InSecure Communities 2: May 3rd, 2012

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 Communities” at a community forum on December 1, 2011.

“We are encouraged and pleased with the Sheriff’s decision; his reading of the law agrees with ours. We also think it is the right thing to do for Champaign county for a wide variety of reasons,” explained Jack Wilkie, a member of the Champaign-Urbana Immigration Forum, “The stated goal of the policy was to remove dangerous criminals from our community. The fact is ICE’s own data demonstrated that this is not what was happening. The vast majority of people being stopped and handed over to ICE had no criminal record.” 

The C-U Immigration Forum has been in communication with the sheriff for the last year including a meeting with him on April 13 to discuss the new policy.  The Forum has scheduled a community meeting on Thursday, May 3rd at 7 PM in the Champaign Library to update the community on the new policy and the steps being taken for its implementation and has extended invitations to the Sheriff and local police chiefs.   

Who:  C-U Immigration Forum, local law enforcement representatives

When:  Thursday, May 3rd, 7:00 PM

Where: Champaign Public Library

What: Update on Secure Communities Program

Download Flyer PDF here.

Responding to Immigrants National Conference on May 3rd

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 University

Workshops From Visiting Faculty Include:

• Community Based Participatory Research (CBPR) with Liz Lightfoot, PhD, Associate Professor of Social Work at the University of Minnesota
• An overview of Arizona State University’s Southwest Collaborative on Immigration, Inequality, and Poverty (SCIIP) with Steve Anderson, PhD, Director of the Department of Social Work at ASU
• Strengthening Efforts to Engage the Hispanic Community in Citizen-Driven Governance: An Assessment of Efforts in Utah, with Patria de Lancer Julnes, Associate Professor of Public Administration at the University of Baltimore
• Additional presentations from faculty and graduate students from across the country and from the University of Illinois include topics such as Latino acculturation in new growth communities, improving access to services for immigrants in new growth communities, the effects of immigration enforcement on Latinos and their communities, participatory research projects with immigrant communities, and university/community collaborative relationships.

This event is part of a year long project funded by a Focal Point Grant from the Graduate College at the University of Illinois (Urbana-Champaign).

This conference is co-sponsored by: the School of Social Work, the College of Education, the Department of Educational Policy, Organization & Leadership, the Department of Latina/Latino Studies, the Department of Urban and Regional Planning, the Department of Sociology, & the Graduate Organization of Latina/Latino Students.

InSecure Communities 2: May 3rd, 2012

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 last few months, the C-U Immigration Forum has intensified its efforts as the group has grown in size. Proud of many strides already made, members have continued to seek transparency and action from Champaign County enforcers of the Secure Communities Act.

Now it's time to update the C-U and Central Illinois community about the status of ICE holds, changes in local policies, and what's happening next, both locally and in the state of Illinois.

Points of Discussion:

• Brief Review
• Update on Checklist of Demands
• Recent Information Requests
• Stories of Impact
• Next Steps and Goals
• Time for Questions

Can't make it but want to support the event? Donations in any amount are appreciated!

Facebook Update

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

Updated Mission Statement

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.