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November 2007— RESPONDING TO RAIDS, PREPARING FOR MORE
In the days after the federal governments raids across Long Island, Workplace Project members, volunteers and allies have worked closely with staff and affected families to find relatives, seek legal representation for detainees, and inform communities about their rights in these situations. We have trained over 40 volunteers to conduct intake interviews, and with the support of dedicated law students from CUNY Law School’s Immigrants Rights Clinic, we helped families find low cost or pro bono legal representation. Unfortunately, this process has been made even more difficult by the refusal of the federal government to provide names of detainees, and their practice of moving detainees from one site to another, across the country. Thank you to the support from CUNY Law School, PRLDEF, American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) and many more who offered their support during this difficult time. To get involved as a volunteer in preparation for future raids, contact us at 516-565-5377.
RAIDS ON LONG ISLAND: 187 DETAINED, CITIZENS AND NON-CITIZENS FIND HOMES INVADED BY ICE Federal Agents
In a move reminiscent of paramilitaries in Latin America, federal government agents, many in plain clothes, raided scores of houses across Long Island over the week of September 24-October 1. Families woke to find immigration agents with flashlights in their homes, wielding shotguns and automatic weapons. While the number of detained is proclaimed by the feds to be 187, there is no indication of how many were questioned, as citizens, permanent residents, and documented Latino immigrants all found themselves victims of a federal dragnet.
Even the Nassau County Police Commissioner has asked for an investigation of these tactics, recognizing that actions which terrorize entire neighborhoods and communities serve to do nothing more than to alienate the police from the community that can help them solve crimes.
For more info, see:
NYTimes: Citizens caught up in immigration raid, Oct. 4, 2007
Sept 21 2007 DRIVERS LICENSES FOR ALL!
Governor Spitzer just announced that New York State will no longer require a Social Security number or valid work authorization to get a driver’s license. A sensible move, recognizing that the most important issue is to ensure that drivers have the skills to drive and the required insurance. This move will benefit everyone in NYS, immigrant and native born alike.
August 10, 2007 IMMIGRATION FORECASTS RAIDS AND MORE RAIDS
The Bush administration has been forecasting more and more “immigration enforcement.” This translates into more families being split up, and millions of men, women, and children living in fear in the United States. Of course, this fits in well for a big business agenda, making for an even more exploitable workforce.
To see more about the impacts of the workplace raids in New Bedford, MA, click below.
March 21 2007— Standing While Latino Bill Defeated!
In a decisive blow to the anti-immigrant pandering of some Suffolk County elected officials, a bipartisan majority of the Suffolk County legislature rejected a “Standing While Latino” bill, which sought to make it illegal to stand, sit, or even “saunter” on Suffolk County roadways. Among the strongest stated reasons for the rejection: 1) the revelation of cooked up statistics which blamed day laborers for all rear end collisions (even those which occurred at night!) 2) a fear that the law could be applied to union and community protest activities; and 3) the clear recognition that this was yet another attempt to attack Latino immigrants masquerading as a safety measure.
This victory was even more stunning given the fact that three weeks before the vote, legislators were quoted in Newsday musing that the likely outcome of the vote would 18-0 or 17-1 in favor. What enabled this turn of events? A combined grassroots organizing effort that brought together a broad cast of characters: the Long Island Immigrant Alliance (and of course the Workplace Project among 20 member organizations), the LI Federation of Labor, the Working Families party, the LI Organizing Network, various religious denominations, Suffolk Green Party members, the ACLU and many others. Thanks to all for your support of immigrant workers rights and human rights. Gracias.
5/15/ 2006 Domestic Worker Bill of Rights passed in Nassau County Legislature!
5/1/2006 More than 5000 gather in Hempstead to celebrate May 1st and rally for immigrants rights!
Support Immigrant Workers and Families! The Workplace Project is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
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