Feb. 1st Film/Program at Channing Murray: "Papers: Stories of Undocumented Youth"

"Papers: Stories of Undocumented Youth"

Channing Murray Foundation
1209 W. Oregon, Urbana, IL
February 1 – 7 p.m.      

This film/program is cosponsored by the Social Action Committee of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Urbana-Champaign and the University YMCA. Free and open to the public.

Come learn how to support undocumented youth in Champaign-Urbana and everywhere.

Light refreshments will be served. Q & A and discussion to follow.

Adolescence is hard enough under the best of circumstances. Peer pressure, family conflicts, acne – these and other stimuli make high school graduation a joy for most of us.

But for undocumented students, the final two years of high school can be especially bittersweet. Although the U.S. Supreme Court guarantees access to K-12 public education for all children, regardless of immigration status, education and work prospects for undocumented youth after high school are very often limited. Even getting a driver’s license is out of the question. http://afsc.org/story/reflections-papers-stories-undocumented-youth

ICE holds under S-Comm: Indiana Court Case

Pertinent information about a case in Indiana with reference to whether ICE holds are voluntary:

Read the ruling in Buquer v. City of Indianapolis (pdf) or read the highlights below.

The case was not specifically about the holds but rather was a request for an injunction to stop Indiana from enforcing new laws that "expressly provided that law enforcement officers could arrest individuals for conduct that parties agreed was not criminal."

However, in the opinion, the Court makes several interesting points, one of which is about whether or not the ICE holds under Secure Communities are voluntary. Here is the relevant section on page 7: Factual Background, II. Section 19, B. Detainers:

HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE CASE:

"If federal or local law enforcement informs ICE that an alien is in custody on non-immigration related charges, ICE may issue a detainer requesting that the law enforcement agency hold the individual for up to 48 hours (not including weekend days and holidays) beyond the time that the detainee would otherwise be released in order to allow ICE to assume custody, if it chooses to do so. 8 C.F.R. § 287.7(d). A detainer is not a criminal warrant, but rather a voluntary request that the law enforcement agency ′′advise [DHS], prior to release of the alien, in order for [DHS] to arrange to assume custody.′′ Id. § 287.7(a). The detainer automatically expires at the end of the 48-hour period. Id."

 It should be noted that the case is not binding precedent because it comes from a district court. Finally in reading the opinion by the court, I was reminded of a point that we should use when people argue that "these people are criminals because they are breaking the law by being in the US illegally.

However, as the court opinion points out, having an "unlawful presence in the United States on its own is not a federal crime". We need to push back when people say these are criminals - they are not.

Free Citizenship Information Meeting This THURSDAY

Thursday, January 12, 7:00 – 8:30pm

St. Mary's Catholic Church

612 E. Park St., Champaign, IL 61820

jueves, 12 de enero, 7:00 – 8:30pm

Centro Parroquial Oscar Romero

de la Iglesia Santa Maria

612 E. Park St. Champaign, IL 61820

Hosted by the New Americans Initiative and THE IMMIGRATION PROJECT

“Serving downstate Illinois and beyond”

View PDF here.

If you are eligible for citizenship, it is possible that you may qualify to not pay anything for your citizenship application. Attend the next Citizenship Information Meeting to find out!

Si usted es elegible para la ciudadanía, es posible que califique sin pagar nada por su aplicación! Asista al próximo taller de información para averiguar!

You are eligible for citizenship IF :

• if you have been a lawful permanent resident for at least 4 years and 9 months AND you can speak, read and write basic English OR
• if you have been a lawful permanent resident for at least 2 years and 9 months and have been married to a U.S. citizen for 3 years AND you can speak, read and write English OR
• if either of the above AND have a physical, developmental, or mental disability that affects your ability to learn English OR
• if you have been a lawful permanent resident for at least 20 years AND are at least 50 years old (no need for English) OR
• if you have been a lawful permanent resident for at least 15 years AND are at least 55 years old (no need for English)

Usted es eligible para la ciudadanía SI :

• si ha sido residente permanente por lo menos 4 años y 9 meses y puede hablar, leer y escribir inglés, O…
• si ha sido residente permanente por lo menos 2 años y 9 meses y está casado/a con un ciudadano/a de los EE.UU. y puede hablar, leer y escribir inglés, O…
• si cumple con lo de arriba mencionado y tiene algún impedimento físico, mental, o de desarrollo, que le afecte su habilidad de aprender inglés, aún puede aplicar, O…
• si ha sido residente permanente por lo menos 20 años y tiene 50 años de edad o más (usted puede calificar para hacer el examen en su propio idioma.), O…
• si ha sido residente permanente por lo menos 15 años y tiene 55 años de edad o más (usted también puede calificar para hacer el examen en su propio idioma.)