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<br><div><br><div>Begin forwarded message:</div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"><blockquote type="cite"><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><font face="Helvetica" size="3" color="#000000" style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; color: #000000"><b>From: </b></font><font face="Helvetica" size="3" style="font: 12.0px Helvetica">Claire Leslie <<a href="mailto:cleslie@midwesthumanrights.org">cleslie@midwesthumanrights.org</a>></font></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><font face="Helvetica" size="3" color="#000000" style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; color: #000000"><b>Date: </b></font><font face="Helvetica" size="3" style="font: 12.0px Helvetica">May 4, 2010 4:29:39 PM CDT</font></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><font face="Helvetica" size="3" color="#000000" style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; color: #000000"><b>To: </b></font><font face="Helvetica" size="3" style="font: 12.0px Helvetica"><a href="mailto:members@midwesthumanrights.org">members@midwesthumanrights.org</a></font></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><font face="Helvetica" size="3" color="#000000" style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; color: #000000"><b>Subject: </b></font><font face="Helvetica" size="3" style="font: 12.0px Helvetica"><b>[mchr] Call to Take Action for Comprehensive Immigration Reform</b></font></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; min-height: 14px; "><br></div> <link rel="File-List" href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5Clesli084%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtml1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml"> <o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="City"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="place"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="State"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="country-region"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="PlaceName"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="PlaceType"></o:smarttagtype><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> </w:Compatibility> <w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><object classid="clsid:38481807-CA0E-42D2-BF39-B33AF135CC4D" id=ieooui></object> <style> st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } </style> <![endif]--> <style> <!-- /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} span.msoIns {mso-style-type:export-only; mso-style-name:""; text-decoration:underline; text-underline:single; color:teal;} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} </style> <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:shapedefaults v:ext="edit" spidmax="1026"/> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:shapelayout v:ext="edit"> <o:idmap v:ext="edit" data="1"/> </o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--><p class="MsoNormal">May 4, 2010</p><p class="MsoNormal" style=""><br> Dear MCHR Members,</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><st1:state w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Arizona</st1:place></st1:state>’s latest immigration law and the release of a fairly detailed proposal for comprehensive immigration reform by Democratic senators created national momentum for immigration reform. Human Rights advocates need to respond to this moment to support immigration laws that respect human rights. The Midwest Coalition for Human Rights (MCHR) urges you to take action by contacting elected representatives at the state, local, and national level to ask for their support on this critical issue. Additionally, we ask member organizations to engage their stakeholders in similar advocacy efforts.<em><span style="font-style: normal;"> <o:p></o:p></span></em></p><p class="MsoNormal"><em><span style="font-style: normal;"><o:p> </o:p></span></em></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt;"><em><span style="font-style: normal;">Working in the framework of international human rights law, MCHR calls for comprehensive immigration reform which acknowledges immigrants’ right to</span></em>: </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><strong><u><span style="color: rgb(2, 22, 12); font-weight: normal;">Due Process</span></u></strong><strong><span style="color: rgb(2, 22, 12); font-weight: normal;"> – The <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">U.S.</st1:place></st1:country-region> immigration system fails to provide immigrants and refugees with adequate due process. Major concerns in this regard include lack of review by a competent authority, barriers to accessing representation, and lack of recourse to challenge detention. </span></strong></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><strong><u><span style="color: rgb(2, 22, 12); font-weight: normal;">Freedom from arbitrary detention</span></u></strong><strong><span style="color: rgb(2, 22, 12); font-weight: normal;"> – Currently the <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">U.S.</st1:place></st1:country-region> government fails to provide clear guidance and training to immigration officers regarding who to arrest and detain. As a result, many noncitizens and sometimes even citizens are being detained. Those who are noncitizens face detention for months and even years as their case works its way through an overburdened immigration court system. </span></strong></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><strong><u><span style="color: rgb(2, 22, 12); font-weight: normal;">Humane treatment in detention</span></u></strong><strong><span style="color: rgb(2, 22, 12); font-weight: normal;"> – In the overburdened <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">U.S.</st1:place></st1:country-region> immigration detention system, immigrants are frequently denied access to medical care, legal services, or contact with family members. </span></strong></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><strong><u><span style="color: rgb(2, 22, 12); font-weight: normal;">Refugee protection and non-refoulement</span></u></strong><strong><span style="color: rgb(2, 22, 12); font-weight: normal;"> – Inadequate due process protection and unreasonable deadlines to apply for asylum violate the Refugee Protocol’s prohibition on <i style="">refoulement</i>, or return of refugees to countries where their “life or freedom would be threatened.”</span></strong></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><strong><u><span style="color: rgb(2, 22, 12); font-weight: normal;">Freedom from discrimination</span></u></strong><strong><span style="color: rgb(2, 22, 12); font-weight: normal;"> – The recent <st1:state w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Arizona</st1:place></st1:state> immigration law causes increased concern over law enforcement officials engaging in discriminatory activities such as racial profiling. With this new law, <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Arizona</st1:place></st1:city> police officers are required to ask people for their papers based on an undefined "reasonable suspicion" that they are in the country unlawfully. Other programs that involve an intertwining of immigration enforcement and local law enforcement – such as 287(g) agreements and Secure Communities – do not provide adequate due process protections.</span></strong></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><strong><u><span style="color: rgb(2, 22, 12); font-weight: normal;">Protection of workers’ rights</span></u></strong><strong><span style="color: rgb(2, 22, 12); font-weight: normal;"> – Lacking recourse under state and federal laws, migrant workers are frequently subject to unfavorable and inhumane working conditions, as well as illegal labor practices. </span></strong></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><strong><u><span style="color: rgb(2, 22, 12); font-weight: normal;">Family unity</span></u></strong><strong><span style="color: rgb(2, 22, 12); font-weight: normal;"> – Current restrictions and limitations of immigration law cause extreme delay in the reunification of immigrants seeking to join their families in the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">U.S.</st1:country-region></st1:place></span></strong></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p>For more information on the above list of human rights violations and what steps need to be taken to address them, see the following resources from our partner organizations:<br> <br> * <u>The <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">National Immigrant Justice</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Center</st1:placetype></st1:place></u>: <a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="http://www.immigrantjustice.org">www.immigrantjustice.org</a> (see <i>Resources for Policy Makers</i>)</p><p class="MsoNormal">* <u>The Advocates for Human Rights</u>: <a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="http://www.mnadvocates.org">www.mnadvocates.org</a> (see <i>Immigrant Rights</i>, <i>Resources for Advocates</i>)<br> * <u>The Jewish Council on Urban Affairs</u>: <a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="http://www.jcua.org">www.jcua.org</a> (see <i>What We Do, Fight Oppression and Injustice, Current Campaigns, Immigration Reform</i>)<br> * <u>The Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota</u>: <a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="http://www.immigrantlawcentermn.org">www.immigrantlawcentermn.org</a> (see <i>Services, Advocacy & Policy</i>)<br> </p> <br> Please take action to support immigrant communities at this crucial moment. Your organization’s voice is needed in the effort to achieve comprehensive immigration reform. <p class="MsoNormal"><br> </p> <div class="moz-signature">-- <br><p align="left">Claire Leslie<br> Associate Coordinator<br> Midwest Coalition for Human Rights<br> 208 S. LaSalle Street, Suite 1818<br> Chicago, IL 60604<br> <a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:cleslie@midwesthumanrights.org">cleslie@midwesthumanrights.org</a><br> <a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="http://www.midwesthumanrights.org">www.midwesthumanrights.org</a></p> </div> </blockquote></div><br><br />--
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