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Representative David Price- 202.225.1784
Representative G.K. Butterfield- 202.225.3110
Representative Mel Watt- 202.225.1510
Sample Script:
“Hi I am calling Representative_____________ to urge him to sign onto Representative Mike Honda’s letter in support of the DREAM9 and make a direct call to ICE asking for their immediate release from detention.Luis Gustavo Leon of Marion, NC is one of the DREAM9 currently detained and we need to bring them home to reunite them with their families.”
Are you ready?
This year’s celebration will be on July 9th in Washington, DC.
LOCATION: Lutheran Church of the Reformation (212 East Capitol St., NE, Washington, DC 20002)
DREAM Graduation will be an especially important moment for our movement this year. As Congress considers comprehensive immigration reform, thousands of people continue to be detained, kept out of reach with their families, and subjected to unjust deportation. As well, same-sex couples are denied equal rights under immigration law, and will likely continue to do so after the passage of whatever proposal ultimately becomes law. We will not allow such critical issues for our community to pass silently away from the public debate. Our movement will continue to fight for them.
Commencement speakers and a full list of activities and sponsors will be released soon. If you have been looking for an opportunity to learn more and get involved in the movement, this is your chance! RSVP here and if you can’t make it, help someone else make it!
by Cinthia Marroquin
Last year in June I traveled to Washington DC for the annual DREAM graduation. The National Immigrant Youth Alliance organized the DREAM Graduation as a way to reflect on the accomplishments of undocumented youth leaders within the last year, and to welcome yet another class of DREAM activists into the movement; and welcome I felt. As each person on stage told his or her story, parts of my story and parts of the stories of other undocumented youth were reflected in their words. Because of their encouragement, I can finally say that I am undocumented. I am unafraid to say so and I am compelled to take action.
I’m writing this post in anticipation of the 2013 Dream Graduation, and the first anniversary of my coming out of the shadows. This movement has become an inspiration to me. It has taught me that in order to generate change at a mass scale, you have to be willing to put yourself out there. My coming out publically with my story has allowed me to be part of this movement which has most importantly redefined the immigrant community itself. Being Undocumented is no longer something that I am ashamed or afraid of.
The Graduation and convening of hundreds of other undocumented people from around the country really opened my eyes and made me realize how privileged I am; so I decided to join this amazing group. In the past 10 months I’ve learned so much from stopping deportations to infiltrations, and it all started at the graduation. You can read about my experience at last year’s graduation here!
This year’s celebration will be on July 9th in Washington, DC.
LOCATION: Lutheran Church of the Reformation, 212 East Capitol St., NE, Washington, DC 20002
RSVP: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1BkIsPu9lQ_D7Qu2_anlvDEn9W3TaldhJt7wRhvdjGo8/viewform
Last Thursday, 6 – year old Luis missed school to make a personal visit to his representative’s office. Luis and his family were on a mission to get support from Congressman George Holding to stop the deportation of his father, Jose Ortiz.
Filled with hope that his representative would hear his plea for help, Luis walked into the office of Congressman Holding. Yet, he received everything but help. Instead of intervening in the case of his daddy, Congressman Holding’s staff ignored Luis. What is captured in the picture above is the representative’s staff talking down to Luis – a US citizen, telling him they will not help his father and he must leave before they call the cops.
Luis and his family left soon after, but Luis’s aunt Mayra (who is a DACA holder) decided to stay to wait for a response from the representative. Refusing to leave, she was arrested. Mayra believes in the power of community and she and Luis and Jose and the rest of the family are going to continue to stand up until Jose’s deportation is stopped.
What you can do to help:
SIGN and share the petition – http://bit.ly/noljosenc
CALL Congressman Holding’s office –
Washington D.C. Office: 202-225-3032
Raleigh Office: 919-782-4400
Sample Script: “Hi, I’m calling to ask that Congressman Holding support Jose Guillermo Ortiz (A# 205-213-818) and stop his deportation set for today. Jose is the sole bread winner for his family that includes three US Citizen children. GOP leaders are working towards comprehensive immigration reform in Washington DC. Rep. Holding has a responsibility to keep this family together. Will he intervene to stop Jose’s deportation today?”
I got this in my inbox yesterday:
ICE detainee passes away at Conroe Regional Medical Center in HoustonHOUSTON — A Honduran national, who has been in the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) since Nov. 5, 2012, passed away Friday at Conroe Regional Medical Center (CRMC) due to lymphoma and related complications.Pablo Ortiz-Matamoros, 25, was transferred to ICE custody from the Harris County Sheriff’s Office Nov. 5. On Jan. 29, Ortiz-Matamoros was admitted to CRMC for jaundice, lethargy and weight loss. He passed away Feb. 8 at about 1p.m. (CST).Ortiz-Matamoros’ next of kin was by his side at the time of his passing.Consistent with ICE protocol, the appropriate state health and local law enforcement agencies have also been informed, along with consular officials from Honduras.Ortiz-Matamoros is the second detainee to pass away in ICE custody in fiscal year 2013.# ICE #
As I read and re-read, I don’t even know what to feel anymore…sad, angry, happy that Pablo, if even in death, finally gets relief from the hell he must have been in while in immigration custody. We often hear of detained people in desperate need of medical attention and just like in Pablo’s case, “consistent with ICE protocol”, too little, too late is done. A 25 year old is gone just like that. He was my age. Most likely he had a huge responsibility over his head to ensure survival for his family. Where are they left now? Who has a real answer for them when all that can be talked about, by advocates and the Obama administration, are talking points for a superficial immigration reform. Keep your script people.
My thoughts go out to Pablo Ortiz-Matamoros’ family and loved ones. I can’t even begin to imagine the rage they must feel.
In memory of Pablo, I’m signing these petitions and making the following calls. Hope you can join me.
Adrian is peeing blood and is in need of urgent surgery:
Flavio Ramos Cruz needs surgery:
Isaias Valles Castrejon’s family needs him.
And more!
His children with medical needs need him now more than ever.
Miguel Caldo: http://action.dreamactivist.org/dui/
No one deserves the pain and trauma of deportation.
by Domenic Powell
According to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the counties of Franklin, Greene, Jones, Lenoir, Onslow, Robeson, Warren and Wilson have joined the Secure Communities program. This adds to the 77% of counties in North Carolina that are aleady part of the program.
Elsewhere in the U.S., Wisconsin joined the program on Monday, bringing the total to 37 states.
Under President Barack Obama, deportations have reached record levels, due in part to the Secure Communities program. While the record total of deportations was reached by adding tallies that would normally count as being carried out by U.S. Border Patrol, the increased deportations still work toward Obama’s goal of winning Republican votes for comprehension immigration reform, except it won’t.
