From the category archives:

Immigration Law

NC Legislators’ Immigration Race to the Bottom

October 14, 2011

The White House’s and Congress’ continued inaction on responsible immigration reform has led to disaster and crisis, for state governments, local officials, and families alike. But the most serious side effect of this egregious abdication of responsibility is the “open season” many politicians seem to have declared against hard-working immigrant families. In North Carolina, for example, a sheriff’s racist remarks in 2008, used to describe the Latino community during a news interview, resulted not in condemnation but instead praise and adoration. The elected official’s popularity spiked and a Facebook group seeking his re-election was created. Is this really the America we thought we knew?

The immigration crisis has been compounded in the absence of federal oversight as states have taken it upon themselves to institute new immigration laws, policies, and regulations. Last year Arizona passed SB1070 into law; it has since inspired over a dozen states to introduce (and some even passed) similar legislation. The North Carolina General Assembly hasn’t yet advanced its own versions of Arizona’s SB1070, but there are reasons for concern as state lawmakers here embark on a race to the bottom to out-do similar legislative initiatives like those in Arizona, Alabama, and Georgia.

Leaders in North Carolina General Assembly have formed the new Select Committee on the State’s Role in Immigration Policy. Its co-chairmen, Rep. Frank Iler of Brunswick County and Rep. Harry Warren of Rowan County have made no qualms about their intentions. Iler recently told his local newspaper, “My personal opinion is that we need to make North Carolina as unwelcome for any illegal alien from wherever they come from.”

News about this committee’s genesis began to circulate within immigrant advocate circles just a few days after a federal judge’s decision to uphold provisions of the most draconian state-level immigration laws, passed in Alabama earlier this year. Are these North Carolina legislators seeking to out-south Alabama, a state now in chaos as immigrant families are being persecuted by their state government and being denied even the most basic of human needs? Yes, in Alabama undocumented immigrants are being denied service by local water utilities, who claim they’re merely seeking compliance with their state’s new immigration law. Alabama elected officials have been transparent and even celebratory in the effects of their new immigration attrition law which has resulted in the undocumented community in that state self-deporting.

Iler’s recent interview raised several red flags, including that he and the co-chairman, Rep. Warren, held a private meeting to “discuss the mission” of the newly formed committee. Where is the transparency that the new Republican majority promised at the start of the 2011 legislative session? Also concerning is that these two legislators have been some of the staunchest supporters of anti-immigrant bills proposed in this year’s legislative session. One of the bills that they co-sponsored is HB11, a bill that would have denied access to higher education for undocumented students. Warren also co-sponsored HB 744, a bill that in its original version would have done part of what the new Alabama immigration law does– require those tasked with educating the next generation to become de facto immigration agents and inquire into the legal status of public school children. The support these legislators and other committee members have given to some of the most violently anti-immigrant bills proposed in North Carolina is an indication of types of legislation they will likely pursue.

Rather than focusing on creating more challenges, these legislators should be working on creating solutions to joblessness in their counties and our state. Seeking immigration attrition legislation in hopes that it would subsequently create jobs for U.S. residents and citizens is baseless. In fact, we already know that Arizona’s unemployment rate increased every month since SB1070 was signed into law, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Passing immigration attrition legislation at the state level does not create jobs and does nothing to solve the federal issue of immigration. Instead, such legislation only harms families and children.

I’m confident sensible North Carolinians – the majority, I’m sure – understand that ill-treatment of immigrants by way of hurtful language by politicians and punitive policies and legislation is dreadfully wrong and immoral. Silence in the face of such aggression and injustice implies consent. Though we don’t yet know what this new committee will prioritize, we do know the direction they’ll pursue – one that ultimately hurts families, business, education, and every infrastructure of our state. I encourage my fellow, well-meaning Tar Heels to speak out now before it is too late. We in North Carolina take pride in our progressive, fair-minded history. Our forward-thinking reputation has lent itself to growth here in business and education, as people from all over the world continue to travel to North Carolina for work and to learn at our world-class universities. Pursuing any type of restrictionist legislation that will target those with brown skin and foreign accents will do unimaginable damage to our great state, its business, its reputation and its dear people.

Technorati Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

{ 0 comments }

I Expect More (Action) Mr. President

May 10, 2011

I feel that those of us that care about the immigration issue have been jilted by President Barack Obama’s Administration. First came those flowery promises of how things would be if we supported him and stood by him–especially at the polls. Then after a brief courtship, we all believed and even hoped relief was soon in sight. Some of us even went out in the rain to tell others of how things would be different if we just chose him, after all he was the one. He said that things would be different and even said in our language “Si Se Puede.” He said it wasn’t just about him though, that this election was about US and the combined power that we have to change things. Soon after his election, however, after he and his army had gone around building up hope where none had previously existed, we waited for his promises to take form. But nothing much happened on his end. Contrary to what he implied in his speech on immigration today, there has already been a movement to push the DREAM Act and comprehensive immigration reform forward. I dare say the President wouldn’t be giving his speech today if this movement didn’t exist and wasn’t pressuring him to do something to bring his promises of immigration reform to fruition.

