[Peace] Fwd: [mchr] Call to Take Action for Comprehensive Immigration Reform

[Belden Fields]

Begin forwarded message:

> From: Claire Leslie <cleslie at midwesthumanrights.org>
> Date: May 4, 2010 4:29:39 PM CDT
> To: members at midwesthumanrights.org
> Subject: [mchr] Call to Take Action for Comprehensive Immigration  
> Reform
>
> May 4, 2010
>
> Dear MCHR Members,
>
> Arizona’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.
>
> Working in the framework of international human rights law, MCHR  
> calls for comprehensive immigration reform which acknowledges  
> immigrants’ right to:
>
> Due Process – The U.S. 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.
> Freedom from arbitrary detention – Currently the U.S. 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.
> Humane treatment in detention – In the overburdened U.S.  
> immigration detention system, immigrants are frequently denied  
> access to medical care, legal services, or contact with family  
> members.
> Refugee protection and non-refoulement – Inadequate due process  
> protection and unreasonable deadlines to apply for asylum violate  
> the Refugee Protocol’s prohibition on refoulement, or return of  
> refugees to countries where their “life or freedom would be  
> threatened.”
> Freedom from discrimination – The recent Arizona immigration law  
> causes increased concern over law enforcement officials engaging in  
> discriminatory activities such as racial profiling. With this new  
> law, Arizona 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.
> Protection of workers’ rights – Lacking recourse under state and  
> federal laws, migrant workers are frequently subject to unfavorable  
> and inhumane working conditions, as well as illegal labor practices.
> Family unity – Current restrictions and limitations of immigration  
> law cause extreme delay in the reunification of immigrants seeking  
> to join their families in the U.S.
>
> 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:
>
> * The National Immigrant Justice Center: www.immigrantjustice.org  
> (see Resources for Policy Makers)
> * The Advocates for Human Rights: www.mnadvocates.org (see  
> Immigrant Rights, Resources for Advocates)
> * The Jewish Council on Urban Affairs: www.jcua.org (see What We  
> Do, Fight Oppression and Injustice, Current Campaigns, Immigration  
> Reform)
> * The Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota:  
> www.immigrantlawcentermn.org (see Services, Advocacy & Policy)
>
> 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.
>
> -- 
> Claire Leslie
> Associate Coordinator
> Midwest Coalition for Human Rights
> 208 S. LaSalle Street, Suite 1818
> Chicago, IL 60604
> cleslie at midwesthumanrights.org
> www.midwesthumanrights.org
>


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