More arizona police are getting trained to enforce immigration law. The maricopa county sheriff's department is already doing this, and this time it's the Yavapai county sheriff' department. The article, Sheriff's deputies set to begin ICE training, said,
The Yavapai County Board of Supervisors this past week approved an agreement between the sheriff's office and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, that will allow YCSO officers to begin enforcing federal immigration law after receiving specialized training.
“It's just crazy here.†This is what I tell people who are not from Phoenix, Arizona, the political climate surrounding immigration is like. It's hard to sum up, but having kept up fairly well with local immigration news for the past couple years, I can reflect on 2007 and the direction that things have gone. We have seen ever-increasing repression against undocumented immigrants. In some ways we saw this coming. In other ways, we have been surprised. Overall, things changed gradually enough that it wouldn't necessarily be perceived as an onslaught, though putting it into perspective by looking back at 2007 as a whole might make it hard to be seen otherwise.
Arizona has seen an increasingly unfriendly environment for undocumented immigrants, with the threat of raids, violence, and repression. Within a short time, a select number of officers from different police departments with jurisdiction in Maricopa County were trained to enforce immigration laws. Some agents of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) were deputized as well, giving dual jurisdiction to an increasing number of officials. Immigration law began to be enforced in the jails and prisons as well. The efficiency gained by these changes to enforce immigration laws is likely part of the plan set forth by the Office of Detention and Removal, part of Homeland Security. This plan, which provides strategies to “remove all removable aliens†by 2012 is called Endgame.
“It's just crazy here.†This is what I tell people who are not from Phoenix, Arizona, the political climate surrounding immigration is like. It's hard to sum up, but having kept up fairly well with local immigration news for the past couple years, I can reflect on 2007 and the direction that things have gone. We have seen ever-increasing repression against undocumented immigrants. In some ways we saw this coming. In other ways, we have been surprised. Overall, things changed gradually enough that it wouldn't necessarily be perceived as an onslaught, though putting it into perspective by looking back at 2007 as a whole might make it hard to be seen otherwise.
Arizona has seen an increasingly unfriendly environment for undocumented immigrants, with the threat of raids, violence, and repression. Within a short time, a select number of officers from different police departments with jurisdiction in Maricopa County were trained to enforce immigration laws. Some agents of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) were deputized as well, giving dual jurisdiction to an increasing number of officials. Immigration law began to be enforced in the jails and prisons as well. The efficiency gained by these changes to enforce immigration laws is likely part of the plan set forth by the Office of Detention and Removal, part of Homeland Security. This plan, which provides strategies to “remove all removable aliens†by 2012 is called Endgame.
It appears that Correa was attempting to exercise his rights, even though it is not a right to drive without a license and therefore since he had one, it would've made more sense to show it right away. The immigrants rights movement has been educating people about their rights, advising that the less said the better. Since we all have the right to remain silent and not incriminate ourselves, it is better to give the cops nor ICE anything to use against us. Clearly it makes sense for all of us to do this whether or not we're "legal", no matter our color. This makes it easier for the undocumented.
Perhaps Correa didn't show his ID because of this. Or perhaps he suspected he was being asked to prove his legal right to be in the country, something he shouldn't have to do as a citizen, and no one, in my opinion, should have to do at all.
But i think the point is more about whether anyone deserves the treatment Correa got for having brown skin and an accent. What if a driver forgets his/her license while driving? Is then the burden of proof on them to avoid deportation or at least lengthy detention and questioning? Well, not likely if they're white.
About a month ago, the Scottsdale police also announced they would be asking “for proof of citizenship from every suspect they arrest†as the Arizona Daily Star words it, and calling ICE on those who were suspected of being undocumented.
With the increased intentional targeting of undocumented people, we are going to see changes to all of our rights. We will no longer be innocent until proven guilty, especially folks who with brown skin and accents.
At long last, a video documenting the June 4th Houston Sin Fronteras Shut down of the Houston Processing Center; an immigrant detention center opened by the Corrections Corporation of America in 1983, making it the worlds oldest private prison.
Not only will there be several racists (see patriot's border alliance, riders u.s.a., american freedumb riders, and Buffalo Rick) harassing day laborers and their supporters at the Pruitt's boycott demonstration, but now sheriff joe put out a press release saying his officers will be out to arrest people- specifically undocumented people. I'm not sure how they're going to do this, since they can't just walk up to someone and ask for papers. They would need an excuse like blocking a public thoroughfare, soliciting, something like that. You can be there to protest, to be a witness to any activity on the part of the police that is not legal, to counter the racist counter-protesters, or to count as one more person that can't be threatened with deportation for affecting the pruitt's business (that is, if you're legal). Keep in mind you can do what you want, but the organizers decided they don't want their side engaging with the counter-demonstrators. Passing out fliers might be acceptable to them. Hold a sign so everyone knows what side you're on.
This has turned into not only a fight over whether pruitt's can get the cops to protect his business from people standing around in the area waiting for work. This is much bigger than that now. It has affected the Mayor's decision to support a change in the policy that requires police not to ask about immigration status. This is a historical moment!
Where: on Thomas around 34th/35th st. in phoenix.