THERE’S ALREADY A NATIONAL MOVEMENT

Within months of President Obama assuming his new position a national movement began to take form–Reform Immigration FOR America, RI4A. There were people across the entire country, across various national and statewide organizations working on building up a movement to push for the passage of Comprehensive Immigration Reform. By the end of 2009 more organizers were hired to help create an actual movement. For better or worse, we had for the first time in my life, a massive, national movement of people working and committed to passing Comprehensive Immigration Reform in these United States. We all agreed to certain principles of what reform looked like for us. Our movement isn’t homogenous and of course some dissented in the principles and the order in which they were presented, but ultimately we all agreed that immigration reform was long overdue.  Even if some immigrant allies/organizations weren’t officially on board with RI4A, we were still working together trying to move towards the same goal–to pass Comprehensive Immigration Reform. Thousands of people were trained on movement building across the nation. With the guidance of DC insiders, again for better or worse ;-) we were told that Comprehensive Immigration Reform was the way to go and I don’t recall any dissent on this notion.  I bought into this notion too and didn’t have a crystal ball to see that this wouldn’t necessarily be the only target/goal.

At this point it’s early 2010: President Obama still hadn’t done much for immigration besides say 38 words in his State of the Union address (serious disappointment) and the RI4A national campaign was officially re-launched with much excitement across the nation! We honestly believed that by that Spring we were going to pass Comprehensive Immigration Reform. I believed this 100% and was instilling hope in others that this would come to pass if we did our part to move it along. We worked our asses off–both paid staff and our volunteers, the soul of our movement!

The other hot button issue at that time was Health Care Reform and this is when we realized, hmm immigration reform isn’t the only priority. As that issue was getting scalding hot, we kept organizing business allies, faith allies, other immigrant communities. We went to college campuses organizing students, we collected petitions, we went on the airwaves, we did absolutely everything–well almost–necessary. There were even some DREAM students who began a 1,500 mile journey from Miami to DC to raise awareness on the DREAM Act and on the urgency of passing immigration reform. By March 2010 we had also organized a March For America, bringing together 250,000 people from across the nation. From North Carolina alone we organized over 50 buses! As life would have it, in the days leading up to this enormous march–the biggest on immigration that DC had ever seen–we realized that Health Care Reform would be voted on the same day as our march. OUCH! But there was no stopping our already moving train.

STATES TO THE RESCUE–I MEAN DETRIMENT

The Spring of 2010 was rough. Not only were my personal hopes dashed when I saw the Schumer-Graham Immigration Blueprint–these were are “leaders” on this issue for goodness sake! I definitely expected more than their heavy on enforcement and criminalizing blueprint. Still, I thought, we can at least begin discussions on immigration and craft a better blueprint which will hopefully soon become legislation. We were working to make this happen. None of that happened however. What did happen was that Arizona began to take on the issue of Immigration at the state level and this coincided with diminishing hope that CIR would move along at the federal level.

In the late Spring of 2010, Arizona passed SB 1070, the “Show me your Papers” law despite incredible pushback, boycotts and community organizing. Since then, several states have produced copycat legislation and a few, like Utah and Georgia, have even passed similar xenophobic legislation and are experiencing pushback. At the point that Arizona was moving towards passing SB 1070 the Obama Administration held conversations with the Governor Brewer and the Department of Justice focused attention on limiting the reach of SB 1070, but that was it. Again, a missed opportunity to address Comprehensive Immigration Reform.

The DREAM Movement

While all of this was happening we started seeing DREAMer students and allies organizing and taking part in civil disobedience. Another parallel movement was born last year too–the movement to pass the DREAM Act. In the spring, some students were coming out of the shadows and were revealing for the first time, and in a very public way, that they are undocumented. The DREAM Act was elevated by the students directly affected by this issue and their allies, perhaps after seeing that CIR no longer had much traction and refusing to see their lives and worth diminished by the lack of courage that our Congress demonstrated. The summer of 2010 brought the DREAM Act into the consciousness of the American public.  There were marches, rallies, petitions, hunger strikes and movement building in young communities in every pocket of our nation.

In the fall we saw the DREAM Act finally on Congress’ radar when they added it as an amendment to the defense authorization bill. That bill eventually did not move. DREAMers persevered and were successful in getting it on Congress’ radar once more and actually passed in the House later in the year! By this point DREAMers were everywhere, getting face time with Congressional leaders and were bringing their stories to DC. Across the country, support for the DREAM Act was generated and 5 days later the Senate took this issue up. Unfortunately, good bills go to die in the Senate and with the help of 5 Democrats, Republican Senators filibustered and blocked further movement on the DREAM Act.

