One Dream at a Time

The Dream Act may not have passed Congress, but under pressure from Democrats and immigration activists, some states are taking a case by case approach to blocking the deportation of undocumented persons, especially students, who have no criminal records and are doing well at school or work. This is not the kind of immigration reform we can celebrate, but it is proof that defeat of legislation does not necessarily negate right actions. And it is very good news for the persons being reprieved. Read the NYTimes article.

Sunday, May 1st, worship service on immigration justice

Join us for a special worship service on the theme of immigration justice this Sunday, May 1st, at Central Baptist Church at 10:45am.

• The worship service will be in Spanish and English -- songs/prayers/sermon/communion. Various members of our CBC Immigration Justice Group will be worship leaders. 

• Our guest preacher for the day is Rev. Doug Avilesbernal, from Calvary Baptist Church in Norristown, one of our sister congregations.  Doug is a wonderfully warm and wise person.  He is Mexican, but grew up in El Salvador.  In Norristown, Doug is personally and pastorally involved with the Mexican immigrant community. 

• The service will include communion, which at CBC is always open, with everyone invited to take part in sharing the common bread and the cup as an expression of God's radical welcome. 

• To close the worship time,  a Mexican folkloric dance group from Norristown will perform "Las Chiapanecas" -- a folk dance from the State of Chiapas, Mexico.

• We'll have some time after the service for conversation and refreshments.

We're hoping this will be a good way to continue to reflect on immigration justice following the New Sanctuary Movement retreat hosted at Mishkan Shalom on Saturday, April 30th.  Remember, too, that the New Sanctuary retreat will begin with participating in Mishkan's Shabbat service at 10am.  Let me know if you need details about the retreat plans.

Are Migrant Workers from North Africa Threatening the European Union?

As migrant workers from Africa and poor areas of the Middle East throng to leave Libya where they have worked in construction, the oil fields, and the military as paid soldiers, many are seeking to enter Europe where they hope to find security and work. Often their documents have been seized by employers in Libya, they have been robbed by both sides in the current violence, and there is little promise for them "at home."

In addition, many Tunisian refugees fleeing turmoil in their country are hoping to settle in Europe.

Italy is the point of entrance, but many migrants, especially the French speaking, want to continue on to France. The Italian govenment is both trying to limit access to their ports and to argue that this is a European problem, not an Italian problem. France is acting to tighten their borders with Italy.

This is both a humanitarian and a political crisis. How can Europe support protest in Northern Africa and refuse to accept refugees created by the turmoil? How can Europe claim to be a Union and not share the burden of migration? Read on.

The website for the International Organization for Migration (http://www.iom.int/), currently running rescue boats out of Misrata, has constant updates.

The New York Times is staying current as well. On April 13 they published an article -- "Fears about Immigrants Deepen Divisions in Europe" -- recording divisions in the European Union over the flood of immigrants feeling the unrest in North Africa. Read the article.

They followed this with an article on April 15 -- "Libyan Port City Brims with Migrants Desperate to Flee Seige" -- narrating the story of hundreds of migrant workers clustered at the port of Misrata awaiting rescue. Read the article.

An article on April 20 -- "On Journey to New Lives, Young Tunisians Need Only a Final Destination" -- concentrates on Tunisian refugees seeking to settle in France, but being caught in the political struggle over immigration between Italy and France. Read the article.

Who Goes and Who Stays? Two Asylum Cases Grounded in the 1980s

There are two interesting "companion" articles in the NYTimes today (April 18). One reports that the US has finally agreed to deport General Eugenio Vides Casanova, El Salvador's top military officer during the bloody 1980s, who oversaw numerous human rights violations, including the rape and murder of four North American nuns serving the poor in his country. Read the article.

The second article tells the story of Victor Toro, an outspoken critic of the Chilean dictator General Augusto Pinochet, who was imprisoned and tortured during the 1980s and is presently fighting deportation and hoping for asylum to continue his work as an advocate for the poor and marginalized in New York. Read the article.

NYT article - The Anti-Immigration Crusader

Read the article about Dr. John Tanton, anti-immigrant crusader, in the NYTimes today.  Tanton is a major force behind three national anti-immigrant efforts, including the Federation for American Immigration Reform, or FAIR, which helped draft the Arizona law last year to give the police new power to identify and detain illegal immigrants.   Here's an excerpt from the Times article.  Link to full article below.

Rarely has one person done so much to structure a major cause, or done it so far from the public eye. Dr. Tanton has raised millions of dollars, groomed protégés and bequeathed institutions, all while running an ophthalmology practice nearly 800 miles from Capitol Hill. 

“He is the most influential unknown man in America,” said Linda Chavez, a former aide to President Ronald Reagan, who once led a Tanton group that promoted English-only laws. 

While Dr. Tanton’s influence has been extraordinary, so has his evolution — from apostle of centrist restraint to ally of angry populists and a man who increasingly saw immigration through a racial lens.


Read full article here

Spanish News Coverage of April 12 Debate

For those of you who speak Spanish, even a little, here is a good news piece on the debate. You will see and hear an interview with Maria Marroquin, founder of Dream Activists. http://univision65.univision.com/noticias/video/2011-04-14/son-bienvenidos-los-inmigrantes-en

News Coverage of April 12 Immigration Debate

What follows is an English translation of the report from Latino News and Opinion on the immigration debate at Broad Street Ministries on April 12. CANDIDATES WERE CONSPICUOUS BY THEIR ABSENCE IN IMMIGRATION DEBATE Three of the democratic candidates to City Council from District One, Vernon Anastasio, Joe Grace and Jeff Hornstein, broke their promise to attend an immigration debate with the southern community of Philadelphia on April 12. The event, nevertheless, was a success. Neither the rain neither the wind impeded nearly 300 people (mostly eligible to vote) who congregated in a church in the center of the city. The activity consisted of a heated debate between a columnist for the Philadelphia Daily News, Stu Bykofsky, and a professor from University of Pennsylvania Law School, Sarah Paoletti. The questions of the debate came from the Asian and Latin American communities, those persons deeply affected by threat of deportation and by anti-immigrant measures that favor racial profiling and collaboration between the Philadelphia Police and ICE. These measures particularly threaten those lacking identity papers and vulnerable to be victims of crime and abuse. After the debate two democratic candidates at large were presented: Andy Toy who, if he wins, will be the first Asian member on the City Council, and Sherrie Cohen, the first openly lesbian candidate. Both said they said were against the collaboration of the Police and ICE. Zac Steele, community organizer, explained that the absence of the candidates from District One was due to two events occurring simultaneously. "We know that they responded to a meeting with the Civic Organization of Washington Square West. We are very disappointed; those present were anxious to know their positions in terms of migration", said Steele. Hornstein, arriving 15 minutes after the end of the event, apologized for his absence and assured those still present that he takes immigration issues seriously. "For the last 10 years I have been organizing immigrant workers in the union SEIU. It is a very important issue for me", said Hornstein. The event was organized by "Voices for Safe and Diverse Neighborhoods", a coalition of pro-immigration organizations.