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By jwjnational, on December 15th, 2011
Today the Department of Homeland Security announced that it is terminating Sheriff Joe Arpaio’s 287(g) agreement and “restricting” his access to the “Secure Communities” program.
This happened hours after the Department of Justice concluded its three year investigation into civil rights abuses caused by the Sheriff. The report from the DOJ does more than just describe Sheriff Arpaio’s reign of terror. It shows that DHS and ICE programs led to this crisis. Now, the White House needs to apply the lessons learned in Maricopa County and end all programs that entangle local police in the business of immigration enforcement.
Today marks a pivotal moment.
PLEASE SIGN THE PETITION TO END S-COMM & 287(g) HERE.
We join with many others in calling for Sheriff Arpaio to resign and be indicted, but the fight we’ve waged together in Arizona has always been bigger than the Sheriff himself. Sheriff Arpaio is the symbol of the disastrous Secure Communities and 287(g) programs.
It’s time to end those as well.
PLEASE SIGN THE PETITION TO END S-COMM & 287(g) HERE.
Countless acts of bravery and solidarity across
Continue reading Victory in Arizona! Now What?
By Sarahi Uribe, on May 19th, 2011
Cross-posted from the National Day Laborer Organizing Network
Its time to put S-Comm on ice.
For Norma, for Isaura, for Maria, for all the survivors of domestic violence and innocent people swept up in this dragnet, it’s time for a freeze on the flawed and failed so-called “Secure Communities” mass deportation program.
Last year NDLON started to expose the damages and the dishonesty of s-comm. People didn’t believe it was shakeable but now the program is facing an investigation and coming under fire.
Just yesterday the LA Times and Huffington Post broke a new story. A contractor responsible for much of the program’s expansion spoke out and indicated a cover-up from the top on down.
He said in a letter to Congresswoman Lofgren, “I believe key elements in the ICE correspondence [to you] are inaccurate and misleading… ICE painted itself into a corner and needed someone to blame.”
Even before he came out, the Governor of Illinois already decided to pull his state out of the program because of the damage it caused and the Congressional Hispanic Caucus has called on President Obama to freeze the
Continue reading It’s Time.
By Huy Ong, on April 28th, 2011
One year ago, what was long known to be a laboratory for the Right also became recognized as an epicenter for human rights efforts today. On April 23, 2010 Arizona Governor Jan Brewer signed SB1070 into law, elevating the state of Arizona into the national spotlight as both the capitol of prejudice and the heart of a vibrant migrant and human rights movement. While Russell Pearce, Sheriff Arpaio, and Jan Brewer entered the courts to defend their unconstitutional and inhumane work, families, neighbors, workers, people of faith, and students mobilized in the tens of thousands to send the clear message that “we will not comply” with the criminalization of our communities.
One year later, with the exception of a few states like Georgia and Florida, the country has turned away from the wrong direction of Arizona and its 1070 copy cats. Yet, while the Obama administration has sued Arizona for its law, its also bragged about deporting one million people while in office via the expansion of police-ICE collaborations. The organizers of Arizona always told visitors, “the best way to support us is to confront ICE in
Continue reading National Summit to Turn the Tide on Anti-Immigrant Enforcement
By Attica Woodson Scott, on March 15th, 2011
“As you probably know, SB 6 passed the Senate but never actually came before the House for a vote. We had several committee hearings on the bill but the significant and vocal opposition to the measure derailed it for the session.” ~State Representative David Osborne
We won! For the first few months of 2011, Kentucky Jobs with Justice was part of a powerful group of individuals and organizations from across our state who fought back against anti-immigrant Senate Bill 6. SB6 is Arizona SB1070 copycat legislation that would target anyone for detention who does not speak English or who appears to have been born outside of the U.S. It would target anyone who “assists” an undocumented worker or their undocumented children. Furthermore, SB 6 would make many immigrant crime victims, including victims of domestic violence, think twice about reporting crimes or cooperating with police it they fear racial profiling or bias.
Kentucky Jobs with Justice stands in solidarity with our immigrant brothers and sisters who are facing anti-immigrant attacks from those who prefer to divide our country instead of build our communities. Many of the immigrants who would be racially profiled in Kentucky represent working families that are contributing members
Continue reading Victory in KY against Anti-Immigrant Copycat Bill
By Chris Hicks, on February 22nd, 2011
Community, labor, students and faith coming together makes such a beautiful picture. Wisconsin residents are fighting back against right-wing attacks on students, workers and the public sector, which are being lead by Governor Walker. Citing a $137 million budget deficit, Gov. Walker has defended his claims that public unions should essentially lose bargaining rights and have their benefits cuts – but has said nothing about the fact that 2/3rd of the corporations in Wisconsin pay no taxes at all. Gov. Walker has threatened to call in the National Guard but students and workers have remained united, refusing to leave.
But we can’t stop and just watch what happens in Wisconsin. At the heart of this it’s an ideological battle happening around the country. Who should run our neighborhoods, community or corporations? In what seems to be state-after-state, copy-cat SB 1070′s are being introduced (while the original is being contested by the federal government), there are attacks on the public sector and services, and the House of Representatives leadership’s Continuing Resolution cuts the maximum Pell Grant award by $845, bringing the total down to $4,705 for the remainder of fiscal year 2011 and also:
Eliminates
Continue reading Where’s The Funding?! Public Need vs Corporate Greed
Kentucky’s Senate Bill 6 (SB6) is one of several bills that has been introduced in state legislatures across the country that copycat Arizona’s anti-immigrant legislation SB1070 signed into law by Arizona’s Jan Brewer last spring. The law legalizes unchecked racial profiling by police of anyone they “suspect” is undocumented.
“I’m just a concerned community member” was the message we heard from many of the more than 100 people who showed up at a called meeting in early January to discuss possible responses to Senate Bill 6 (SB6). During that meeting, many ideas were brought forth, one of which was a lobby and rally day which hundreds of people participated in on February 8 in Frankfort. Folks from across the state showed up to show their opposition to this bill and to stand in solidarity with immigrant and migrant families throughout Kentucky. We know with the work being done to resist SB6–with so many new people emerging to be a part of these efforts– the opportunities to build on this energy and new leadership are great.
In Louisville, we reached out to our board of education
Continue reading We Are All Kentucky! Rally to Stop Anti-Immigrant SB6
By Huy Ong, on June 2nd, 2010

Phoenix, Arizona. This weekend 100,000 people marched six miles from Steele Indian School Park to the State Capitol to denounce SB1070 and demand President Obama intervene in the growing human rights crisis in Arizona. We were joined by supporters ranging from AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka to the voice of her people, Grammy Nominated Singer, Jenni Rivera, and attendees who drove from as far away as Boston to support the local people leading the effort to overturn SB 1070.
In a gathering Sunday morning, movement-building organizations from across the country share their commitments to bring the Arizona human rights crisis fight back to their communities.
Participants heard from local leadership, national allies, and from veterans of the Mississippi Freedom Summer the urgency of a national response. Organizations shared ways to connect their struggles, campaigns, and creativity in breakout sessions and committed to ongoing peaceful resistance. A global call for escalating resistance to stop SB1070 was made.
“We will make this summer a Human Rights summer
Continue reading Call for Peaceful Escalating Resistance to Arizona SB1070
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