IT’S YOUR TURN TO DO SOMETHING MR. PRESIDENT & CONGRESS

Today, we heard the President speak on the need for Immigration Reform from El Paso, Texas. The speech seems to have been aimed at moderates who’ve potentially not made up their minds on the issue of immigration. The speech fell on disappointed ears for those of us who were already aware of the need for immigration reform. The heavy militarization of the border was glorified and the record-breaking deportations were highlighted as a success for this administration. It was curious that the President boasted of all the things that his administration has done to crack down on unlawful immigration to gain support from Republicans while a few breaths later he acknowledged that “they’ll never be satisfied.” So if you, Mr. President, and your administration already know that, why play along and sacrifice the lives of DREAMers who could very well be the next José Hernández–the migrant farmworker turned astronaut for NASA?

Personally, I’m tired of hearing talk about the need for immigration reform. I expect actions and I don’t mean more local immigration enforcement through broken programs like 287g or Secure Communities which hurt communities and separate thousands of families for minor violations–not even crimes–such as fishing without a license. Dr. King once wrote that often bitterness is turned towards those who build up hope, he was on the receiving end of this a few times himself. While I know that some in our movement are bitter towards this administration (and who could blame them), I’m still hopeful yet realistic. I’m hopeful because regardless of how our movement came to exist, it DOES exist! People are working around the clock to inform their friends, neighbors and anyone who’ll listen on the ugliness that exists as a result of Congresses failure to pass the DREAM Act and/or Comprehensive Immigration Reform. I’m hopeful because there is a movement to cease to use the term “illegal” which creates an unfair bias in our dialogue and dehumanizes our fellow brothers and sisters. I’m hopeful because for every time that we stumble, we pick ourselves back up and continue to fight with more heart than ever. Dr. King also wrote the following: “Let us be those creative dissenters who will call our beloved nation to a higher destiny, to a new plateau of compassion, to a more noble expression of humanness.” I know that we will pass the DREAM Act and eventually Comprehensive Immigration Reform. We have the tools that we need and we keep sharpening our minds and opening hearts. Our movement is built and keeps moving swiftly thanks to the many creative dissenters who comprise it. Now it’s time for President Obama to keep this issue on his radar (and we’ll see to this) and to give this issue as much priority as he once promised he would in his courtship of our communities.

PS: The DREAM Act will be reintroduced on May 11th at 10:15am

Watch Sen. Durbin’s video and check out the press conference at this link.

Technorati Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

{ 0 comments }

No Hate in Our State–No to HB 343!

March 15, 2011

It has been nearly a year that I heard about Arizona’s SB 1070 legislation and saw firsthand the impact that that yet-to-be-adopted bill would have not only there, but also the entire nation. I remember questioning whether such a bill would have any chance of passing in my home state. Since being signed into law, immigrants, immigration advocates and allies across the country have known that SB 1070 would open up the flood gates to overzealous legislators wanting to be seen as tough on immigration as their Arizonan peers and introduce similar far reaching, attrition-rooted bills in their own states. With the failure to bring home federal legislative victories like the DREAM Act, thanks in part to pusillanimous Senators, and the shift in power in states like my own, a fertile ground has been laid for SB1070 copycat legislation to be introduced and for it to advance farther than in years past. But we won’t make it easy for such hateful, draconian legislation to pass in North Carolina. This is the fight we’ve been anticipating and as my friend Gaby has said, this is “the fight for our lives. And when you’re fighting for your life, you don’t stop until you win.”

On Monday, March 14 House Bill 343: Support Law Enforcement/Safe Neighborhoods was filed in the North Carolina legislature. We see the mastery of messaging at work with the deceitful title in this bill since it aims to relegate anyone who would dare oppose it by making an argument that the individual does not support law enforcement or safe communities. This is by far, the most comprehensive, anti-immigrant bill introduced in the NC General Assembly to date. The biggest problem that I see with this bill–and believe me, there is a lot wrong with HB 343–is that there are too many opportunities for someone in power to abuse their power and for the undocumented community to suffer terrible abuse at the hands of rogue and ill informed individuals. There is also no mention in the bill as to training that agencies, staff and officers would receive in the vein of Immigration 101 or even to determine who is documented and who is not without delving into racial profiling.

This bill would most accurately make life for already strapped law enforcement agencies and officers harder by burdening them with immigration work which would surely distract attention away from keeping all of our communities safe from real threats. We already know that crime rates are lower for immigrants than native-born individuals so going to extreme measures in passing this legislation would misguide valuable and dwindling law enforcement resources. Not only that, but officers would also be burdened with having to determine the immigration status of persons that they stop. Under this bill, “a person is presumed not to be an alien who is unlawfully present in the United States if the person provides to the law enforcement officer or agency a valid NC drivers license, a NC special ID card, a valid tribal enrollment card or other form of tribal ID.” Law enforcement officers would likely only question brown people and people with accents if they were trying to cut corners, which is racial profiling since they would probably assume that only those individuals could possibly be undocumented. A greater threat to safe communities is that undocumented individuals would fall prey to predators and crimes would go unreported for fear of being deported.

