FIRM: Now Hiring Immigration Organizer

We are looking for a Senior Organizer to assist the Immigration Team to advance the principles, base-building and legislative objectives of FIRM, a project of the Center for Community Change. 

For more on the position, click here.

In honor of Chris C.

Mmmm you may have the day off, but we don’t! Here’s a lil humor in your life, as I hope you are sitting back, looking at some leaves change color….

FIRM Spotlight: Major Win for New York Immigrants!

Governor Spitzer is expected to announce new DMV policy that will allow more new yorkers to be licensed and insured- this will open up licenses to more immigrants throughout the state. This is a battle that has been waged for a LONG time by the New York Immigrant Coalition and all of its partners.  It’s a great step forward for new yorkers, and we hope more states can follow!

The Power of our Communities - New Video Testimonials

As a part of their Reality Tour this summer, Voces de la Frontera opened honest dialogue across the state of Wisconsin on immigration and immigrant rights in their diverse communities. Some of these conversations were captured in video testimonials- check out the videos here:

FIRM Spotlight: 40 Anti-Immigrant Bills are Dead in Tennessee; More funding for ELL

Images from TIRRC marches this year. 

Thanks to the hardwork of the Tennessee Immigrant And Refugee Rights Coalition and other committed advocates throughout the state, 40 anti-immigrant bills in the state legislature were killed in the last session. Not only did they help defeat these bad bills, but they helped win increased funding for English Language Learning classes in public schools across the state. Check out the work of TIRRC:

The hard work, smart strategies, and persistence of the Tennessee immigrant community and its allies have prevented 40 detrimental bills from becoming Tennessee law!

The 40 failed bills WOULD HAVE: created a special immigrant tax, required landlords to check immigration status before renting apartments, forfeited the wages of many immigrant workers, made the driver’s license test available only in English, made it a crime for government employees not to turn in undocumented immigrants,  as well as causing MANY OTHER HARDSHIPS FOR IMMIGRANTS, AND INDIRECTLY HARMING ALL TENNESSEANS.

There were unfortunately four anti-immigrant bills that passed, including a tragic repeal of Tennessee’s Driving Certificate Law. For more information on all of these bills, check out our website at http://www.tnimmigrant.org/TN_Coalition/Legislation/Bills2007.htm.

Check out local ways to help beat back the tide of negative legislation with the Welcoming Tennessee Initiative.

Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition: “ICE Divides. Stop the Raids”

Over fifty protesters picketed in front of the Byron White US Federal Building and Courthouse on Thursday of last week. Marchers demanded an end to the destructive practices of ICE and an end to the Raids. Check out the video link at fox and more stories from the Rocky Mountain News, EFE, Denver Post, or join the blog discussion at Colorado Confidential - Our voices are getting louder for an end to the raids- have you protested in your area? POST your event here!

Get on the Wisconsin Reality Tour!

A few weeks ago we let you know about the Wisconsin Reality Tour. Well now it has finally hit the road! This is a great opportunity for Voces de la Frontera to bring their message of immigrant rights to diverse communities throughout the state.

Follow the progress of the tour, and let them hear your support on their blog!

“One bus, twenty riders, but thousands of voices.  During the week of July 8th -15th, Voces de la Frontera, a non profit organization for immigrant and low wage worker rights, will be undertaking a reality tour throughout the State of Wisconsin.  Given the historic mass marches and the recent debate in Congress over immigration reform, this tour is intended to be a catalyst for productive dialogue.  Voces de la Frontera will travel to ten cities throughout the State of Wisconsin to participate in forums pre-arranged in town halls, churches and classrooms.  These events will serve a dual purpose as a call to national action for fair and comprehensive immigration reform as well as provide a venue to better understand the nature of the problem from a global and local perspective.  Political leaders and the local community are invited to hear public testimony.” - From Voces de la Frontera

AND if you are in the Milwaukee area this Saturday:

WISCONSIN REALITY TOUR:  THIS SATURDAY IN MILWAUKEE
 
The tour will stop in Milwaukee this Saturday, July 14 at 1:00 p.m. at Prince of Peace Catholic Church, 1126 S. 25th Street, Milwaukee.
 
