Category: Immigration - PACG - Progressive Action for the Common Good

After Action Report - Civil Rights Forum Met with Rita Hart

8/27/2019

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 Shilling, 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

The Crisis at the Border: Principles and Proposed Legislation

8/22/2019

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.

Lights For Liberty Planning Meeting and Protest Save the Date

6/22/2019

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

Candidate Questions - Civil Rights

4/22/2019

Candidate Questions - Civil Rights

Immigration/Refugee Policy

Let’s get organized before the next presidential candidates come to town! It’s hard to know what questions to ask, but here is a list that Quad Cities Interfaith created. If you have additional questions you think should be asked, please contact our Office Manager, Amber Bordolo and we will add to this list.

If you attend a candidate’s event, print off this list (see the download link below) and have it handy in case you get a chance to ask a question. Listen carefully to the answers on the topics below. Take notes if you can, and report back to us in the Blog Comments below. We want to know what you hear and think!

These are also good questions that should be addressed to your State legislatures when they hold legislative sessions or campaign for re-election.

1. As President, will you work to re-unite families separated at the border and change this policy so that future children and families are not separated while their legal status is in limbo?

2. What is your position on the Central American migrant caravan asylum-seekers at the border?

3. As President, will you work to ensure that tear gas is not employed against any persons at the border, like that which took place in November of this last year?

4. In Iowa, legislators have passed a state bill to prohibit local municipalities from establishing local sanctuary laws. Are you willing to speak out against these efforts at outlawing city and county rights to establish local sanctuary status?

5. We are against ICE workplace and community raids that unnecessarily terrorize, and often separate, families. A prominent example took place in Mt. Pleasant, Iowa in the past year. What is your stance on the role of ICE in our local communities?

6. We are against laws that put undue burdens on local police forces to do the work of area ICE agents. We don’t think these measures make our communities more safe; in fact, they make people less likely to report crime for fear of retaliation or deportation. What is your stance on the role of local police in matters pertaining to immigration enforcement?

7. Do you support driver’s licenses for immigrants and other local efforts such as Community ID programs?

8. Do you support efforts toward providing a path to citizenship for the 11 million immigrants in the United States?

9. There has been a call to overhaul our immigration policies. What provisions do you think should be a part of revising and changing our nation’s immigration laws?

10. As President, will you take leadership in permanently eliminating “The Muslim ban?” Will you support policies that increase the numbers of refugees the U.S. accepts?

11. What role do you think the U.S. has in accepting refugees from countries where we currently or have previously actively supported or engaged in military conflict in those countries?

12. Given that the policies and actions of our government have helped to create the conditions which people in the Migrant Caravan are fleeing, what are our responsibilities to these asylum seekers? How should they be treated at the border?

13. We stand strongly against the profit incentive behind incarceration of immigrants and citizens promoted by the prison industrial complex. Will you reject campaign contributions from banks and corporations that have a profit incentive in the building of private prisons and immigrant detention centers?

Mass Incarceration and Restorative Justice

1. Our groups in the Quad Cities are dealing with racial disparities in rates of out-of-school suspensions. As President, what will you do to address these and other racial inequities in our nation’s public school systems?

2. There our racial inequities across the board in our public schools here locally, and throughout the nation. What will you do to close the opportunity and achievement gap in public education between low-income and students of color, relative to their more affluent white peers?

3. What is your take on the recent bi-partisan criminal justice changes at the federal level? What do you think is the next step towards improving our current criminal justice system?

4. As president, what will you do to provide opportunities for criminal ex-offender re-entry programs and to create employment opportunities for formerly incarcerated persons to reduce recidivism?

5. Do you support “banning the box” policies that require ex-offenders to disclose their felony history in job applications?

6. The U.S. remains the most over-incarcerated nation on the planet. What steps will you take as President to decrease the numbers and reduce racial disparities in populations of offenders behind bars?

7. We stand strongly against the profit incentive behind incarceration of immigrants and citizens promoted by the prison industrial complex. Will you reject campaign contributions from banks and corporations that have a profit incentive in the building of private prisons and immigrant detention centers?

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PACG Book Club for March, April, May and June 2019

3/4/2019

Books to Read and Discuss - March, April, May and June 2019

Sunday, March 10th at 11:15 am So You Want to Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo
Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the Quad Cities
3707 Eastern Ave, Davenport IA (map)
The Unitarian Universalist Congregation is having a discussion of this important book on race. It is short enough that you can get it read in a week. It is highly recommended by one of our book club members.

Thursday, March 28th at 6 pm - Author Visit: Jason Reynolds
Davenport Main Public Library
321 N Main St, Davenport IA (map)
Our April book discussion will be any of the books by this prize-winning and best-selling author of Young Adult fiction who is visiting the Davenport Main Public Library for a discussion and book signing. You must register at the above link if you plan to attend.