HB 343 is a throwback to the most anti-immigrant, xenophobic legislation proposed in Congress in 2005, the Sensenbrenner bill. They both would require employers to use E-Verify, they both advocate for immigration enforcement to be done at the local/state level, and they both would make it a felony to have certain interactions with undocumented individuals. Under the NC bill for example, a person would be guilty of a Class G felony if they transport, move, conceal, harbor, or shield 10 or more undocumented persons (if an individual interacts with just 1 undocumented person then they would be guilty of Class 1 misdemeanor). If this were law today, I could be a charged with a Class G Felony for transporting undocumented students on a field trip or to church! There is an exception for this section and it applies to “child protective services workers or child welfare services workers, or to emergency medical services personnel, or personnel providing ambulance or rescue squad services, while acting in their official capacity.” In short, you can’t give your undocumented grandmother a ride to the doctor, but at least they’ll allow an ambulance to come pick her up if she’s dying.

A portion of this bill is déjà vu since HB 11 , the Denial of Education bill, was also incorporated within this bill. The sponsors aim to bar access to undocumented students to any institution of high education. There is no mention in this section of the bill as to who would check the legal status of applicants and how those positions would be funded. Denying access to higher education is the same as subjugating a group of people to a lifetime of poverty by limiting their potential. We, the Education State, must stand up for the right of all students to pursue the fulfillment of their highest potential. We can’t afford to deny anyone an education and last I checked, North Carolina didn’t have too many educated people.

Our communities can’t afford for us to derail the work of law enforcement and burden them with the work of federal immigration enforcement. Not only that, but it’s wrong to obligate law enforcement to arrest innocent people who, for various reasons, may be here undocumented and have that person take up a bed in jail. It is wrong to turn a blind eye to frivolous and abusive employers and create a climate where they may thrive by making it difficult for good employers to hire undocumented workers. And it is simply un-American to deny anyone, especially innocent youth, the opportunity to fulfill their God given potential through higher education. It is clear that either the sponsors of this legislation are ignorant to the reality of split-status families or simply don’t care about these families (which encompass U.S. Citizens and undocumented individuals alike), especially with sections of this bill which speak to the transporting and harboring of undocumented individuals.

Times are changing and I remind us all that those US Citizen children and teens who are hearing about these proposed laws that would hurt their parents and separate their families will remember the legislators who stood up for their families and those who didn’t. They will soon come of age and will vote with their families in mind. I know that because I am one of those North Carolinians who grew up in an immigrant household and eagerly cast my vote with my family in mind. It is normal for people to be wary of change and it’s even normal to want to resist change. North Carolina is changing and with the recent census figures, we know that our state will become more brown, as it already has with its Latino population growing 111%. This bill speaks volumes to the status quo desperation of those of a certain generation who have found a scapegoat in the new immigrant population. This bill is clearly an attempt to try to make life for undocumented immigrants so awful in North Carolina that they pick up and leave our state. But it is time for North Carolinians to say no more hate in our state! Our soil is still damp from the long, fought battles for the opportunity for black and white to stand and fellowship together and we simply can’t and shouldn’t wage another attack on fellow human beings. We all know what the right thing to do is and it is to oppose HB 343. This bill is a waste of valuable and limited resources, it goes against our American values and history as a nation of immigrants and appeals to the worst in us. No Hate in Our State!

I challenge you to tell at least one person in your life about this bill (after you’ve read up on it or shared this blog post) and keep tuned in for more info which will surely follow in the next few days. If you’d like to join in on lobbying efforts against this bill send me an email so that I may connect you to groups undertaking those efforts. irene@irenegodinez.com.

THANK YOU!

Technorati Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

{ 0 comments }

Have I Told You…

November 24, 2010

A few days ago I came across the new book by President Obama, Of Thee I Sing. This treasure of a book is written in a kind of call and response way. The prompt is “Have I ever told you that you are ___adjective___” and then the facing page highlights the story of someone in US history whose life and contributions to our shared history depicts the adjective described in the preceding page.

In these days as we near a vote on the DREAM Act I am inspired to share with others the incredible plight and pride that I’ve witnessed and experienced in the movement for immigrant rights.While I know that I won’t be able to capture everything and everyone I’ve experienced, I’d like to share what I consider the highlights of this year. I invite you to add and write about your experiences as well if you have already been connected to this movement.

Have I told you that you are incredible?

A year ago most of us who have been active in the immigrant rights movement (Comprehensive Immigration Reform/DREAM) in North Carolina and across the nation did not know one another. Then a movement building training happened on December 5th and 6th in Raleigh. These trainings expanded across the nation in the months after, training thousands of community members including immigrants and non-immigrants, allies, youth, faith leaders, and many others. This was the first time that we began to see the foundation of an actual grassroots movement led and fueled by those affected by the broken immigration system and their allies. Though not everything was perfect, the biggest gain of this initial movement was seeing how relationships began to forge and we too began to see the power that we have as a collective. Days after our NC training, we took action by filling an entire room at the hearing of the NC Community College System on whether to allow undocumented immigrants in their institutions. Many leaders have risen from these trainings and are the spark that has reignited the fire for DREAM to be where it is today.

Have I told you that you are resilient, even in the face of the worst storms?

