Border Action Update
Monday, October 12, 2009
 
Hi Supporter,

So much news! Where to start? First, some good news --after 4 1/2 years, the Inter-American Commission announced they will hear our case against the U.S. for ignoring border vigilante groups' human rights violations.  Also this week, both Border Action and the Dept of Homeland Security have been making changes in-house. We are welcoming two new fantastic staff and celebrating a new class of Human Rights Promoters while DHS has been busy changing their detention practices and their 287g agreement with Arpaio. Let's hope DHS cancels the program all together. As for bad news, Arizona's anti-immigrant front may be preparing for a take-over of political offices. We have much to do and couldn't do it without you!


Jennifer Allen,
Executive Director

Inter-American Commission to Hear Case vs Border Vigilantes

Residents of Douglas, Arizona recall Minutemen driving through their small downtown area randomly asking people walking down the street if they had "papers." Since those early days of border vigilante groups patrolling the border and border towns, harassment and racial profiling has continued. Currently, a Minuteman member faces charges for murdering an Arivaca, Arizona man and his child this summer.
 
We at Border Action Network believe that the U.S. government should be held to task for turning a blind eye to the groups. "Anti-immigrant vigilantism continues to plague Arizona and the border region," explains Jennifer Allen, Border Action's Executive Director.   {Continue reading...}

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DHS Cancels Arpaio's 287g Agreement

We are pleased to report that the Department of Homeland Security has canceled Sheriff Joe Arpaio's 287g Agreement, revoking his deputies' authority to make immigration arrests in the field. Though Arpaio wanted to renew an agreement with DHS to allow both field arrests and immigration checks at his jails, a DHS official recently gave him a document allowing only jail checks. {Continue reading...}

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DHS Announces Changes in Immigrant Detention; More Still Needed

Last week, the DHS announced changes in their detention system.  While we commend these changes, more needs to be done.  Below is a statement from the Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service on this issue, and click here to visit their website.

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Encouraged by DHS Planned Detention Reforms; More Still Needed:  Protection of Vulnerable Persons, Clear Release Standards, Community-Based Alternatives to Detention Programs
 
BALTIMORE, October 7, 2009-Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service (LIRS) commends the immigration detention system reforms announced yesterday by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS).  The government's long-awaited report acknowledges that jail-like criminal incarceration has been used too frequently on non-violent persons and vulnerable populations who pose no threat to the community and could be released from custody. The report also cites the need to improve conditions in immigration detention facilities, especially in regard to medical care, and acknowledges the need for increased oversight of the detention system.
 
The DHS report noted that only a small percentage of those in detention have convictions for violent crimes and the majority are low risk, such as families, women, asylum seekers, or other vulnerable groups.  "Imprisoning families and those fleeing persecution is fundamentally anti-American and goes against our core values of liberty and justice.  DHS has recognized that its one-size-fits-all detention approach is not only costly and inefficient but unnecessary in tens of thousands of cases," stated LIRS Executive Vice President Anne P. Wilson.
 
DHS has for the first time prioritized the development of a risk assessment instrument to identify whom it needs to detain and why.  "The tool will help ICE make smarter and individualized decisions about whom to release at the front end. DHS will need to establish clear standards and screening protocols to ensure that detention is limited to circumstances when someone presents a danger to our communities or might fail to appear at court," said Leslie E. Vélez, LIRS Director for Access to Justice.  "Absent from DHS's report is an explanation of how it will ensure release for all individuals who are eligible, particularly victims of torture and persecution, those with medical conditions, families, the elderly, and other vulnerable groups." 
 
"LIRS is encouraged that DHS plans to make alternatives to detention available nationwide. Such alternatives, however, would be much more effective if DHS uses proven community-based models which it has not yet done," said Gregory Chen, LIRS Director for Legislative Affairs, referring to screening and supervised programs that rely upon community agencies as partners to ensure immigrants appear in court. "Moreover, alternatives to detention should not be used in place of other release options such as release on bond or recognizance."
 
This announcement is an acknowledgement that the problems are systemic.  Successful reform will require sustained attention not only by DHS but Congress.  LIRS urges Congress to enact the detention reform bills introduced this year by Senators Robert Menendez (D-NJ) and Joe Lieberman (I-CT) and Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA)," said Mr. Chen. "Expecting a law enforcement agency to check its own power is not realistic and we need these laws to establish the appropriate release standards, ensure judicial review over detention decisions, and make detention standards enforceable."
                                             
The ICE Immigration Detention Overview and Recommendations Report by Dr. Dora Schriro can be found at:www.ice.gov/doclib/091005_ice_detention_report-final.pdf

The ICE fact sheet on the detention reforms can be found at:www.ice.gov/pi/news/factsheets/2009_immigration_detention_reforms.htm

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Join us! Celebrate the graduation of new Human Rights Promoters in Tucson!

Who: Human Rights Promoters' Class: "Unidos Luchando por un Mundo Mejor"
When: Saturday, October 24th from 5:00-7:00pm
Where: Southside Presbyterian Church at 317 W. 23rd St., Tucson, AZ

An amazing class of nine men and women dedicated to organizing for human rights within their communities and reforming immigration just completed their 40+ hour training! An amazing class of nine men and women dedicated to organizing for human rights within their communities and reforming immigration just completed their 40+ hour training! The group met every Saturday evening for the last two and half months to study the Bill of Rights, Universal Declaration of Human Rights, how to document rights violations, the history of immigration and immigrant resistance in the U.S., public speaking and how to organize. They are ready to hit the ground running and share what they have learned with their friends, family, co-workers, neighbors and more. They will be tasked with forming new Human Rights Committees or bringing in new members to their existing committee. Please join us to celebrate their dedication and welcome them into the leadership of Border Action Network!

PO Box 384 Tucson, AZ 85702 (520) 623-4944 Fax: (520) 792-2097 ban@borderaction.org

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