deportation at Brave New Films

John McCain: Town Hall Meeting 12/30/07

2008-07-02T17:52:44Z

John McCain
Town Hall
Newport, NH 12/30/07

TRANSCRIPT:
MCCAIN: "[...] are the 12 million people who are here illegally. By the way there are about 2--according to Chertoff--there's about two-million people who are here illegally who have committed crimes. Those people should be deported immediately. But anyways, what we need to do."

LABEL: JM NH 12-30 (BH#49) EARDH-ClipB

To download a high res version of this clip, VISIT: https://issuealliance.box.net/shared/18kl9460ws

To download the full campaign event, VISIT: https://issuealliance.box.net/shared/sx5czsp8ko

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Protestors Blast ICE Raids in East Houston

2008-07-03T12:06:43Z

Recently, ICE removed about 160 mostly undocumented female workers from Action Rags, a used clothing and rag exporting factory in East Houston.

A protester from SEIU asks a crucial question in this video: How does putting a working woman in jail keep this country safer?

What does society gain from imprisoning working women, wives, mothers and sisters who are not criminals?

As usual, there have been NO arrests of Action Rags or Shipley managers or company officials and ICE has not provided details of any sort of criminal investigation against the company.

Through Thick and Thin: Immigration and Gay Couples

2008-07-25T04:19:26Z

Breakthrough interviewed Sebastian Cordoba on his new film, "Through Thick and Thin," a documentary about the immigration struggles for lesbian and gay couples in America.

The film explores the lives of ten couples that are facing the hurdles imposed upon them by the U.S immigration system. There is currently no legal way to sponsor your foreign born partner, As a result, couples formed during a temporary stay are doomed from the start.
After the interview, catch a sneak peak of the trailer, where we meet Mark and Fred. They are desperately trying to hold on their family, relationship, and the lives they have built together in the U.S.
This is just one couple, but there are many others.

Breakthrough

www.breakthrough.tv

Watch the video

Professor David Brotherton: Detention Trial

2008-07-25T04:19:26Z

Professor David Brotherton's work has allowed him to witness an immigration trial firsthand. He shares the overall feeling of disbelief in the courtroom when the judge finally says, "you're gonna be deported."

Breakthrough

www.breakthrough.tv

Watch the video

Betsy DeWitt Acquista: Tearing a Family Apart

2008-07-25T04:19:25Z

Betsy, a European American, fell in love with a man from Italy and they started a family. He felt American-- he lived in the U.S for decades, was a legal permanent resident, was married to an American Citizen, and had citizen children. Yet when he was arrested, their life spiraled out of control--he now will be deported back to Italy.

Step inside the shoes of an immigrant- play ICED - I Can End Deportation- www.ICEDGAME.com
Breakthrough

www.breakthrough.tv

Watch the video

Army Man Ordered Deported

2008-07-25T04:19:25Z

Anslem Ifill is a legal permanent resident who has lived in the US for 25 years—it is his home. So much so that he put his own life at risk to serve the country for eight years with the U.S Army. Now he faces deportation. Anslem asks, "How can you deport individuals who risk their lives for the very beliefs and freedoms of this country?"

www.breakthrough.tv
www.familiesforfreedom.org

Watch the video

How can you deport those that risk their lives for the US?

2008-07-25T04:19:25Z

How can you deport individuals who have risked their lives in the army for the very beliefs and freedoms of the USA? asks Anslem Ifill from New York, NY.

ICED - I Can End Deportation- www.icedgame.com

www.breakthrough.tv
www.familiesforfreedom.org

Watch the video

Update: Camila Hornung and Family Deported

2008-07-20T14:28:19Z

Despite supporters of Camila Hornung and her family holding vigils and sending out letters of support to Florida Governors and Senators to stop their deportation, according to this article, the family boarded a plane back to Peru this afternoon.

A family member who had spoken to Camila's mother said the following:

"She was crying, she just let me know that she was leaving without advice. She's not suppose to speak with us, she had only one minute to speak with us by phone," said the member.