Saturday, April 6th at 10:30 am - Any book by Jason Reynolds
Davenport Main Public Library, small room on lower level
321 N Main St, Davenport IA (map)
Check out Jason Reynolds' website to find a book that appeals to you. If you bring a copy of the book to the March 28th Author Visit (above), you could get it signed!

Saturday, May 4th at 10:30 am - Small Island by Andrea Levy
and Tell Me How It Ends by Valeria Luiselli
Davenport Main Public Library, small room on lower level
321 N Main St, Davenport IA (map)
Both of these books deal with immigration, as well as with issues of race.

Saturday, June 1st at 10:30 am - Dear Martin by Nic Stone
Davenport Main Public Library, small room on lower level
321 N Main St, Davenport IA (map)
Raw, captivating, and undeniably real, Nic Stone joins industry giants Jason Reynolds and Walter Dean Myers as she boldly tackles American race relations in this stunning debut. This book is highly recommended by one of our book club members.

Contact Alta Price with questions or to learn more.

MoveOn President's Day Protest, February 18, 2019

2/17/2019

Attend the MoveOn Presidents' Day Protest - Monday, February 18th at 7:00 pm

Metropolitan Community Church of the Quad Cities (MCCQC)
2930 Locust St, Davenport IA (map)

PACG will mobilize with other community activists and attend MoveOn's nation-wide event. This will be a non-violent rapid-response, as we stand up to defend our democracy, and immigrant, Muslim, black and brown communities from Donald Trump's dangerous (fake) national emergency power grab. This #FakeNationalEmergency is an illegal attempt to push his racist, dangerous policies.

We're participating in the event organized by numerous groups at 7:00 pm on Presidents Day. For more details or to RSVP click here.

Immigration Meetings for February 2019

2/3/2019

Immigration Meetings for February 2019

The PACG Civil Rights Forum is working on its own and in coalition with other community organizations on Immigration. Consider coming to one of these upcoming meetings on Immigration issues:

One Human Family Immigration Task Force - Wednesday, Feb 6th at 1:30 pm
Chancery of the Catholic Diocese of Davenport
780 W Central Park, Davenport (map)
Contact Sister Nancy Miller with questions.

QC Sanctuary Coalition - Saturday, Feb 9th from 10am - noon
the Benedictine Sisters of Saint Mary Monastery
2200 88th Ave, Rock Island (map)
Contact John Dunsheath with questions.

Quad Cities Interfaith - Tuesday, Feb 19th at 6:30 pm
Monthly Task Force Assembly
Church of Peace, 1114 12th St, Rock Island (map)
Contact Aaron Wagner with questions.

Alta Price

Immigration

1/15/2019

Let's Talk About Migrants at the Border

The Sanctuary Project of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the Quad Cities
3707 Eastern Ave, Davenport, IA 52807 (map)

Please join us for this enlightening discussion of why the migrants are leaving their countries, what are the causes of the problems in their countries, and what is happening at the border. Speakers are Dr. Peter Kivisto from Augustana College and Jody Mashek from American Friends Service Committee. This event is sponsored by The Sanctuary Project of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the Quad Cities.

John Dunsheath
j.dunsheath@aol.com

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Rally in Support of Asylum Seekers - After Action Report

12/7/2018

Rally in Support of Asylum Seekers - After Action Report

We had a good turnout at the rally in support of asylum seekers on Friday, November 30th at 4 pm. We also had great press coverage! Check it out at the following links:

KWQC

WHBF-TV/KGCW-TV/KJLB-TV

WQAD

Read this story at the Dispatch-Argus.

Thanks to all who came to a cold winter rally in support of Central American asylum seekers who were tear-gassed by our government. We are a land of immigrants, and we demand that our government and ICE treat asylum seekers humanely. We further demand that our government and ICE follow our own laws and international laws that give asylum seekers the right to apply for asylum.

We plan to follow up this rally with meetings with our Illinois and Iowa Senators and Representatives and local ICE officials.

The rally was organized by Aaron Wagner of Quad Cities Interfaith.

Civil Rights

12/3/2018

The Civil Rights Forum

The PACG Civil Rights Forum will not be meeting in December. However, at least some of the groups we are working with do have December meetings.

December 8th (Saturday) at 10:00 am at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the QC - QC Sanctuary Coalition (contact John Dunsheath with questions.)

December 12th (Wednesday) at 1:00 pm at the Chancery of the Diocese of Davenport (780 W Central Park, Davenport, IA) - One Human Family Immigration Task Force (contact Sister Nancy Miller with questions)

December 17th (Monday) at 6:30 pm at St. Peter's Episcopal Church in Bettendorf - Quad Cities Interfaith Task Force Assembly (includes Immigration and Restorative Justice) (contact Aaron Wagner at Quad Cities Interfaith with questions)

Alta Price