I was recently at an immigrants’ rights forum and the point was touched on again and again about how the government (and right wing) tries to frame their anti-immigrant rhetoric in terms of respecting the rule of law, opposing identity theft or cracking down on violent gangs. But the bottom line regardless of the rhetoric they use is that they are anti-immigrant and want to racially profile latinos. Our solidarity and respect goes out to this community – including King Jay and the ALKQN – for defending immigrants’ rights!
Marching against racial profiling
http://www.carolinapeacemaker.com/news/Article/Article.asp?NewsID=95842&sID=4
http://www.elon.edu/pendulum/Story.aspx?id=2050
http://www.myfox8.com/news/wghp-guilford-287g-protest-090409,0,4195424.story
Members of he Pilgrimage for Justice and Peace held their 22nd annual journey last week, where they walked across North Carolina seeking justice for workers here and in Latin America. When the pilgrimage passed through Greensboro it focused on issues of peace and justice, immigrant access to higher education and the latest controversial 287(g) program which under the Immigration and Nationality Act, will allow local law enforcement to perform the duties of an International Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer and legally detain anyone who is in the country illegally.
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Gail Phares, director of the Carolina Interfaith Task Force on Central America and coordinator of the Pilgrimage for Justice and Peace said, “We need immigration reform as soon as possible. We need to change our immigration and free trade laws rather than punishing them (the workers). All they’re trying to do is feed their families; they shouldn’t be treated like bad people.”
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Although the pilgrimage focused on several issues, it was the 287(g) program that has sparked recent community discussions. “It is an unjust program that has been misrepresented to help (protect) people, when in fact it targets people based on racial profiling,” said Eric Jonas, immigrant assistance center director at FaithAction International House. He explained how the whole program depends on how local law enforcement wants to implement the law. A person’s legal status can be checked from a minor traffic violation all the way to serious offenses.
One of the destinations led marchers to the Guilford County Sheriff’s Department. “I think the sheriff needs to know there is a large group of the community that does not support this,” said Jonas. Protestors of the 287(g) program believe it will add to the Latino community’s fear of the police as well as increase racial profiling tactics.
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Jorge Cornell, leader of the Almighty Latin King and Queen Nation, has been very vocal in his stance against 287(g) as well. “When I stepped up in 2006 to call for peace between gangs, they were using Latino gangs as a way to push for the implementation of 287(g). There will be no safety for Latinos, so now we’re speaking up for those who cannot.”
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According to Guilford County Sheriff B.J. Barnes, law enforcement will only check people within the jail system and currently only 45 inmates have been ordered by (ICE) to be detained. “Most are drug trafficking, sexual assault or crimes that are against and harmful to other people. ICE isn’t holding people for minor violations, but if they are committing crimes, ICE is putting detainers on them,” Barnes explained.
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Barnes also said that if anyone is pulled over by the police, and they do not have a drivers license or proper documentation stating who they are, lawa enforcement can legally check in the system, which will take minutes with the ICE software versus two weeks with the current method.
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“I don’t have any options here,” said Barnes, “I am obligated by law to check who is legal and who is illegal.”