Please come to learn the latest updates about comprehensive immigration reform, the Sanctuary Movement in Milwaukee, and the new Milwaukee Police Department policy on immigration.

USSF and the end of the Senate Bill

Well folks 102 and 17 are two numbers sticking in my head right now.

102- because that’s how hot it feels here in Atlanta at the US Social Forum, FIRM is here learning and connecting with other grassroots organizations from around the country (That’s why we haven’t written much in the last 36 hours… and will be fairly non comunicado through Monday, bear with us!) After a two hour march through the heart of atlanta yesterday, we’ve begun three days of over 9,000 workshops where energies are high and creative juices are flowing. If you’re here- shoot me an email with title USSF and we can meet up! nwells@communitychange.org.

More thoughts to come from the USSF later - tomorrow night will be the main plenary on immigrant rights and we are all looking forward to that discussion.

17 - the number of votes that we didn’t get for the senate immigration bill. As most of you know by now, the immigration bill in the senate failed to receive the necessary number of votes for cloture.

We’ve got more  information coming on that soon- but for now I’d like to thank our allies at Casa de Maryland for joining us in the Senate building this morning as we worked to hit senators on their way to vote. We were able to reach several representatives, and no matter that outcome, our voices were heard.

I’ll write more soon, but for now take care and stay cool!

FIRM Spotlight: Voces de la Fronters, Wisconsin - Free Legal Rights Training

PRESENTACIÓN DE DERECHOS LEGALES

¿Cuáles son mis derechos con la policía, FBI, y la migra?

Ven a una presentación gratis de estos derechos legales por un abogado de inmigración.

Fechas: El 23 de junio de las 9 de la mañana a las 11, y el 25 de julio de las 6 de la tarde a las 8.

Lugar:  Colegio de Bradley Tech and Trade 700 S. Fourth St.  Milwaukee, WI 53204

LEGAL RIGHTS PRESENTATION

What should I do if I am questioned by the police, FBI, custom agents, or immigration officers?

Come to a free legal rights presentation given by an immigration attorney.

Dates:  June 23 9 A.M.-11 A.M. and July 25 6 P.M.-8 P.M.

Place:  Bradley Tech and Trade High School 700 S. Fourth St. Milwaukee, WI 53204

FIRM Spotlight: FLIC continues education and advocacy

Thanks to FLIC for this Coalition Update:Last week more than 6,000 signed postcards collected by local churches, community groups, farmworkers and students were delivered to Senator Martinez’s offices in Tampa and Orlando to demonstrate the widespread support of Floridians for reform. FLIC groups statewide have mobilized this month to demand comprehensive immigration reform. Our Prayer Vigils and canvassing efforts have involved more than 100 Florida organizations and churches in the movement for fair treatment of Florida immigrants. Everyday more and more phone calls pour in on the toll-free number, 1-800-417-7666, that connects callers with Senator Martinez and Senator Nelson’s offices in Washington to tell them that we need reform now!

Our first Prayer Vigils this month took place May 9th -11th in Tampa, Miami, Tallahassee, Pensacola and Orlando. The next stage of events kicked off in Orlando on May 23rd, when FLIC groupsalong with ACORN, Democracia USA, and SEIU went door to door educating local residents and collecting signatures to send to lawmakers to demonstrate the broad support for immigration reform in Orlando and the widespread concerns about the high fees, the “touch back” provision and restrictive family reunification terms of the current proposal.

Later in the month when our Senators returned to Florida to take a week off for Memorial Day, FLIC groups sprung into action once again! More than 100 groups held prayer vigils and canvassing events (in more places than we have room to list here!) reminding lawmakers that people in Florida want and need a comprehensive reform now.
Thanks to all the people who participated in these activities! Remember to weigh in with your Senators at 1800-417-7666 on the need to recognize the work and dignity of immigrant families!