We will update you on this blog if there are any changes to this story.

Action Alert: Save Camilia Hornung from Deportation

2008-07-22T13:28:35Z

This is an action alert from DreamActivist.org

Please, fax/send your letters of support for Camila Hornung to Florida senators Mel Martinez and Bill Nelson, Mayor Manny Diaz, and Governor Charlie Crist. You can also respond to this post with your letters and we’ll make sure to have them forwarded to them.

Here’s their contact information:

Mayor Manuel A. Diaz
3500 Pan American Drive
Miami, FL 33133

Office (305)250-5300
Fax (305)854-4001
Email: mannydiaz@ci.miami.fl.us

Governor Charlie Crist
Office of Governor Charlie Crist
State of Florida
PL-05 The Capitol
Tallahassee, FL 32399-0001

Fax (850) 487-0801
Email: charlie.crist@myflorida.com

Senator Bill Nelson
Phone: (202) 224-5274
Fax: (202) 228-2183
Email

Senator Mel Martinez
Phone: (202) 224-3041
Fax: (202) 228-5171
E-mail

Here is a sample letter:

Undocumented Students - Struggle Continues in Canada

2008-07-10T00:06:53Z

During the Association of American Geographers conference in Boston this year, a graduate student researcher presented a comparative analysis of Canadian and American identity in light of immigration policy. When asked in surveys, most Americans generally responded that they had a much higher tolerance of immigrants from Canada mainly because Canadians seemed more assimilable and like 'other Americans.' However, when the same survey was given to Canadians, less than thirty percent identified with Americans--differing mostly on political viewpoints. While clarifying immigration policy today, the Canadian Premier in Ontario gave an example of the stark contrast between the two neighboring states while the actions of the federal government in deporting undocumented students said otherwise.

While the United States is busy deporting undocumented immigrant students and the states in the deep South are retreating back into time by closing doors on students, our neighbors up North are also struggling with the issue. In Ontario, Canada, politicians have expressed a "don't ask don't tell" policy on undocumented immigrant students. Yet, an undocumented student, Sarah Leonty, with federal grants and great scholastic record, faces deportation just like our undocumented students in America.

South Florida Teen Facing Deportation

2008-06-13T22:46:51Z

Amidst the good news that Arthur Mkoyan's deportation was delayed by a private bill introduced by Senator Feinstein, another teen is facing the same dilemma.

Camila Hornung is nineteen years old and is attending Florida State University. She was brought to the United States from Peru as a young child.

A friend of Camila said the following:

"She has people here who love her so much, who would love to see her have an opportunity to have a future and an education here."

The rest of the article and a short video can be found here.

Deportation Delayed for Arthur Mkoyan

2008-07-25T04:28:14Z

It really wouldn't come down to this last minute gamble, if Congress had demonstrated some leadership and enacted the DREAM Act.

Arthur Mkoyan and his family are no longer being deported thanks to Senator Feinstein who filed a private bill on their behalf. Yet, their immigration hurdles are far from over.

Rubin Navarette Jr. does not seem thrilled with all the hue and cry over Arthur Mkoyan's deportation. This is part of what he wrote in the SF Chronicle:

I wonder why more of them - including Tancredo - aren't making a fuss over Arthur Mkoyan. The fact is, Apodaca didn't get nearly the amount of public sympathy that Mkoyan has received up to now. Why the double standard? I believe it's because, while Mkoyan may not have a leg to stand on legally, he at least has the benefit of not being Mexican. Much of the immigration debate is fueled by a fear of a changing culture, competing languages, an altered landscape, and what loopy Minuteman Project founder Jim Gilchrist calls the "colonization" of the United States by Mexican immigrants. Arthur Mkoyan isn't considered a party to any of that. For some people, that makes all the difference. And, in some respects, that's the saddest thing about this story.