On the week of April 23rd the community in Arizona gathered in a peaceful prayer vigil in protest of the SB 1070, which perpetuates racial profiling. A small group grew to a few dozen and within a few days had escalated to thousands in Arizona and across the nation standing in solidarity with the community in Arizona who were facing the most xenophobic law in recent memory (even the Department of Justice has intervened). Everyone across the nation was eager to support the immigrant and minority community of Arizona by holding prayer vigils of their own and by raising awareness of SB 1070 and its effects not only in Arizona but also in other states who soon began to push copycat bills in their own legislative bodies. The community in Arizona held hands, prayed, organized walk outs, made their voices heard and fought with dignity against this incredible tide of hatred.

Have I told you that you are bold and courageous?

In January we began to hear of the Trail of DREAMS, a group of four students who began a journey by walking 1,500 miles from Miami to D.C. to raise awareness on the urgent need of immigration reform and the DREAM Act. By revealing their legal status, they too began to put a human face to the issue of immigration not only in the southeastern states they traversed but also at a national level. By early Spring, hundreds of other undocumented students across the nation participated in “Undocumented and Unafraid” Coming Out events in their communities. For the first time in this movement for immigrant rights, students were stepping out of the shadows and stating openly that they are undocumented. They were freeing themselves from the burden of what for many was a long held secret, known only to their families. This year we saw the birth of a true, national immigrant and ally movement led in great part by students and would-be students. This continues to live in the tradition of other movements including the Civil Rights movement.

Have I told you that you are visionary?

In the spirit of students and youth from previous movements leading and shining a light on their struggles and that of their community, North Carolina has seen a rise in action by immigrant and non-immigrant youth alike. In the early summer, several youth began a hunger fast to raise awareness on the DREAM Act and to call on their community to take action by asking Senator Kay Hagan to support the DREAM Act. Youth action intensified with a hunger strike conducted by three undocumented young women which lasted two weeks. The hunger strike was held in plain sight of legislators at the NC General Assembly, near the Governor’s mansion and down the street from Senator Hagan’s office. The birth of NC DREAM Team was perhaps one of the biggest successes this year, in my opinion. This group has carved out a place for undocumented youth to belong and lead alongside allies, while raising awareness on the urgency of the DREAM Act as a down payment on immigration reform. Undocumented youth across the nation have also been participating in civil disobedience in various Senators’ offices and even in front of the White House on May 1st. They can be seen at town hall meetings that their Senators’ conduct, keeping the issue of the DREAM Act in constant sight of these power brokers. We will not relent, not even when others say that DREAM will not happen, nor Comprehensive Immigration Reform because we are willing to fight with all of our might in order to keep our families together and to provide opportunities through the acquisition of education for all youth.

Have I told you that you inspire a hopeful future?

I continue to be amazed by all of the accomplishments that our movement has achieved in less than a year! On top of organizing consistently and often unlike any other time (with regards to immigration reform) we have also kept our promise of voting and participating in civic engagement. In North Carolina alone, we were able to register several thousand eligible voters, most of them youth; we also reached out to over 15,000 registered voters to remind them to vote leading up to the elections. In my opinion, it was our participation that helped push back on the Congressional shifts that happened most everywhere else in the nation.

We’ve brought together 250,000 people in D.C. all clamoring for immigration reform, we’ve mobilized millions by sharing our stories, we’ve acquired and refined organizing skills, we’ve created a solid immigrant rights movement, we’ve established relationships with people who are now like family to us, we’ve marched, we’ve voted, we’ve engaged our friends and family, we’ve prayed for an entire summer, we’ve held die-ins, we’ve held elected officials accountable, we’ve called Congress, we’ve written letters, we’ve fought tirelessly for our detained brothers and sisters, we’ve held our heads high when others tried so hard to knock us down.

I’ve met the most incredible people this year who have not only survived, even this immigration enforcement climate and despite all of the half-truths and myths floating around about our community. The people I’ve met have thrived and excelled with what has been given to them. They have been brave, dignified and have conducted their work with the utmost integrity. I have no doubt that regardless of what happens in the coming days, our movement will not die rather it will strengthen. We will have ups and downs but so long as we keep present that we are fighting for the same outcome and for the same community we will continue to succeed as we have thus far. It has been an honor being in this movement with so many of you, my brothers and sisters. We shall overcome.

Technorati Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,

{ 0 comments }

We Are Counting on YOU for DREAM

September 16, 2010

The time that so many have been walking for, sitting in for, starving for, getting arrested for is approaching. Earlier this week Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada stated at a press briefing that the DREAM Act would be added onto the Defense Authorization bill as an amendment. Said bill is up for a vote next Tuesday, September 21st. In short, the DREAM Act has a shot at actually moving next week after being idle in Congress since 2007 and being introduce a decade ago.  The DREAM Act would provide certain undocumented students with the opportunity to earn permanent legal status if they came to the United States as children, have good moral character, finish high school or obtain a G.E.D., and complete two years of college or military service.

