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After Action Report - Civil Rights Forum Met with Theresa Greenfield

2/20/2020

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After Action Report - Crisis at the Border Visit with Theresa Greenfield
Tuesday, February 18th at noon

The PACG Civil Rights Forum organized a visit with Theresa Greenfield, who is running in the Democratic primary to be the candidate to run against Senator Joni Ernst. Immigration activists from the many organizations in the Quad Cities working on immigration issues met with Ms. Greenfield to deliver our message, beginning with: "Children do not belong in detention." At the PACG Blog you can read our complete "ask" and some proposed legislation.

We are trying to set up a similar meeting with Republican candidate, Mariannette Miller-Meeks, who is running in the Republican primary for the Congressional seat of retiring Representative Dave Loebsack. We will also visit with other candidates or elected officials in both Iowa and Illinois. Contact Alta if you want to participate.

Alta Price
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Dr. Bobrow-Strain Lecture on the U.S. - Mexico Border at Augustana

2/16/2020

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The Death and Life of Aida Hernandez: Understanding the U.S.-Mexico Border

The Civil Rights Forum of PACG invites everyone concerned about the crisis on the southern border to attend this lecture.
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After Action Report - Crisis at the Border Visit with Bobby Schilling

2/6/2020

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After Action Report - Crisis at the Border Visit with
​Bobby Schilling

Civil Rights Forum

The PACG Civil Rights Forum organized a visit with Bobby Schilling, who is running in the Republican primary for the Congressional seat of retiring Congressman Dave Loebsack. Immigration activists from the many organizations in the Quad Cities working on immigration issues met with Mr. Schilling to deliver our message, beginning with: "Children do not belong in detention." You can read our complete "ask" and some proposed legislation at our PACG Blog post. 

We are trying to set up a similar meeting with Republican candidate Mariannette Miller-Meeks. We will also visit with other candidates or elected officials in both Iowa and Illinois. Contact Alta if you want to participate.

Alta Price
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After Action Report - Civil Rights Forum Met with Bobby Schilling

2/1/2020

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After Action Report - Crisis at the Border
Visit with Bobby Schilling
Monday, January 27th at 5 pm

The PACG Civil Rights Forum organized a visit with Bobby Schilling, who is running in the Republican primary for the Congressional seat of retiring Congressman, Dave Loebsack. Immigration activists from the many organizations in the Quad Cities working on immigration issues met with Mr. Schilling to deliver our message, beginning with: "Children do not belong in detention." At the PACG Blog you can read our complete "ask" and some proposed legislation.

We are trying to set up a similar meeting with Republican candidate, Mariannette Miller-Meeks. We will also visit with other candidates or elected officials in both Iowa and Illinois. Contact Alta if you want to participate.

Alta Price

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The Crisis at the Southern Border: Principles and Proposed Legislation - Updated

2/1/2020

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The Crisis at the Southern Border:
​Principles and Proposed Legislation

Representatives from various organizations in the Quad Cities have been meeting to address immigration issues. Our organizations include Progressive Action for the Common Good (Civil Rights Forum), One Human Family (Immigration Task Force), the Quad Cities Sanctuary Coalition, the Sanctuary Project of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the Quad Cities, Quad Cities Interfaith (Immigration Task Force), Quad Cities Alliance for Immigrants and Refugees (QCAIR), the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), and the Catholic Diocese of Davenport. Many of us are concerned about the humanitarian crisis at the border. We are opposed to locking up children and separating them from their adult family members.
 
Principles
 
Although we may differ on the problems we address and our proposed solutions, we agree on the following principles regarding the treatment of asylum seekers and refugees who come across our southern border. We call upon all members of Congress and candidates for Congress to consider these principles when devising legislative approaches to fixing the humanitarian crisis at the southern border.
 
Children should not be locked up in detention centers.
 
Children should not be separated from their adult family members, or used as bait in immigration enforcement actions.
 
For-profit private prisons or detention centers should not be used to detain asylum seekers or refugees. Any immigrant in a detention facility should receive adequate food, water, medical care, soap, toothpaste, bedding and access to legal representation.
 
Asylum seekers and refugees should be protected from sexual abuse.
 
Alternatives to incarceration should be prioritized for families and other asylum seekers who pose no risk to the community. Bring back and expand the Family Case Management program started as a pilot program under the Obama administration.
 