No, the saddest thing about this story is reporters trying to play racial exclusionary politics with it. Whether or not Arthur Mkoyan received more sympathy based on his non-Mexican national heritage can be debated later at some conference or symposium. Now is not the time.

Detained Immigrants Coerced to Sign Away Rights

2008-07-25T04:21:27Z

Newly available federal data shows a steady increase in the number of immigrants in administrative detention who have signed deportation orders waiving their right to see a judge. The National Immigrant Justice Center, through a Freedom of Information Act request, collected data showing that 94 percent of the 80,844 stipulated orders of removal signed between April 1997 and February 2008 were by immigrants who spoke primarily Spanish, and most had not been charged with a crime.

"Given our work with this population, the data backs up our longstanding concern that immigrants in detention face language barriers and do not fully comprehend the implications of signing stipulated order of removal forms," said National Immigrant Justice Center Director Mary Meg McCarthy. "And while Immigration and Customs Enforcement suggests that increasing numbers of deportations make society safer, in reality most of the detained immigrants encouraged to sign away their rights and be deported had no criminal charges against them."

Watch the video

Deporting Weng back to Communist Repression

2008-05-26T13:54:20Z

Seven years ago, Zhenliang Weng escaped China to seek political refuge in the United States and enjoy our freedoms and liberties not granted by the China Communist Party (CCP). Today he faces deportation because he made the mistake of obtaining a fake passport in order to get here. While in the United States, Weng became politically active against the Chinese government to the point that if he gets deported from the United States, Weng faces prisontime, torture and maybe even death if deported back to China. His case is now being reviewed for political asylum.

"I am so scared about going back to China," Weng said before dropping his head on the table, breaking down in tears during an interview in the county jail.
"I was just trying to help my country," he said. "I’m not a criminal. I just wanted a better life for myself.
"In China, there is no freedom. I don’t like China."

The United States has a 'wet feet, dry feet' policy under which Cuban immigrants stopped by U.S. ships at sea are sent back to Cuba, but those who make it to dry ground are allowed to remain but the same benefits don't extend to Chinese or Haitians escaping Communist rule in their countries. Why the hypocrisy and different immigration rules for different nationalities experiencing similar political repression?

U.S. Deportation System Inhumane

2008-06-07T15:34:16Z

Watch the video

US System of Deportation Inhumane

2008-06-21T20:09:17Z

More at therealnews.com

Immigrant rights under threat by poor detention and deportation procedures.

Watch the video

ICE Raids - Impact on American Children and Families

2008-06-17T03:32:49Z

The Education and Labor Subcommittee on Workforce Protections held hearings this past week concerning “ICE Workplace Raids: Their Impact on U.S. Children, Families, and Communities.” Witnesses explored how immigration enforcement could be improved in order to protect children, most of whom are American citizens.

Subcommittee Chairwoman Lynn Woolsey opened the hearing with a long list of ICE raids in immigrant communities, highlighting that 12 children arrested at the raids in Postville were children between the ages of 15-17, working at the plant in violation of child labor laws and that as of last Thursday, they were still in detention. (Why is the employer--Agriprocessors--still in business?)

We have 4.7 million children in households where at least one parent is undocumented. 3.1 million of these children are American citizens while many of the rest are our fellow DREAMers.

Deportation of Classmate sparks Immigration Teach-in

2008-05-23T16:49:04Z

6-8th graders at St. Bernard School in Wisconsin learned more about the painful side of deportation when one of their classmates--Miriam--was deported to Mexico.

The students were quite unaware of immigration policies and had questions. Some expressed their closeness to Miriam and were saddened by her absence from the school.

“For me it was kind of difficult,” said Jasmin Torres. “This is my first year here and she was like the only person I knew when I got here. It just made it a lot harder coming to school without her.”

Elle Bellisle attended St. Philip the Apostle School with Miriam before it closed two years ago. “When it closed down we came here,” she said. “She was like the only one I hung out with.”