While the DREAM Act alone isn’t comprehensive immigration reform, it is a step towards CIR and it is the only thing that has traction at the present time (though Sen. Menendez will introduce a CIR bill later this year). There is a lot of energy around the DREAM Act, particularly from youth and their allies who will no longer be silenced by fear. The broken immigration and education systems have been mutilating the dreams of millions of students across the country for years. Some students have become so despondent that they’ve even taken their own life. I’ve met many students who have openly admitted to me their own struggles with thoughts of suicide due to their legal status. We are at a critical moment when we can offer relief to the undocumented youth who came to this country through no fault of their own and who have done everything that has been asked of them as students and members of our communities.

I’m reminded of all of the courageous Dreamers that I have had the honor of knowing over these last 10 years. In my mind I see the faces of Carla, a young woman whom I’ve seen transform from a quiet, sports loving enthusiast to an active, committed organizer putting into practice her excellent leadership qualities learned on and off the soccer field. She dreams of being a doctor. I think of Mariano who made the difficult decision of returning to Mexico even though it meant being separated from his family who remain in North Carolina. I see the faces of Manuel, Carolina, Sem, Talina, Rosario, Viri, Loida, Felipe, Carlos, Gaby and so many others. Too many. All of these youth are ours and we must do right by them by supporting the DREAM Act and urging our Senators to support this legislation!

Providing these students an opportunity to live up to their potential reflects the values upon which our nation was founded. To continue to waste their talents is wrong. The DREAM Act is not amnesty as some elected officials have erroneously stated, since students would have to earn legalization. As the DREAM Act finally is dusted off by being added as an amendment to another bill next week, we will need the support of Senator Kay Hagan (for those of us in NC) who has been reluctant to support DREAM to date, instead opting to wait until Comprehensive Immigration Reform comes along.

We need the help of allies and supporters like you now more than ever! The choice for you is clear. Will you take 2 minutes to call your Senator every day to urge him/her to support the DREAM Act? Or will you sit back and do nothing and allow your silence to be permission for continued inaction and broken dreams? The DREAMs of 2.1 million youth rests in our ability to make more calls than our opposition and expressing loud and clear that we are serious when we say that DREAM can’t wait 10 more years!

Call now: 1888-254-5087 or 1-866-996-5161. Don’t get discouraged by busy signals–just keep trying until you get in. Once you call, encourage your friends to do the same and repeat every day.

Technorati Tags: , , , , , ,

{ 2 comments }

Senators Selling Out Principles for Your Vote

August 9, 2010

Recently, Sen. Lindsay Graham and several other Republican Senators have been stirring the anti-immigrant cauldron with talks of revising the U.S Constitution–something that has been done just 27 times in its 223 years of existence. Some of these amendments include: The Bill of Rights, abolition of slavery, women’s suffrage, and establishing 18 as the minimum age to vote.

Sen. Graham and his posse seek to revise the 14th Amendment, which guarantees birthright citizenship to those born on U.S territory. Their short-sighted and morally bankrupt efforts are at best, ill-informed, and at worst fanning the flames of bigotry and intolerance that currently saturate cable news and that lead to racist laws like SB 1070 in Arizona.

These Senators are perhaps hoping that if they say that immigrants are “swimming across the river to have a child” enough that it will actually become a fact. They are panning to the segment of the population that believes in the rule of law, but they are misinforming those individuals and anyone that take them at their word. Yes–we believe in the rule of law as a nation, but we also believe in fairness and truth–something that is missing in the current immigration drama playing out in the media.

It is extremely disappointing to see Senator Graham and the other Senators wasting time and efforts on scapegoating brown people, especially in the midst of this intensely anti-immigrant climate, rather than engaging in actual conversations and actions in Congress that may lead to Comprehensive Immigration Reform, including the DREAM Act and AgJobs. With each additional Senator jumping on the anti-American values bandwagon, the devastation as a result of our broken immigration system deepens in our communities as families continue to be unjustly separated.

Illegal immigration exists for many reasons, including failed trade policies like NAFTA, as well as desperate economic strife across the globe. Mexico is the lone developing nation bordering a world “superpower”. Illegal immigration from that country will continue for as long as there is vast needs on one side of the border and opportunities on the other side.

Let’s not kid ourselves here–this is not an issue about birthright citizenship being an “incentive for illegal immigration.” This is an issue about politicians making a desperate attempt for re-election, while spewing lies and half-truths about an issue that merits serious conversations and urgent action. We need Congress to take action on passing fair and humane Comprehensive Immigration Reform now and we need to call out Sen. Graham and his posse on their lies that will only deepen the divide that already exists across our nation.

Technorati Tags: , , , ,

{ 0 comments }

Thank President Obama For Filing Suit Against Arizona’s “Show Me Your Papers” Law

July 6, 2010

Sign the Petition!

{ 0 comments }

Your turn to Walk the Walk

June 28, 2010

The North Carolina state motto is “Esse Quam Videri” meaning “To Be, rather than to Seem”. There comes a point when we all must make a choice: do we just talk the talk or do we walk the walk? It’s easy to throw out concepts of how we think life should be and to casually use words like “justice” and “equality”, but it takes character to actually work towards the kind of world we know is possible–where everyone is treated with dignity and respect simply for breathing and being human.

