Secretary Napolitano: Enough is Enough!

categories: Immigration Detention, Immigration Reform

Published July 30, 2009 @ 09:38PM PT

Today Kyle speaks for many of us in describing the video America's Voice just released:

I'm very happy to report that America's Voice, in partnership with the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights, the New York Immigration Coalition, and the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles, have finally had enough of Janet Napolitano and the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) continued abuse of migrants in the United States.

I recognize that the Obama administration has a lot on its plate with health care reform, climate change, education, and many other issues I'm anxiously awaiting action on. That, however, does not give the Obama administration the excuse to continue to allow the DHS to terrorize migrants with the remains Bush-era migrant enforcement apparatus. The people voted for change on U.S. migration policy and Obama has only given us much of the same.

I have been pushing for the above organizations to take a stronger stance against the continued terrorizing of the unauthorized migrant population in the U.S. While there is still much that can be done, I am happy to join these organizations in calling for DHS to:

Implement the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law recommendations: conduct a full investigation into the home raids, make these raids a last resort; obtain judicial warrants, and videotape all home raids.

End your partnership with civil rights abuser Sheriff Joe Arpaio, and stop the expansion of programs that have led to racial profiling and decreased public safety, such as the controversial "287 (g)" program in its current form.

Correct the unacceptable conditions for immigrants and asylum-seekers in your expanding immigrant detention system. Pursue alternatives to detention whenever possible. Stop deporting U.S. citizens.

Halt the expansion of broken policies that undermine labor protections, such as the flawed E-Verify program, which both labor unions and business groups strongly oppose.

Begin work on real, comprehensive immigration reform immediately.

America's Voice (30 July 2009)

I encourage others to sign the petition as well.

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Comments (5)

In other words stop enforcing our immigration laws because it is terrorism?

Posted by Mark Lindley on 07/31/2009 @ 08:13AM PT
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I only partially agree with thing. If and/or when the conditions in the detention centers are less than standard and should be improved. However, E-verify is a necessary and viable tool to ensure that every employee is using authentic documentation and are who they say they are. It works and Wal-Mart using it is proof of that. Unions don't like it because it takes away from their numbers so they can get things their way. Business groups don't like it because without illegals, they will have no cheap labor and will have to pay U.S citizens proper wages.

Posted by Luis Ramos on 07/31/2009 @ 10:03AM PT
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Luis, I totally agree with you. There won't be much need for detention centers or concern about their conditions or raids if e-verify is implemented and we get back to holding the employers accountable for whom they hire. Without jobs and some other deterrants in place those illegally in our country will mostly leave.

Posted by Mark Lindley on 07/31/2009 @ 11:06AM PT
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Great recommendations! I'm glad these groups have finally had enough. Kudos to Kyle for all his hard work! I hope everyone will take a moment to sign the petition.

Posted by a d on 07/31/2009 @ 06:55PM PT
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I just signed the petition. Americas Voice is a great group. We need our DHS to change there focus on the employers rather than the Immigrants. It is the employers that create the magnet and they should be held accountable rather then spending our tax dollars detaining a worker.

Posted by Mary Pranzatelli on 08/20/2009 @ 09:37PM PT
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David is an attorney in Philadelphia, PA, where he helps immigrants to the U.S. navigate the complex immigration legal system. Views he expresses at change.org are his alone and don't represent the views or opinions of his employer, Nationalities Service Center. The information contained on this site is intended for educational and advocacy purposes only.