C-U Immigration Forum

Sheriff Agrees to Suspend ICE ‘Holds’ of Immigrants New Policy to be discussed at May 3rd ‘InSecure Communities’ Meeting For more information Mike Doyle: mike@universityymca.org  . 217-337-1500 On March 8, Sheriff Dan Walsh notified the federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) division of Homeland Security that Champaign County would no longer honor ICE requests to hold immigrants under the controversial “Secure Communities” federal deportation program.  In his letter to ICE officials, Sheriff Walsh indicated that the County would only turn over inmates in the County jail to ICE officials if they have a warrant or court order, but that his “office will not hold inmates based on a routine detainer” (Sheriff’s 3/8/2012 Letter to ICE). The C-U Immigration Forum released a report in November 2011 which showed that 7 out of 10 Champaign County inmates turned over to ICE had no criminal record and made a request for the suspension of holds under “Secure Com...

Responding to Immigrants National Conference: Bridging Research and Practice to Meet the Needs of Immigrants in New Growth Communities This national conference is the culmination of a year-long project to bring together researchers at the University of Illinois who study immigrant/Latino issues in new growth communities with the practitioners and professionals serving these communities in Champaign County, Illinois. Our conference aims to expand beyond this local experience by including presentations and workshops given by researchers and practitioners in other new growth and traditional immigrant communities, from a variety of disciplines. This conference is free and open to the public, however space is limited and registration is required. Please register at https://sites.google.com/site/respondingtoimmigrants/ When: May 3 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Where: I-Hotel, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Keynote Speaker: Prof. Tomás Jiménez, Stanford Univers...

JOIN US FOR  InSecure Communities 2: Commitment, Perseverance, and Justice May 3rd, 2012 7:00pm - 9:00pm Champaign Public Library Robeson Pavilion Room A All are welcome to join the C-U Immigration Forum in confronting issues, raising awareness, and celebrating our accomplishments thus far as we persevere in our goal of improving justice for immigrants.  IMG The Secure Communities Act continues to threaten local immigrants. In response, the C-U Immigration Forum held an informational event on Dec. 1st, 2011 called "InSecure Communities: Borders at our Doors" which attracted 175+ immigrants, students, clergy, and residents to the Champaign Public Library for community dialog and to voice their concerns about immigrant rights. Participants asked questions of the sheriff's office, shared information and stories, and made demands for changes to policing and ICE holds that are part of the Secure Communities deportation program. In the la...

This month's facebook page announces the upcoming event on May 3rd. Details about the event coming soon. In the meantime, LIKE and SHARE the page. Find on facebook at http://www.facebook.com/CUImmigrationForum

We have updated our mission! The Champaign-Urbana Immigration Forum is a group of immigrants, students, clergy, service providers, labor union representatives, local residents and community organizations  concerned about the progress and plight of immigrants in our community.  The C-U Immigration Forum meets regularly to discuss immigration-related issues and events in our community and works to: celebrate the diversity and culture that immigrants contribute to our community; educate the public about issues that affect local immigrant communities; advocate for the rights of immigrants and encourage their full participation in civic, cultural, social and political life in our community; promote permanent and positive changes that will improve the quality of life for immigrants in our community; organize for policies that lead to just and humane treatment to all immigrants that are part of our community.