Although the intentions might seem right -protecting the country against criminals- but when looked closely we can realize that the 287g Program has been misused and it has justified many civil rights abuses. The lack of proper training, the ambiguous nature of these provisions and the racist prejudices of police officers and ICE agents are the most important reasons for the failure of this program.
Please watch these videos of two U.S. citizens who were racially discriminated by local police officers while driving, because of 287g Program. They were harassed because of their Native American heritage, which made them suspects of being undocumented. They have never committed any crimes and both are productive members of their communities.
Antonio Ramirez
Frederick County, Maryland
Julio Cesar Mora
Maricopa County, Arizona
Frederick County, Maryland
Julio Cesar Mora
Maricopa County, Arizona
The 287g Program is not about protecting U.S. citizens, is not about justice nor the respect the law. This program is actually converting police officers into criminal abusers, is breaking other laws and it is a true business with a lot of money involved, which allows federal funds to go directly to state and local governments -based on a quota of detentions no matter if they are justified or not- and those funds end up going to detention center facilities, which are mostly run by private corporations.
Obama supports 287g Program
The 287g Program was actually passed by the Clinton administration -as part of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act (IIRAIRA) of September 30, 1996- but it was used widely by the Bush administration, when the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) was created and the Immigration and Custom Enforcement (ICE) became part of it.
After several protests, the White House called for a meeting with over 100 immigration reform advocates, but instead of addressing the current humanitarian crisis, DHS secretary Janet Napolitano announced that she will extend the 287g program to more jurisdictions, with the open support of president Barack Obama. Not surprising, considering Napolitano's terrible record on immigration. But why is president Obama behind this Guantanamo-like law enforcement program?
Protests in Washington DC
A rally, vigil and a music concert will be held next weekend in Washington, DC. in order to protest the 287g Program and to demand president Barack Obama to use his executive power and end or suspend this program until is fixed.
Organized by the National Day Laborer Organizing Network (NDLON), with the support of United Tenants and Workers, CASA de Maryland, Legal AID Justice Center, SHARE Foundation, CARECEN, DC Jobs With Justice, Comunidad Unida de Uluazapa (El Salvador), and CPR Radio 97.5 FM, and of course the fully support of this blog. Please join us.
RALLY & LIVE MUSIC AGAINST 287g PROGRAM
Saturday September 12, 2009
Local DC music and dance groups will gather to promote justice
3:30 PM to 6:30 PM
15th Street NW & Constitution Avenue NW
Next to the Smithsonian Metro Station
Rally to the White House:
Led by day laborers, community advocates and religious leaders
7:30 PM to 8:30 PM
Lafayette Square in front of White House
The 287g Program is not making this country any safer neither is reducing undocumented immigration -since 2006 it has deported about 70,000 out of 12 million undocumented immigrants in about 64 jurisdictions around the country- but is violating human rights and destroying the lives of thousands of decent families.
This program promotes racial discrimination and unjustified detentions, physical and mental abuse due to police brutality, with U.S. citizens being incarcerated and deported, mothers and children detained, some kids are left alone parent less, and families being divided. Meanwhile, millions of tax-payers money are ending in private corporations.
Most detained people are not criminals; most of them are poor undocumented workers who had to migrate to the U.S. in order to survive hunger, unemployment, political and social violence in their homelands. Very few undocumented migrants are harming anyone in this country, they are not a threat to the national security but they are building a new life contributing in many ways to better this nation.
President Obama must reconsider his support for this failed program, which is racist, unfair, obsolete, unreal, expensive, non practical and meant to cause social tensions and distrust from civilians toward the police forces. These provisions are for profit and for business - they are not promoting true justice. They are actually making more police officers to act stupidly, if you know what I mean. Please join this protest, let's make a difference and speak for those who are afraid to speak out.
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When it comes to Mexicans, wouldn't it be far better for the U.S. to quit treat them as "illegal aliens" and accept their existence? It's time the Congress invited all the people of Mexico to dissolve their govt. and join the U.S. as 10+ new states. Click the url to read my Megamerge Dissolution Solution proposal showing how the Obama admin. can do it.