When: tomorrow/saturday, 9 in the morning to noon or beyond
One of the racist biker groups' website says they will be there rain or shine. You should too, if you can.
“This weekend, I will increase the number deputies to patrol the Pruitt’s area, and I promise that my deputies will arrest all violators of the state and federal immigration laws,†says the Sheriff. “I will not give up. All the activists must stop their protest before I stop enforcing the law in that area.â€
August 24, HARTFORD, Conn--Community members and activists gathered in front of Hartford’s Federal Building on a warm Friday morning to denounce a recent raid on the Zaim family home.
At 5:45 am, Immigrant Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents burst into the home of Moroccan immigrant Said Zaim-Sassi, waking his sleeping family—and those who have until now stayed quiet in the debate over US immigration policy.
Protesters gathered outside of the ICE office Friday morning at 8am. Angry and frustrated over yet another one of many raids this year on an innocent, hard working community member’s home. A picket line was immediately formed and people began chanting loudly for the office to free Said. The picket line marched for about 45 minutes and then gathered for a press conference. The first person to stand up to the microphone was a woman speaking of behalf of the Stop The Raids organization. She stated that she was standing up to fight against the injustice and inhumanity demonstrated by the ICE agents. Said, like many people, came here from Morroco in search of better opportunities and well being for his family. He is not a criminal, he is a hard worker. Instead, he had to suffer and is being detained right now. Stop The Raids also points out that the Zaim home invasion makes the ICE raids not exclusively an attack on Latino communities, but for all of the immigrants living in the United States. ICE is terrorizing a huge group of people in our country that will never be able to enjoy many of the resources US citizens have that people from other countries do not, such as better health care and education.
On August 16th, Ben and Ashley accepted a plea bargain at their court appearance for the civil disobedience they took part in on June 4th to block the entrance gates of the north Houston immigration jail for three hours. Upon pleading guilty to Criminal Trespassing, a class B misdemeanor, they were given time served and a $100 fine. With court costs, they have to pay $326 each ($752 total) and still owe the lawyer $4000. They accepted this plea bargain so that we could return to the front lines of the struggle as soon as possible, and return their energies to where they feel it does the most good - in the streets.
We feel that this plea agreement is an effort by Harris County and most likely the Corrections Corporation of America to sweep this issue under the rug. We have no intention of letting this happen. The struggle against the unjust policies of immigrant detention enforced by the federal government and private companies is becoming more widespread and coordinated throughout Texas and the United States.
In a sad and shameful ending, according to the latest report, Elvira Arellano was deported to Mexico just few hours after her arrest by ICE agents at downtown Los Angeles on Sunday afternoon (8/19), at outside Our Lady Queen of Angels Church, where she had been speaking to reporters [see below article from Spanish Newspaper La Opinion]
This is a shameful move from the government to arrest and deport her, this is a clear signal from the government to terrify people who dare to speak up and fight for the injustice.
We are still encourage everyone to call local ICE office and organize your local peaceful protest/vigil on Monday (8/20) to express your outrage.
ICE Field Office Director, Los Angeles
300 North Los Angeles St., Room 7631A
Los Angeles, CA 90012
Phone: 213-830-7911
ICE Headquarters, Director, Office of Detention and Removal Operations
801 I St, NW
Suite 900
Washington, DC 20536
Phone: 202-305-2734
Lists of local U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) offices
http://www.ice.gov/about/dro/contact.htm
Lee Siu Hin
National Coordinator
National Immigrant Solidarity Network
Elvira Arrellano, an immigrant rights activist who defied a deportation order for more than a year by declaring sanctuary at Chicago's Adalberto United Methodist Church in Humboldt Park, was arrested Sunday afternoon in Los Angeles.
Arrellano's arrest came just one day after she ended her sanctuary to travel ultimately to Washington DC to advocate on behalf of undocumented immigrants in the U.S. Arrellano launched an impromptu speaking and media tour across the United States, slated to begin in California and progress eastward towards Washington, when she was placed under arrest outside a Los Angeles church.
Emergency solidarity actions are being and have been organized by the immigrant rights community in Chicago.
On August 16th, Ben and Ashley accepted a plea bargain at their court appearance for the civil disobedience they took part in on June 4th to block the entrance gates of the north Houston immigration jail for three hours. Upon pleading guilty to Criminal Trespassing, a class B misdemeanor, they were given time served and a $100 fine. With court costs, they have to pay $326 each ($752 total) and still owe the lawyer $4000. They accepted this plea bargain so that we could return to the front lines of the struggle as soon as possible, and return their energies to where they feel it does the most good - in the streets. 
In a sad and shameful ending, according to the latest report, Elvira Arellano was deported to Mexico just few hours after her arrest by ICE agents at downtown Los Angeles on Sunday afternoon (8/19), at outside Our Lady Queen of Angels Church, where she had been speaking to reporters [see below article from Spanish Newspaper La Opinion]
Elvira Arrellano, an immigrant rights activist who defied a deportation order for more than a year by declaring sanctuary at Chicago's Adalberto United Methodist Church in Humboldt Park, was arrested Sunday afternoon in Los Angeles.