In this struggle towards achieving fair and humane Comprehensive Immigration Reform we have come to know  those individuals who will work tirelessly and give their precious time to a cause that they believe in wholeheartedly. I began my work with the campaign to Reform Immigration FOR America (RI4A) in December. Days after a 2 day training on social movements, we put into practice what we learned by taking action and helping to fill the auditorium in the State Archive building with people who support access to higher education for ALL students. Overwhelmingly with our new volunteers and with allies like Rev. Barber, and members of the Adelante Education Coalition we were able to raise our voices, and overwhelm our opposition by being well-organized.

Since December, North Carolina’s RI4A team has been fortunate to increase momentum on the issue of immigration reform thanks in large part to the support of amazing, and committed volunteers! They are the heart of our campaign’s work in NC. One of our major successes has been to activate immigrants and non-immigrants alike to take action to call attention to and work towards the passage of Comprehensive Immigration Reform.  Our work with RI4A in NC has succeeded in grand part because of the grassroots support and action taken across the state to highlight the need for CIR. Now, there are thousands of immigrants, non-immigrants, allies and supporters who have taken ownership in this social justice movement, many distilling themselves as leaders in their communities.

This past weekend I spoke with one of our grassroots groups in northern NC and I asked the group of about 30 individuals whether any of them had been active in the movement for immigration reform in 2006 or 2007. Only 2 of those present had participated in one-time actions in years past. When I asked them why none of them had taken action prior to 2010 they said one of two things: “back then we had more privileges–we could drive legally, now we can’t and our kids can’t go to community colleges.” Others said “now, just being brown will get you deported because of 287g.” The overall sentiment was that the community no longer wants to live in fear. They are tired of waiting for relief and hoping it will come because it is the right thing to do. Now, the community in this northern NC county has been taking consistent action in an effort to raise awareness on the need for Comprehensive Immigration Reform and holding their elected officials accountable and they will not relent until CIR becomes a reality.

An issue that has gained momentum, especially among our youth, is pushing for the passage of the DREAM Act as a stand alone bill. Many groups have called attention to this issue through civil disobedience across the nation. In North Carolina, a youth group from our ally El Pueblo, Inc. undertook a fast–two students, Carla and Nelly, fasted for 18 days in an effort to raise awareness on the DREAM Act! One group that was formed late this spring by 2 individuals who were active RI4A volunteers is the NC DREAM Team.  Three courageous members–Viridiana, Rosario and Loida–undertook a Hunger Strike to call attention to the DREAM Act as well and to encourage Sen. Kay Hagan to co-sponsor this bill. These 3 young women revealed their legal status and lived in a tent behind the State Archives building even with the intense heat all while undertaking a hunger strike to call attention to the appalling laws that bar bright, committed and promising North Carolinians from continuing to contribute to our state and nation. All of the youth who fasted, or participated in the hunger strike sacrificed their time and bodies; Loida, one of the hunger strikers was even hospitalized.

There are thousands of people across North Carolina that have consistently taken action this year on Comprehensive Immigration Reform, which would provide a pathway to legalization for the 11 million undocumented immigrants, whether they are DREAM students, or their parents.  Local communities are taking action to push back on increasing anti-immigrant actions, local immigration enforcement,short-sighted policies, and laws like Arizona’s SB 1070.  There are even major CEOs and City Mayors that are taking a stance and pushing for the passage of Comprehensive Immigration Reform! We need people of conscience like you to continue to take action in making Comprehensive Immigration Reform a reality this year. The struggle continues and we will be victorious, especially with your support! It’s your turn to walk the walk and to live up to the NC state motto: Esse Quam Videri–to Be, rather than to Seem.

Take Action!

Reform Immigration FOR America

NC DREAM Team

Register Eligible Voters this summer by emailing irene@irenegodinez.com

Technorati Tags: , , , ,

{ 1 comment }

Hungry for Change

June 17, 2010

Today I began my day by visiting the 3 women who began a hunger strike 3 days ago in Raleigh, NC. Rosario, Loida and Viridiana were brought to the US as children. No one asked for their consent to be uprooted from their lives in their native country. Once in NC, they learned of the American promise that if they just worked hard that they could be anything they wanted to be. Sadly, this promise has gone unfulfilled. Now, several years after graduating high school they continue an uphill struggle towards gaining support for the DREAM Act, a bipartisan federal legislative bill that if passed, would legalize students and former students like them that were brought to the US through no fault of their own so long as they matriculate in a college/university or enlist in the military.

As I type this blog post, the 3 women are camping out across the street from the General Assembly building, and around the corner for the Governor’s mansion and Senator Hagan’s Raleigh office. They will remain camped out, come rain or shine or extreme humidity. They are surrounded by supporters and allies who too believe that once North Carolinians learn of the insurmountable barriers imposed on students sitting next to our own children in NC classrooms that they will speak out against these practices that hurt so profoundly not only the students who are missing a social security number, but also our state by wasting talent.