The teach-ins led by an immigration counselor from Catholic Charities was eye-opening for the students. Many expressed that they had no idea that it took about 14 years to immigrate to the United States, or immigrants who seeked asylum because they feared persecution in their country.

It is heartening to see the Catholic Church on the right side of the immigration debate, promoting understanding and education instead of intolerance and hatred. Teaching kids about the painful side of the immigration debate at an early age builds tolerance and understanding of the matter. It also helps to form a stronger community and enable kids to be helpful and pro-active.

The entire story is here.

DREAMers: Barking at a dog can lead to deportation

2008-07-25T04:28:16Z

Victor Napoles (21), an undocumented immigrant, is facing deportation to Mexico after barking back at the dog of a border patrol agent at a traffic light.

What started off as a late-night silly joke a year ago has turned into a nightmare for a fellow DREAMer and his family. Napoles, who has been fighting his deportation case for almost a year now, says that he had no idea that such a small act could lead to such drastic consequences.

"I was taking my friend home and was at a stoplight when an unmarked Durango drove up next to me," Napoles said. "The dog in the car started barking at me and I thought, 'Why not?' and barked back. I had no idea it was a Border Patrol's dog." Shortly after the light turned green and Napoles drove away, he noticed flashing police lights and pulled over. "The first thing the officer said was, 'Why were you barking at my dog?'" Napoles said. "I was dumbfounded."

Deporting DREAM Act Students

2008-05-26T13:14:51Z

Aspiring and talented artist, Meynardo Garcia (18), who has lived here since he was 10, is facing deportation to Mexico. Newsie and I both blogged about this today so I would like to focus on the impact of his deportation, rather than the story. You can read the entire article here.

Part of a talented Generation 1.5 of students that are nonetheless treated like criminals in this country, it is disheartening to see an honest, talented and hardworking young student like Meynardo Garcia--who is well-liked by many at his school and a pride to his community--to have his dreams cut short by our stringent immigration laws.

Aspiring Artist is Fighting Deportation

2008-05-26T13:07:36Z

Meynardo Garcia recently won a prize in a national contest sponsored by the Holocaust Documentation and Education Center in Hollywood.

Garcia's inspiration came from:

"...the memory of emaciated children walking the streets of his hometown inspired his drawing of the doomed children in his prize-winning piece."

Meynardo Garcia is also an undocumented student. He was brought to this country illegally at the age of 10. He is now eighteen and is fighting deportation back to Mexico. Garcia and a friend, who was also an undocumented immigrant, were stopped at a random checkpoint at the Port of Miami last August. Since neither had identification, they were taken in. Garcia's friend was deported, while Garcia was sent to a detention center in New York.

Despite being released after three weeks in the detention center, Garcia's time in the United States is ticking away. An immigration judge had granted him stay until Sept. 18^th, 2008 to allow him to find an attorney and prepare his case.

Garcia would be saved from deportation by the DREAM Act, but chances of the bill being enacted into law before his court day are very slim.

Josh Bernstein, director of federal policy for the National Immigration Law Center, is quoted in the article:

Bernstein referred to Garcia as part of the "1.5 generation" -- wedged between the first generation of immigrant adults and the second generation of U.S.-born children.

"It is a very promising generation, but our laws are written in such a way that we treat them like criminals," he said.

Garcia meanwhile is hopeful for his future in the United States, and is currently working on building up his case. At the least, the immigration judge should extend Garcia's stay for another year because there is hope (and hope is all we, undocumented students, have) that DREAM Act will pass in 2009.

Last Resort - Private Bill to Stop Students' Deportation

2008-05-25T09:43:54Z

Last year, Monica and her cousin, Jose, both seniors at a high school in Dallas, were picked up by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Both of them represent the wasted talent and lost investment that America is willing to export in the form of migrant bodies.