Develop new ways to streamline processing of asylum seekers and refugees. Follow international and U.S. laws on treatment of asylum seekers and refugees, and ensure they are treated fairly and receive due process.
 
Provide aid to countries like Guatemala and Honduras to help them address the problems that cause their citizens to flee their homes.
 
Proposed legislation on the crisis at the southern border:
 
Immigration Court Improvement Act of 2019 - Would establish immigration judges as independent judges so that they are not under the Department of Justice, which prosecutes immigration cases. https://www.aila.org/advo-media/press-releases/2019/aila-joins-senators-in-call-for-immigration-court
 
Fair Day in Court for Kids Act of 2019 - Would require legal counsel for indigent asylum seekers, children and other vulnerable groups who cannot afford a lawyer.
https://www.aila.org/advo-media/press-releases/2019/aila-joins-senators-in-call-for-immigration-court
 
 
Other legislative approaches to help resolve the crisis at the border:
 
Many problems combine to create what we call the border crisis. So, there is neither one cause nor one solution. Political attacks focused on fear of the other interfere with finding solutions. Attempts to enforce a narrow vision in response to the border crisis add to the complexity of the problem and may result in long-term undesired consequences. Legislative approaches to immigration must consider U.S. labor and security needs, the vast differences in the standard of living between the U.S. and other nations, and the level of violence in those nations.
 
Immigration and Refugee Policies that Reflect U.S. Labor Needs
U.S. labor needs are the main reason that our nation supports a population of ten million undocumented immigrants, many of whom have been here for 20 years or more. Legislative approaches that provide a measured response to labor needs, while also protecting our security needs, would be a start for addressing the crisis at the border. Iowa needs immigrant workers to address workforce shortages. Nationally, immigrant workers are needed to address the nation’s aging population and the decline in workers paying into our Social Security and Medicare programs.
 
Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) - A good place to start the movement to a sane immigration policy is Congressional establishment of a form of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. DACA was started by the Obama Administration by executive order and ended by the Trump Administration by executive order. ICE is preparing now to deport these 700,000 young workers if the courts rule against them. DACA recipients were brought to this country as children and in the U.S. we do not punish children for the actions of their parents. And, the U.S. needs these young people in the workforce.
 
Farm Workforce Modernization Act - This bill, passed by the House with bi-partisan support, is significant because it is the first Congressional response to the labor needs of farmers and ranchers, including dairy and vegetable growers. It is not perfect legislation, and the American Farm Bureau wants to modify some provisions of it as it passes through the Senate; however, it reflects America’s need for workers. Meatpacking plants, which are vital to Iowa’s Ag sector and economy, continually advertise for workers with a starting salary of $16-17 per hour. Nationally, hand-planted and hand-harvested crop work pays two to three times the minimum wage. Even with such high wages, farmers and ranchers struggle to fill these difficult jobs in the absence of immigrant workers.

For further information:
 
National Immigration Forum: Working Paper: Addressing the Increase of Central American Migrants, updated May 2, 2019
https://immigrationforum.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Border-Solutions_Revised_Final.pdf
 
Migration Policy Institute: Policy Solutions to Address Crisis at Border Exist, But Require Will and Staying Power to Execute, April 2019
https://www.migrationpolicy.org/news/policy-solutions-address-crisis-border-exist-require-will-staying-power
 
Bipartisan Policy Center: Policy Proposals to Address the Central American Migration Challenge, July 26, 2019
https://bipartisanpolicy.org/report/policy-proposals-to-address-the-central-american-migration-challenge/
 
Human Rights First: Testimony of Michael Breen, President and CEO, Human Rights First at the Hearing Entitled: “Kids in Cages: Inhumane Treatment at the Border” before the House of Representatives, Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, Subcommittee on Civil Rights and Civil Liberties
https://www.humanrightsfirst.org/sites/default/files/MB-Written-Testimony-House-Kids-In-Cages.pdf
 
Note: There are many other pertinent articles at Human Rights First. https://www.humanrightsfirst.org/
 
American Civil Liberties Union: Immigrants’ Rights and Detention
https://www.aclu.org/issues/immigrants-rights/immigrants-rights-and-detention
 
