Winter 2014 National Immigrant Solidarity Network Monthly News Digest and News Alert!

Is Obama's Immigration Plan Too Modest? Proposals Cover Less Than Half of Nation's Undocumented

It makes no sense for the administration to continue deporting immigrants in record numbers given the fact that Congress is debating legislation that could provide them with a path to citizenship. Enough hard-working families have already been harmed.

The president’s action is quite limited. It does not create a path to citizenship. It does not entitle undocumented immigrants to receive public benefits like food stamps. It simply halts deportations for those who meet certain criteria, giving them lawful presence in the United States – but only for the time being. The rug could be pulled out from under them at any time by this or any future president.

In short, President Obama has simply given a small measure of security to millions of immigrants who are now living in the shadows.

We hope the Republican leadership in the House will stop obstructing progress and allow a vote on the comprehensive reform bill passed last year by the Senate.

Is Obama’s Immigration Plan Too Modest? Proposals Cover Less Than Half of Nation’s Undocumented

President Obama is considering issuing an executive action that could protect millions of undocumented immigrants from deportation. According to The New York Times, Obama’s executive actions will not provide any formal, lasting immigration status, but many immigrants will receive work permits, which will give them Social Security numbers and allow them to work legally under their own names. Another key component could prevent the deportation of parents whose children are U.S. citizens. Democracy Now! co-host Juan González breaks down the numbers of who will benefit from this possible executive order.

JUAN GONZÁLEZ: We begin today’s show with news that President Obama is considering taking an executive action that would protect up to five million undocumented immigrants from deportation. According to The New York Times, Obama’s executive actions will not provide any formal, lasting immigration status, but many immigrants will receive work permits, which will give them Social Security numbers and allow them to work legally under their own names. Another key component could prevent the deportation of parents whose children are U.S. citizens. Speaking at a news conference in Burma, Obama vowed to take action by the end of the year.

PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA: I believe that America is a nation of immigrants. Everybody agrees that the system is broken. There has been ample opportunity for Congress to pass a bipartisan immigration bill that would strengthen our borders, improve the legal immigration system, lift millions of people out of the shadows so they are paying taxes and getting right by the law. It passed out of the Senate. I gave the House over a year to go ahead and at least give a vote to the Senate bill. They failed to do so. And I indicated to Speaker Boehner several months ago that if in fact Congress failed to act, I would use all the lawful authority that I possess to try to make the system work better. And that’s going to happen. That’s going to happen before the end of the year.

AMY GOODMAN: That was President Obama speaking in Burma on Friday. Republican House Speaker John Boehner has vowed to fight any such action "tooth and nail."

Meanwhile, last week, the National Day Laborer Organizing Network filed a lawsuit against the Department of Homeland Security over Obama’s record number of deportations. The group says the agency violated the law by failing to respond to a rule-making petition seeking relief for millions of undocumented immigrants.

Before we go to our first guest, Juan, you’ve been covering this issue very closely. Talk about the significance of President Obama’s words and plans.

JUAN GONZÁLEZ: Well, the president clearly made the—he made the statement right after the election, that this was the direction he was going to go to. But what happened on Friday was that it’s becoming clearer that it’s going to happen sooner rather than later, as we head to the end of the year. But the key thing, I think, that’s being missed is that the numbers that are being bandied about, between 3.7 and 5.3 million undocumented, that number includes the 1.2 million young people that are already under a protected status, or deferred deportation, under DACA. So it’s really a much more modest number that we’re talking about. And the difference is, it’s still a question of what plan President Obama takes, whether he will require the parents of U.S. citizen children to have been here at least 10 years or five years, which would affect the final number, and whether he will include the parents of the DACA young people who have already received a deferred deportation situation. And, of course, this is all temporary, because Congress can change it at any moment. So, I think it’s actually a pretty modest proposal whichever way President Obama goes, because even at the most expansive plan, which would be about 5.3 million people, that’s still less than half of the undocumented that are in the country currently.

AMY GOODMAN: And President Obama having said in the past he’s not king, you know, sort of raising questions about whether he would issue an executive order. He’s certainly changed his tune there.

JUAN GONZÁLEZ: Well, I think there’s been no question that he made—he signaled, from the beginning of the year, pretty much, that he was at some point going to act if Congress did not. So I think he’s merely following through on what his initial promise to the Congress was, if the Republicans could not pass an immigration bill, because, remember, the Senate bill that was passed more than a year ago, if there’s not an accompanying bill by the House by the end of December, that bill will be void, and then both the Senate and the House would have to start all over again in January.

10 things to know about tonight’s immigration announcement by President Obama

Rev. Noel Andersen
Grassroots Coordinator for Immigrants’ Rights
Church World Service

November 20, 2014

Tonight, the President is going to announce his action to provide relief for millions of immigrant families (tune in at 8 pm ET). It’s big news, but it isn’t a surprise — it’s evidence that the pressure for compassion and immigrant justice is working. But there’s a lot left to do. So here’s a list we put together of 10 things to know About President Obama’s Executive Action on immigration.

1) Above all, this is about keeping families together. In the last six years, the US government has deported over 2 million of our neighbors. That’s over 1,000 deportations per day. Just between 2010-2012, over 200,000 mothers and fathers of U.S. citizens were deported. That’s close to 3 full Super Bowl stadiums. The time is now to stop separating families.

2) Grassroots FTW (for the win). This moment has been in the making for a long time, and it’s the result of pressure from immigrants and immigration activists around the country. Their call for change and compassion is prophetic, and it’s rooted in first-hand experience of pain and suffering.