ReplyDeleteThe Latino and Mexican Culture does not work. That is why they are in this country and culture. Ours works, their does not. The Latino and Mexican people will not except that their culture doesn't work. The Latino and Mexican people will not give up their culture. They want their culture to supersede our culture. WE have no room for these kind of people within our country. Please go back to Mexico and Central America and fight for your rights and the betterment of your own country.
ReplyDeleteWE CAN END 287(g) just as soon as all illegal aliens are removed. So please help with the effort if you want to end the program.
ReplyDeleteWhile i dont agree with racial profiling,we must look at facts
ReplyDelete1,hispanics make over 50% of illgal immigrants.
2,Every nation has not only a right but a duty to protect it's borders and citizens.
3,The united States has the most liberal immigration laws in the world,if you cant come to the USA legally good luck anywhere else
Illegal aliens need to go home and fix their nations and stop butting into American lives and jobs.
ReplyDeleteMexicans illegally sneak in the U.S. more than anyone else and then wonder why we Americans fight their existence here.
You can protest all you want, you are simply making Americans even angrier!
So go ahead and protest.
Most U.S. citizens who oppose an Immigration Reform descend from undocumented immigrants anyways -so called illegal aliens- and we must remember that this country was built by slavery in a stolen and invaded land, only a couple of centuries ago. So this is a young nation with non perfect laws.
ReplyDeleteAlso, let's remember that most of immigrants from Mexico, Central and South America are not Hispanics, we are Native peoples, we are Indigenous to this continent and Afro descendants in majority.
Undocumented immigration will not be stopped by the racist 287g Program, which is only a business scam.
Only when the U.S. stop oppressing the rest of this continent with its colonial policies, that is when poor people of the Americas will stop coming to this country without proper documents.
Reform the obsolete U.S. immigration laws now! Stop racism against Native peoples!
There are 250 million natural born Americans and 67% want immigration laws enforced. So the laws will be enforced and thats how it will be. Just because a few illegal aliens want to break our laws without punishment won't make us change them! So sorry..
ReplyDeleteActually most U.S. citizens support an Immigration Reform, about 87% are in favor of improving the broken legislation to secure the borders and to allow a more human and realistic migration of workers. Read:
ReplyDeletehttp://americasvoiceonline.org/pages/polling
Most of the people who oppose a fair and comprehensive immigration reform in the U.S., are very much ignorant of the issues involved and they usually base their opinion on fears, false data, stereotypes and racist views of the world. So sorry.
Broken immigration system.what does that mean? Amnesty needs to be given? Wait and see what happens when your man Obama tries to give amnesty to the law breakers..you'll see that it probably more than 67%. We let in more immigrants than we have jobs for now, why would we need more? Dream on
ReplyDeleteYes, amnesty is needed and it will happen sooner or later. This country is changing for the best.
ReplyDeleteHey Carlos,
ReplyDeleteIt doesn't matter what you want to call yourselves, Hispanic, latino, indigenous americans or whatever, your culture and belief systems doesn't work. It never has and never will. Multiculturalism only works with both cultures are equal. Your Culture is NOT equal. Example one of how it doesn't work, it doesn't support the education of its children as a base to grow. (just one of the largest flaws of you culture). All statistics prove and show that your culture of (insert what ever name you want to be called this month) doesn't assimilate. United we stand, divided we fall. Your culture, because of its inability to assimilate, will divide this country and Most American citizens are NOT going to let this happen. And this is the one time I am going to say this and MEAN it. "OVER MY DEAD BODY"
Em Jay, you have a very wrong definition of what cultures and identities are, or what multiculturalism really means. Let me just explain you the U.S. is not a bi cultural nation but a multicultural one -many cultures- and it will always be, as the rest of the world's peoples gets closer every time.
ReplyDeleteAlso I am not sure what do you mean by "your culture doesn't work". Cultures aren't supposed to work for everyone, and if you don't like some people's ways of living, just move on and get your own and learn to respect others. Go head and assimilate to this new America, where millions of undocumented workers will one day vote and have the same rights than you, in case you are not faking to be an American, which I think is your case.