Monica has been in the United States since she was five years old, maintained excellent grades and stayed out of trouble. Her only alleged transgression is that her parents brought her to this country without proper documentation. After living and growing up American in this country for thirteen years, Monica faces deportation to a place and culture foreign to her. At this time, her deportation hearing has been delayed for another month.

Another DREAM Act beneficiary, Jose faced his final hearing at the Immigration Court in Dallas hoping to stay his deportation, fully supported by the Central Dallas Ministries, which "committed to stand with him, pay for his higher education and support him in every other way as he completed college." The federal prosecutor did not want to exercise administrative discretion and Jose was given a "voluntary departure" judgment that must be fulfilled within 120 days.

Mexico's deported children

2008-06-06T09:31:20Z

Mexican and US officials are concerned about the growing number of children who enter the United States with no immigration documents. About 8,000 immigrant minors are caught trying to cross the US-Mexico border on their own each year. Franc Contreras went to the northern border town of Reynosa to find out what becomes of these deported children.

Watch the video

Meet a DREAMer - "I fear I’ll be another lost statistic"

2008-07-25T04:28:17Z

I had several DREAMers participate in a project a while ago that involved answering questions about themselves, their lives, fears, dreams and hopes as undocumented students.

This interview is with K.B., who is currently in university and fighting deportation to Nigeria and has lived in the United States since she was four years old.

Do you identify as American?

Yes, I consider myself to be 100% American, in every way except by birth. On the same note, there are people who, even though they were born in the United States, do not consider themselves American. We do not choose where we are born, so why be punished for such a mundane matter as location?

Describe your feelings about being ‘undocumented’ in your home country.

This is from one of my blog posts: “This battle is not simply over just a piece of paper, but the things that piece of paper represents. You see, without that piece of paper, living life is simply hard to do. You are suddenly not 100% human, as if humanity is something that can be rationed. Suddenly, your voice is harder to hear, as if expression is something to be looked down on. Your face is ripped of its defining features, as if your identity is something to be erased and forgotten. Slowly but surely, faced with rejection day by day, pieces of your being are torn away, until nothing is left but your body, now an empty shell. Tell me how do you love when love has been denied to you? How do you live when your fate rests in someone else's hands? How do you laugh when your voice has been silenced? How do you hope when your future seems bleak at best? How do you jump, shout, play, or dance? How do you be when your very being is on trial?”

More DREAM Act students face deportation

2008-04-29T12:11:39Z

For every Juan Gomez, Tope Awe and Maria Gonzalez, we have countless other nameless and faceless DREAM Act students facing deportation to a foreign land and life. Their stories, our stories, deserve to be documented.

Mario Munoz (28), came to the United States when he was 9 years old and has lived in the San Francisco Bay Area most of his life. But on March 19, he was put into detention together with his family and they are now awaiting deportation to Colombia.

“I knew he was illegal when I told him that I loved him so much that I could marry him tomorrow. Then he told me… and I would have married him then. I'm sorry I didn't,” said Kelly Luce, his fiance.

Mario is currently being held at Hernando County jail and may be deported in under two weeks.

Then we have Anya Gorlova who has been living in the United States since she was six years old. Originally from Belarus, she was sent here LEGALLY by her grandparents to live with a relative since she lost both her parents at a young age. Anya was legally adopted when she was 12 and it is now that ICE has noticed something 'wrong' with her immigration papers filed back in 1996. Anya is now a senior in high school and aspires to be a teacher. But her dreams might be dashed soon if she is deported back to Belarus--a country she does not know.

The icing on the cake is the story of Lino Nakwa, who has been here legally since he was 12 years old back in 1992. Originally from Sudan, Lino was kidnapped, tortured, and watched his father die before he escaped to the United States and received refugee protection. Now, 16 years later, Homeland Security wants to deport him because he may pose a "national security" threat since Nakwa received "military-type" training. Lets hope that a federal review of his case stays this preposterous deportation proceeding since time is running out for Nakwa to be eligible under the DREAM Act.

Know other DREAMers facing deportation? Share with us.