolution calls on Congress to continue funding the State Criminal Alien Assistance Program (SCAAP), through which states receive federal compensation for keeping illegal immigrants convicted of felonies in prison or illegal immigrants convicted of misdemeanors in jail. [5] The state Senate approved an Inland Empire lawmaker?s resolution on Monday that urges the President and Congress to maintain funding for a program in which states are federally reimbursed for housing illegal immigrant prisoners. [5]
Some of the families are seeking citizenship, some want asylum. ICE hearings will establish their legal status. Others are awaiting deportation. Brigham said the bulk of illegal immigrants come to this country alone. The goal of the shelter program, when it started in 2001, was to keep families together while they are being detained. Kenneth C. Borkey Jr., executive director of the Berks shelter, said ICE officials have not notified him of the planned move nor have they requested additional bed space. Borkey said he has prepared a report on the availability of additional space if such a request is made. [3] We do not gather in a corner to seperate our selfs from mixing and trying to understand different views of various groups. Insults to the citizens of this country start from day one by refusing to learn english to try to communicate and keep costs down by printing a second lanuage on all products and various forms, including government documents. I welcome all legal immigrants that want to be part of the success of this country. [3]
The result is that in all but a handful of cases, the federal detention of an immigrant involves a payment to an outside company or agency. Many of those contracts were negotiated over the last decade when the government was outsourcing a growing number of services and ICE, under pressure to detain more immigrants who had previously been allowed to remain free, was rushing to add space. "They had to find quick places with beds," said Peter L. Markowitz, director of the Immigration Justice Clinic at the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law. [2] SAN ANTONIO -- As federal officials begin an overhaul of the widely criticized system used to incarcerate immigrants awaiting hearings and deportation, their challenge includes a deep inconsistency in the amount paid to a hastily assembled network of private prisons and local jails that hold thousands of such detainees. [2]
An Arizona man, Walt Staton, was caught leaving bottles of water in the desert for illegal immigrants and was sentenced to one year of probation and 300 hours community service. Staton, an advocate and member of the group No More Deaths, was busted in December when he left containers full of water in an area that stretches 18,000 acres where illegal immigrants are known to trek, the Buenos Aires Wildlife Refuge. [6]
RANKED RECOMMENDED SOURCES
(6 source documents numbered in order of appearance in text)
3. Berks County might stop housing illegal aliens
2. Fed payments for holding immigrants vary widely - washingtonpost.com
5. Funding resolution moves forward on immigrant jail costs :: The Temecula Valley News
1. Asians to meet on immigration: Town hall in Chicago expected to detail difficulties many have in reuniting with loved ones -- chicagotribune.com
6. Man Sentenced for Leaving Water for Immigrants « HipHopWired.com
4. Fresh fight looms over immigration - Washington Times
3. Berks County might stop housing illegal aliens
2. Fed payments for holding immigrants vary widely - washingtonpost.com
5. Funding resolution moves forward on immigrant jail costs :: The Temecula Valley News
1. Asians to meet on immigration: Town hall in Chicago expected to detail difficulties many have in reuniting with loved ones -- chicagotribune.com
6. Man Sentenced for Leaving Water for Immigrants « HipHopWired.com
4. Fresh fight looms over immigration - Washington Times
Those are not immigrants but a invading horde of Illegal Aliens! American tax payers cannot provide free health to non-citizens no matter from where, or what race! Our government fails the most basic and primary task & duty of government, to protect this Nation and its Citizens from invasion and enforce its laws. They refuse to abide by our Constitution, refuse to enforce our Immigration Laws and refuse to honor their Oath of Office! Our Government, past & present, Republican & Democrat, have allowed the invasion of 20 to 30 million criminals and uneducated peons which is the largest invasion of any Nation, at any time, by any means & in direct violation of Article IV, Section IV of our Constitution. This refusal to abide by our Constitution or enforce our Immigration Laws should be classified as Treason of the most foul kind, & as grounds for impeachment & trials for Treason! Not only have they allowed the invasion, they force American tax payers to pay Billions on Billions of dollars to provide Welfare, Prison cells, Educate the invaders numerous children, and free medical care, at the same time the invading horde break numerous laws and massive document fraud, & are destroying our schools, hospitals, communities, culture and standard of living while Robbing, Raping, Killing & Assaulting American Citizens at an rate the terrorist can only dream about. Recent statements in Mexico from both President Obama and Secretary of State Hillary something needs to be done. "Our inability to prevent weapons from being illegally smuggled across the border to arm these criminals causes the deaths of police officers, soldiers, and civilians," Hillary whined. [1]
In a written statement, No More Deaths confirmed Staton has been sentenced to 300 hours of picking up trash from public property and a year of community service. In addition to the sentencing, he is also prohibited form the refuge, according to CNN. In the court case, both sides used the controversial issue of illegal immigration to support their arguments. Staton's lawyer insisted his client's actions were solely humanitarian, while the government said the opposite. Prosecutors said Staton's "actions are not about humanitarian efforts, but about protesting the immigration policies of the United States, and aiding those that enter illegally into the United States." Noting the phrase scrawled on many of the plastic water jugs -- "buena suerte," or "good luck" in Spanish -- the prosecutors said, "The obvious conclusion is that the defendant and No More Deaths wish to aid illegal aliens in their entry attempt." [2]
Mr. Obama has been walking a tightrope on the issue after winning a large majority of Hispanic votes in the 2008 election. He has stepped up some enforcement measures even as he says he wants a solution that would include legalization of illegal immigrants. He also has pushed back the timetable for action until next year at the earliest, saying immigration is in line behind "a pretty big stack of bills." What those interim steps should be depends on one's point of view. [3] Last week, the Obama administration announced a series of "major reforms" in the detention of illegal immigrants, including placing federal employees inside the largest facilities to monitor detainee treatment. [4]
A suburban Atlanta county is paid less than $43 per day to house an illegal immigrant, while a rural New Mexico county gets $97 a day - just a few dollars shy of the amount paid for a bed in Los Angeles. [4] Some county jails charge only the actual cost of housing an immigrant, while others acknowledge partnering with private prison companies to profit from the system. [4]
It's never a very sound practice to make broad generalizations, such as the incorrect assumption that all undocumented aliens are thieves, rapists, murderers, freeloaders, etc. Nevertheless, I agree with those who argue that the very fact of entering this country illegally puts these folks on the wrong side of the law. Whether they gather in tight enclaves and resist assimilation or not, they should be sent home and given the same opportunity generations of immigrants have enjoyed since the late eighteenth century -- to become American citizens by following not just the rules, but also the customs of our culture. [1]
The jury convicted Staton of littering, as U.S. FIsh and Wildlife Service said leaving the jugs of water are health risks to the animals that live in the refuge. Mike Hawkes of the Buenos AIres National WIldlife Refuge said he supports the idea of leaving water for the immigrants, however, "there's ways to do it without leaving plastic jugs out there." He said the plastic jugs were strewn throughout the refuge, which is home to hundreds of bird, reptile and mammal species, according to its Web site. "We have sympathy for what they have to do," he said. [2]
RANKED RECOMMENDED SOURCES
(4 source documents numbered in order of appearance in text)
4. Fed payments for holding immigrants vary widely - washingtonpost.com
1. Berks County might stop housing illegal aliens
2. Man Sentenced for Leaving Water for Immigrants « HipHopWired.com
3. Fresh fight looms over immigration - Washington Times
4. Fed payments for holding immigrants vary widely - washingtonpost.com
1. Berks County might stop housing illegal aliens
2. Man Sentenced for Leaving Water for Immigrants « HipHopWired.com
3. Fresh fight looms over immigration - Washington Times