3) Jesus didn’t say “Deport thy neighbor.” As people of faith, we have skin in the game. Our sacred texts mandate us to love our neighbor and welcome the stranger. It’s why congregations around the country have welcomed undocumented neighbors facing deportation into Sanctuary – because we have a moral obligation to stand in the gap when families are facing separation.

4) Waiting for Congress to act didn’t work. The President’s strategy to increase enforcement and deportations to get votes for immigration reform legislation failed. The House of Representatives had over a year to act on the bipartisan Senate bill, but did nothing. We waited and now the President must take action; our communities, families and congregations are on the line.

5) Executive Action on Immigration is within full legal authority of the President. President Obama has the legal authority – and the moral obligation – to stop separating families by applying the law of prosecutorial discretion (not pursuing deportations of immigrants with family and community ties). Plus, it's been used by Nixon, Reagan, Bush (Sr), Clinton, and Bush (Jr).

6) Administrative Action is expected to provide relief for 5 million people — including an opportunity to apply for temporary relief from deportation, and the ability to work and travel legally. But there are 11 million undocumented human beings whose families are at risk (that's approx. the populations of NYC and LA combined). Who is going to be left out? Parents of U.S. citizen children will likely be included, but what if an individual has an immigration-related criminal offense such as “illegal re-entry,” or if they have a DUI, but are part of a diversion program? As people of faith, we know that each person matters and is sacred. The administration must take into account full human stories, lead with forgiveness and redemption, and allow all undocumented immigrants who contribute to their communities to apply for temporary relief.

7) More border enforcement isn’t the answer. The administration is planning to re-direct funds for border enforcement, but the Border Patrol has massive problems with corruption, excessive use of force and lack of accountability. Militarizing our borders and criminalizing our community members shouldn’t be trade-offs for relief for families.

8) Now is the time to speak up. As people of faith and moral courage, our voices are needed to help our communities and congregations understand the big news – “Yes! The President’s action is helping keep families together, and there’s more to be done.” Turn up your prophetic volume in your sermons, social media, email, press conferences, op-eds, and direct actions.

9) There’s going to be push back. Congressional Republicans are already promising to fight back. Call your representatives at 1-866-940-2439 to let them know people of faith support the President's plan to grant temporary relief from deportation. We must prevent Congress from trying to pass legislation that would defund or block this executive action.

10) Prepare now for implementation. Although the policy of administrative relief will be announced this week, it is not likely to go into effect for another few months. From hosting education forums to legal clinics, fundraising for application fees to community outreach, we can help eligible families get the protection they need to stay together.

Please download our latest newsletter: http://www.immigrantsolidarity.org/Newsletter/Winter14.pdf

Thanks for GREAT works from Detention Watch Network (DWN) to compiled the following information, please visit DWN website: http://www.detentionwatchnetwork.org

Useful Handouts and Know Your Immigrant Rights When Marches

Immigrant Marches / Marchas de los Inmigrantes

(By ACLU)

EN ESPAÑOL
Acerca de la Union Americana de Libertades Civiles

Immigrants and their supporters are participating in marches all over the country to protest proposed national legislation and to seek justice for immigrants. The materials available here provide important information about the rights and risks involved for anyone who is planning to participate in the ongoing marches.

If government agents question you, it is important to understand your rights. You should be careful in the way you speak when approached by the police, FBI, or INS. If you give answers, they can be used against you in a criminal, immigration, or civil case.

The ACLU's publications below provide effective and useful guidance in several languages for many situations. The brochures apprise you of your legal rights, recommend how to preserve those rights, and provide guidance on how to interact with officials.

IMMIGRATION
Know Your Rights When Encountering Law Enforcement
| Conozca Sus Derechos Frente A Los Agentes Del Orden Público

ACLU of Massachusetts - Your Rights And Responsibilities If You Are Contacted By The Authorities English | Spanish | Chinese

ACLU of Massachusetts - What to do if stopped and questioned about your immigration status on the street, the subway, or the bus
| Que hacer si Usted es interrogado en el tren o autobus acerca de su estatus inmigratorio

ACLU of South Carolina - How To Deal With A 287(g)
| Como Lidiar Con Una 287(g)

ACLU of Southern California - What to Do If Immigration Agents or Police Stop You While on Foot, in Your Car, or Come to Your Home
| Qué Hacer Si Agentes de Inmigración o la Policía lo Paran Mientras Va Caminando, lo Detienen en su Auto o Vienen a su Hogar

ACLU of Washington - Brochure for Iraqis: What to Do If the FBI or Police Contact You for Questioning English | Arabic

ACLU of Washington - Your Rights at Checkpoints at Ferry Terminals
| Sus Derechos en Puestos de Control en las Terminales de Transbordadores

LABOR / FREE SPEECH
Immigrant Protests - What Every Worker Should Know:
| Manifestaciones de los Inmigrantes - Lo Que Todo Trabajador Debe Saber

PROTESTERS
ACLU of Florida Brochure - The Rights of Protesters
| Los Derechos de los Manifestantes

STUDENTS
Washington State - Student Walkouts and Political Speech at School
| Huelgas Estudiantiles y Expresión Política en las Escuelas

California Students: Public School Walk-outs and Free Speech
| Estudiantes de California: Marchas o Huelgas y La Libertad de Expresión en las Escuelas Públicas

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Please download our latest newsletter: http://www.immigrantsolidarity.org/Newsletter/Winter14.pdf