NPR: ACLU: Administration Is Still Separating Migrant Families Despite Court Order to Stop,
July 30, 2019
https://www.npr.org/2019/07/30/746746147/aclu-administration-is-still-separating-migrant-families-despite-court-order-to-
 
Southern Poverty Law Center: No End in Sight, October 3, 2018
https://www.splcenter.org/20181003/no-end-sight
 
WOLA: Beyond the Wall: A Campaign Defending Human Rights and Migrants in the Trump Era and Migration & Border Security
https://www.wola.org/beyondthewall/
https://www.wola.org/program/migration-border-security/
 
Note: There are many useful resources at WOLA (Washington Office on Latin America), with up-to-date analyses of new Trump Administration policies. WOLA advocates for human rights in the Americas. https://www.wola.org/
 
Farm Progress:  https://www.farmprogress.com/farm-policy/farmworker-bill-clears-house-way-senate
A brief, but balanced report on the Farm Workforce Modernization Act.
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Immigrants and Trafficking Among Us  Program

1/25/2020

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Immigrants and Trafficking Among Us  Program - 
Saturday, February 8th from 9:00 am to 12:30 pm

Eastern Iowa Community College - Urban Campus 
101 W 3rd St, Davenport, IA (map)

Civil Rights Forum
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Alta Price
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Changing Systems, Changing Ourselves Webinar - Civil Rights Forum

1/15/2020

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Changing Systems, Changing Ourselves Webinar - Update
Tuesday, January 28th at 7:00 pm

At home or at
the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the Quad Cities
3704 Eastern Av, Davenport (map)

Civil Rights Forum

The PACG Civil Rights Forum invites you to sign up for a five-session monthly online series on immigration and race sponsored by the American Friends Service Committee, Church World Service, Freedom for Immigrants, the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee, and the Unitarian Universalist Association. The sessions are the fourth Tuesday of the month, usually from 7 - 8:30 pm central time.

Although you can sign up as an individual, there will be a group showing at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the Quad Cities in the Board room to facilitate discussion after the webinars. 

The January 28th session explores "anti-racist practice, to reflect on how to show up consciously to work alongside those most impacted by injustice, with caucus groups for people of color and white people."

For more information and to register, sign up at the American Friends Service Committee website.

Alta Price
PACG Civil Rights Forum Co-Facilitator
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After Action Report - Civil Rights Forum Met with Rita Hart

8/27/2019

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After Action Report - Crisis at the Border Visit with Rita Hart - 
​Monday, August 19th at 6:00 pm

Civil Rights

The PACG Civil Rights Forum organized a visit with Rita Hart, who is running in the Democratic primary for the Congressional seat of retiring Congressman, Dave Loebsack. Immigration activists from the many organizations in the Quad Cities working on immigration issues met with Ms. Hart to deliver our message, beginning with: "Children do not belong in detention." At the PACG Blog you can read our complete "ask" and some proposed legislation.

We are trying to set up similar meetings with Republican candidate, Bobby Schilling, and Democratic candidate, Newman Abuissa. We will also visit with other candidates or elected officials in both Iowa and Illinois. Contact Alta if you want to participate.

Alta Price
Picture
0 Comments

The Crisis at the Border: Principles and Proposed Legislation

8/22/2019

0 Comments

 

The Crisis at the Southern Border: Principles and
Proposed Legislation

Representatives from various organizations in the Quad Cities have been meeting to address immigration issues. Our organizations include Progressive Action for the Common Good (Civil Rights Forum), One Human Family (Immigration Task Force), Quad Cities Interfaith (Immigration Task Force), Quad Cities Alliance for Immigrants and Refugees (QCAIR), the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), and the Catholic Diocese of Davenport. Many of us are concerned about the humanitarian crisis at the border. We are opposed to locking up children and separating them from their adult family members.

Principles:

Although we may differ on the problems we address and our proposed solutions, we agree on the following principles regarding the treatment of asylum seekers and refugees who come across our southern border. We call upon all members of Congress and candidates for Congress to consider these principles when devising legislative approaches to fixing the humanitarian crisis at the southern border.

Children should not be locked up in detention centers.

Children should not be separated from their adult family members, or used as bait in immigration enforcement actions.

For-profit private prisons or detention centers should not be used to detain asylum seekers or refugees. Any immigrant in a detention facility should receive adequate food, water, medical care, soap, toothpaste, bedding and access to legal representation. They should be protected from sexual abuse.

