The hearing -titled Public Safety and Civil Rights Implications of State and Local Enforcement of Federal Immigration Laws- focused on the Department of Homeland Security's 287g Program, and it turned into an emotional debate between people who have been directly affected by the obsolete federal immigration policies, and those who believe the laws are there to be enforced and not updated.
The heated exchange of opinions went on between witnesses that came from cities of Arizona, Maryland and Virginia -where 287g program is being applied- in order to testify on whether they support criminalizing all undocumented immigrants, and to protest racial profiling at the same time when demanding the protection of civil rights for every human being in the United States. Both Democrats and Republican Congress members of the Committee on the Judiciary, tried to make their case supporting both sides of the debate.
A witness and victim of racial profiling, Antonio Ramirez -a naturalized U.S. citizen of Indigenous heritage- spoke about the racial profiling he is being victim along with other Native and Latino immigrants in Frederick county, Maryland. He was on the verge of tears while describing the several experiences he has faced as a result of the 287g Program enforcement.Video
A special recognition must be addressed to Congress members John Conyers, Jackson Lee and Luis Gutierrez for their strong support for the human rights of workers and their families, regardless of their immigration status.
Check the live blogging by America's Voice:
We have a packed room here, and the Judiciary Subcommittee hearing into "Public Safety and Civil Rights Implications of State and Local Enforcement of Federal Immigration Laws" is just getting underway. I will be live blogging the hearing right here (at the America's Voice Blog). Here are some coordinates and details about the Subcommittees:
Photos
Here are some of my photos along with the descriptions by the America's Voice live blogging:
1:00 PM: Rep. Jackson Lee is appalled by the fact that there aren't harsher drunk driving laws, for lawful or unlawful residents. She emphasizes the need for better protections. She brings up a good point: the fact that Mr. Trenchant's daughter was killed by a drunk driver is a heinous crime. I would add that the heinous crime does not, however, mean that all, most, or even a comparable share of undocumented immigrants are "drunk murderers killing U.S. citizens," as the argument implied.
12:39 PM: Witness Ray Tranchant begins testimony, speaks of his own story- his daughters being killed tragically by a drunk driver who was undocumented and had previous violations. Argues that crime would have been prevented if offender was deported. Shows pictures of his two young daughters.
12:36 PM: Weissman - Draws comparison between African-American voter suppression efforts in NC and current attempts to suppress 12:33 PM: Distinguished Professor of Law Deborah Weissman begins testimony about 287g agreements and their connection to local episodes of racial violence.
12:31 PM: Ramirez carries the Constitution with him to remind him how proud he is to be American. Speaks about being human and how people that look like himself should not be targeted indiscriminately. Speaks passionately about how much he loves this country.
12:27 PM: Witness Antonio Ramirez speaks passionately, brings out a copy of his citizenship papers to prove he has the right to speak, anger palpable in his voice while talking about how Latino residents of Frederick, Maryland, are scared of reporting crime and the targets of racial profiling. Seems on the verge of tears while talking about the Constitution, and the equal opportunities guaranteed to citizens and residents under it.
12:22 PM: Witness Julio Cesar Mora, a US citizen from Arizona, speaks about his past- his mother died at a young age, so he was raised primarily by his father. One day, when he and his father, a legal permanent resident, were driving, they were stopped by two black SUV's for no reason. He and his father had their hands tied with zip-ties, like common criminals, for no reason. His father was not allowed to go to the bathroom after asking 5 times, even though he had diabetes. He had to go behind a car, in the end. The officers didn't let Julio untie his hands to go the bathroom, and continued to make jokes about it.Keep reading America's Voices live blogging here
Update:
In this video: Gustavo Torres, Director of Casa de Maryland; David M. Adame, Chief Development Officer of Chicanos Por La Causa, Inc; and Adam Luna, Political Director for Americas Voice
Update:
VIDEO
Immigration reform to be passed in 2009 - leaders at US Congress denounce racist Sheriff Joe Arpaio
In this video: Gustavo Torres, Director of Casa de Maryland; David M. Adame, Chief Development Officer of Chicanos Por La Causa, Inc; and Adam Luna, Political Director for Americas Voice
.
Good job, we need to inform people about the absolutely wrong policies that the Bush administration promoted against immigrants, this is not what America should be all about!
ReplyDelete