The crisis that our communities face due to a lack of Congressional action on comprehensive immigration reform continues to tear families apart. The 3 hunger strikers are sacrificing time with their loved ones to raise awareness on the need for the DREAM Act to pass this year. Countless other families are being torn apart as a result of increased immigration enforcement through programs like 287g, which deputize local law enforcement to do the work of immigration. It just so happens that Wake county, including Raleigh, is a county that has the 287g program.Today I spoke to a group of Lay Health Advisors that work in the Latino community. I gave updates on various immigration issues and within moments the stories of their own family experiences with xenophobia and immigration began to pour.

There was one woman who spoke through tears of her 10 year old son coming home sobbing because he was bullied at school by his peers simply for being Colombian. Then there was Maria who shared that her 17 year old son would leave tomorrow for Mexico in pursuit of higher education since he has been confronted with the impenetrable wall here that separate him from his dreams. Maria has two children–one is the son that will return within a few hours to a country unknown to him–the other is an 11 year old daughter born in the United States. Maria recounted that her innocent daughter asked if she could give her brother her social security number so that he could stay. “My poor daughter doesn’t even know that it’s not as simple as giving away her social security number to my son.” Another mother spoke up and informed us that when she and her 7 year old son went to the massive march in D.C. on March 21st that her son asked “If I walk 5 miles, they’ll give you papers, right?” The image that most impacted me today was seeing a daughter with fresh tears in her eyes after just saying goodbye to her mother–a woman who was so desperate for her freedom that she decided to return to Mexico abruptly leaving behind her entire family, including her husband, children and grandchildren.

The desperation and reality of our broken immigration system is raw and tangible. All one needs to do is have a conversation with community members, like the ones I met today, to learn of the crisis confronting us all. Our responsibility after hearing these stories and witnessing the pain and suffering is to expose it and confront elected officials who have the capacity to bring about the desperately needed changes. I challenge you to have a conversation with your community members, even those who may differ in opinion but who are reasonable. If you live in NC I invite you to visit with the hunger strikers and their allies/supporters at the corner of Wilmington St. and Lane St. in downtown Raleigh to hear their stories and learn how you can support their efforts. Change begins with us!

{ 3 comments }

Revisiting Arizona

June 16, 2010

flashback May 1, 2010:

After spending nearly a month in Arizona altogether, I find myself settling back in my homestate–North Carolina. It is challenging trying to get back into the groove that I had prior to April 21st. When I returned from Arizona after my first trip a month ago, I felt a strain on my heart when I thought of Selena, the 8 year old who had been at the prayer vigil most every night with her family. I didn’t say good-bye when I left Arizona on May 2nd. I was pretty restless and uneasy in May partly because of the lack of closure with Selena and my new extended family in Arizona. Also I suffered “survivor’s guilt”–the constant question of “Why is it that I can return to a safe home?” and “Why is it I was born in NC and have every opportunity? And why do my cousins and aunt not any of these opportunities even though they deserve them just as much as I?”

On June 1st, almost a month after leaving Arizona, I finally had a chance to return. My #1 goal was to get in touch with Selena and ask around to see if anyone had seen her recently at the ongoing prayer vigil. I told my Arizona friends how I wanted to reconnect with Selena. Bridgette, one of the organizers there, said that she had seen Selena the previous night. As I sat around a hotel lobby catching up with friends, my co-worker Jorge called me over. He had his phone to his ear and said that my “mini-me” wanted to speak to me! Little did I know that Bridgette had gone to the vigil site and found Selena! We spoke briefly on the phone and I promised her that I would find a way to get to the prayer vigil to see her in the following days. I saw her 2 days later and assured her that I’d remain in contact. We exchanged information and caught up with each other. Her mom told me that Selena had just been asking about me a few days earlier and that she was happy to see me again. :-)

4/30/10

6/3/10

Later that night (June 1st), I went with Jorge–my co-worker and friend–to the prayer vigil site. The vigil had never looked so beautiful. It had a portrait of Jesus hanging from the tree and a cross made of pillar candles. There was fabric winding around the tree and a semi-circle of chairs for aching worshipers. It was Jorge’s last night in Arizona and although we had gone just with the intention of running an errand, the next thing I knew, Jorge was sitting in a chair in front of the vigil while a group of about 5 elder Latina women stood over him, with their hands on Jorge’s shoulders and head, saying a blessing and a prayer. Jorge stood and was immediately enveloped with warm embraces from the women. As he walked towards me, he had fat tears rolling down his face and acknowledged that no one had ever prayed over him nor blessed him in that manner.

That genuine moment of love captures what Arizona means to me. It is a place where the Phoenix community welcomed strangers like Jorge and I and other organizers back in April. The community accepted us immediately and made us one of their own as they fed us and held our hands in the prayer circle. The first night that I was in Arizona I even received the sweater off a 12 year old’s back who overheard that I was cold. Now, as I sit back home and am telling and re-telling my experiences in Arizona I am hopeful that with hard work and steadfast prayer the Governor and the people of Arizona will welcome their own community, documented and undocumented living amongst them.

{ 0 comments }

← Previous Entries