Alternatives to incarceration should take priority for families and other asylum seekers who pose no risk to the community. Bring back and expand the Family Case Management Program started as a pilot program under the Obama administration. 

Invest in infrastructure and develop new ways to streamline processing of asylum seekers and refugees. Follow international and U.S. laws on treatment of asylum seekers and refugees and ensure they are treated fairly and receive due process.

Provide aid to countries like Guatemala and Honduras to help them address the problems that cause their citizens to flee their homes.


Proposed legislation on the crisis at the southern border:

Immigration Court Improvement Act of 2019 - Would establish immigration judges as independent judges so that they are not under the Department of Justice, which prosecutes immigration cases. Read the details of the Act here.

Fair Day in Court for Kids Act of 2019 - Would require legal counsel for indigent asylum seekers, children, and other vulnerable groups who cannot afford a lawyer. Read the details of the Act here.


For further information:

National Immigration Forum: Working Paper: Addressing the Increase of Central American Migrants, updated May 2, 2019

Migration Policy Institute: Policy Solutions to Address Crisis at Border Exist, But Require Will and Staying Power to Execute, April 2019

Bipartisan Policy Center: Policy Proposals to Address the Central American Migration Challenge, July 26, 2019

Human Rights First: Testimony of Michael Breen, President and CEO, Human Rights First at the Hearing Entitled: “Kids in Cages: Inhumane Treatment at the Border” before the House of Representatives, Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, Subcommittee on Civil Rights and Civil Liberties

                    Note: There are many other pertinent articles at Human Rights First.           

American Civil Liberties Union: Immigrants’ Rights and Detention 

NPR: ACLU: Administration Is Still Separating Migrant Families Despite Court Order to Stop, 
July 30, 2019
 
Southern Poverty Law Center: No End in Sight, October 3, 2018

WOLA: Beyond the Wall: A Campaign Defending Human Rights and Migrants in the Trump Era and Migration & Border Security

                    Note: There are many useful resources at WOLA (Washington Office on Latin America),
                    with up-to-date analyses of new Trump Administration policies. WOLA advocates for
                    human rights in the Americas. 


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Lights For Liberty Planning Meeting and Protest Save the Date

6/22/2019

1 Comment

 

Lights For Liberty Planning Meeting - Wednesday, June 26th at 1:00 pm and 
Save the Date for the Protest Friday, July 12th 

Planning Meeting Wednesday, June 26th at 1:00 pm at
Chancery of the Diocese of Davenport
780 W Central Park AV, Davenport, IA 52802 (map)
Civil Rights Forum and One Human Family QCA

Dear Friends of One Human Family QCA,
 
As you are probably aware, President Trump has announced that there will be a massive round-up of 2,000 immigrants next week.  We are hearing terrible reports of the already existing horrendous, sub-human conditions in the immigrant detention centers; centers which are already brutally overcrowded and under-served.
 
A national organization called “Lights for Liberty” is calling for communities around the country to join them in holding an event called:  “Lights for Liberty:  A Vigil to End Human Detention Camps”.  The event will take place on Friday, July 12.  To find out more about the organization and their plans for this national vigil you can go to their website - https://www.lightsforliberty.org/
 
The ONE HUMAN FAMILY QCA IMMIGRATION TASK FORCE is taking the leadership in organizing a local vigil to be in cooperation and coordination with the national one.  They will be holding a planning meeting for our local vigil on WEDNESDAY, JUNE 26 at 1:00 pm at the Diocese of Davenport, 780 W. Central Park Ave., Davenport 52804.  They are asking that everyone who would be willing to share in planning this significant event join them for this meeting!  If you are interested in participating in the planning but cannot attend this time around, let me know and I will make sure that you are placed on the Planning Committee’s email distribution list.  If you cannot join us in the planning but would like to attend the vigil, let me know and I will make sure that you are kept up to date with the details.
 
What is happening in these detention camps is a stain on the soul of the United States of America!  We cannot stand by silently and permit it to continue.  In the words of the philosopher Edmund Burke, “The only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for good people to do nothing.”  We must never forget that today’s current events are tomorrow’s history.  When the history of these days are written, what will it have to say about the roles each of up played in creating that history.
 
Shalom / Salaam / Paz / Pax / Peace,
 
Rabbi Henry Jay Karp
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