Thread: IL: Inside look of how a sanctuary city runs!

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi- ... 7310.story

Chicago alderman to host immigrant rights hearings
By SOPHIA TAREEN | Associated Press Writer
10:33 PM CDT, July 29, 2008

CHICAGO - Activists and several Chicago aldermen are investigating dozens of claims that city and county authorities violated immigrant rights, including federal Immigration laws affecting jail inmates.

Officials announced Tuesday that the City Council will hear testimony from immigrants next week, a move which advocates have applauded, saying it promotes Chicago's historic reputation as a friendly city for immigrants.

"We understand the value that immigrants hold in our society, whether documented or undocumented," said Chicago Alderman Danny Solis, who is leading the hearings.

Solis and a newly formed commission are looking into at least 30 complaints of racial profiling by Chicago police officers and violations of federal Immigration law at Cook County Jail.

The allegations include that undocumented immigrants who have a detainer placed on them by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement are being held longer than a required 48 hours. The time for federal agents to pick them up starts once they've been cleared for release from local law enforcement.

Last month officials at Cook County Jail -- where three ICE agents are stationed each day -- admitted that at least one immigrant inmate was held for ICE longer than 48 hours. Since then, the jail has established several reforms, including a hot line with updated information on the detention status of immigrants held on criminal charges, said Cook County Sheriff's Police spokesman Steve Patterson.

ICE officers who are stationed at the jail pick up about six to eight people each day, said ICE spokeswoman Gail Montenegro.

ICE does not racially profile and does not encourage jails to hold immigrant inmates longer than 48 hours, Montenegro said.

"We are mandated to enforce the nation's Immigrations laws and we continue to aggressively do so," she said. "ICE is here and available to work with any law enforcement that requests assistance."

Other allegations made by Chicago aldermen and the group, called the Intergovernmental Commission on Latino Immigrant Rights, involve the Chicago Police Department.

Cook County Commissioner Roberto Maldonado alleges that some officers have pulled over individuals who appear Latino and questioned them their Immigration status, which is prohibited by a 2006 Chicago ordinance.

Immigrant rights activists also claim Chicago police officers have reported the Immigration status of individuals to ICE.

"This is a very serious issue," Maldonado said.

Chicago police have denied the allegations.

"We do not tolerate racial profiling," said police spokeswoman Monique Bond. "We do not inquire about an individual's Immigration status."

An attorney with Centro Sin Fronteras, which also promoted the hearings, will meet this week with immigrants who want testify publicly.

"If there is any violation, we want to get to the bottom of it, we want to make sure we continue to be leaders in the nation on this issue," said Emma Lozano, an activist with the group.

The hearings are being praised by immigrant rights activists nationwide who have long watched Chicago's approach to immigrants.

"It's always been seen as a place that's been more open and friendly to immigrants," said Raul Hinojosa-Ojeda, a professor at the University of California at Los Angeles and former Chicago Immigration activist. "This particular announcement is a further step in making immigrants feel that their rights are going to be protected."

Chicago, which was declared a sanctuary to immigrants in 1989, has had the highest participation nationwide in annual immigrant rights rallies.

In 2006, more than 400,000 marched in the streets and Mayor Richard Daley addressed the crowd.

Last year, Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., sponsored the failed DREAM Act, a bill designed to facilitate citizenship for young illegal immigrants who planned to attend college or join the military.

The illegals are going to protest as well:

And Here is LaRaza version of this news story:
(This is using google translate, so it may be a bit rough)

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La Raza article (Spanish). Bellow two links to articles in English
Activa accuse the "PoliMigra"
* Antonio Zavala / Correspondent La Raza |
* 2008-07-24
* | La Raza
The municipal hearing to investigate nearly 200 arrests of undocumented Latinos by the Chicago Police, whose cases fell without explanation in the hands of the Bureau of Immigration and Customs Protection (ICE) will on August 5.

The hearing, hosted by the eight councillors Latinos in Chicago and conducted by the Human Relations Committee, led by alderman Billy Ocasio (D-26), would be 10 am at noon, and was attended by top officials of the municipal government giving testimony.

Possibly will be invited to witness the Superintendent of Police in Chicago, Jody Weis, the Cook County sheriff, Tom Dart, a representative of the Legal Department of the municipality and one of the councillors Latinos, perhaps Daniel Solis, since he was who last July 9 introduced the resolution, which made possible the hearing.

Still unclear is whether a representative from ICE would be invited to answer questions.

In addition, the Committee on Human Relations also invite one or two members of Centro Sin Fronteras and the Coalition on March 10.
Members of the community at large could also possibly give testimony if they register before the hearing, which will be in the Council of the City, located on the second floor of City Hall.

The information collected by the Committee on Human Relations during the hearing would then be delivered to Mayor Richard M. Daley and request a response within 15 days.

"Everything depends on what comes out in the audience," said Hector Villagran, team leader of the councilman Ocasio.

The executive order 85-1

At stake is whether there were violations of the municipal executive order 85-1, which since 1985 prohibits employees of the city ask, inquire or investigate whether or not a person has papers to live legally in this country.

The problem with this executive order, enacted during the administration of Mayor Harold Washington, which had no penalties or punishment for whoever violates, according to admit the same community activists.
List of arrested

In recent days were disclosed 60 cases of people arrested for crimes unrelated to immigration, but whose cases ended up before the ICE. While not all cases are documented, leaders estimate that since March has been handed over to ICE about 200 people were arrested in Chicago for crimes mostly transit.

The list of detainees was handed over to Villagran by Jorge Mujica, the Coalition on March 10, during a press conference outside the offices of councillor Ocasio in the 3236 West Division Street.

From find any evidence showing that the Chicago Police violated the executive order that protects the undocumented, Mujica said that it expects the amendment to the regulations include fines or punishment. "We want to strengthen the executive order," said Mujica.
The activist also told the press that community organizations would be willing to sue the Police Department if the evidence shows that there was improper cooperation with ICE agents in the city. "We suspect that the police are alerting the ICE," said Mujica.

Far from diminishing, community activists complain that cases of detained aliens by the Chicago Police eventually reported to ICE are increasing.

Under immigration detention

During the press conference three new cases were disclosed to the public.
One is the case of Carmelo Martinez, 38, who said his family was arrested in Chicago on June 5 on charges of driving under the influence of alcohol and unlicensed.

His sister, Rosa Martinez, told La Raza that the family paid a bond of $ 1500 for leaving the accused free, but until July 16 had not left nor the authorities tell them where is his relative.

"We removed the Cook County jail but will not tell us anything else," complained the sister. "We are worried and we do not know if they are held incommunicado and why he is incommunicado," complained.
Another similar case is Ranferi Velazquez, 47, who was arrested in Chicago on July 1 for driving drunk and when his family went to pay bail, someone informed them that "do not worry, is under immigration detention."

In this case the families themselves have been able to visit and see his relative, but nothing can do for their status under immigration detention. "It's a trauma when you're going to see," said Evelia Velazquez, his wife.

The third case involves the couple Albino Rojas, 26 years and who according to his brother William was leaving a friend in the car and stopped it passed by a high and now is under "immigration detention".
Is there racial profiling?

Activist Latino communities feel that perhaps some policemen in the city without a permit, are pursuing a racial profiling against Hispanics to inquire about the immigration status of those arrested because they were not asked their status to whites or other minorities.

"In these cases we do not have a Korean or Asian people," he observed Mújica with the list of arrested in hand. "Why only to Latinos," they questioned.

Orlando Sepulveda, also of the Coalition on March 10, suspects that there is something more behind these arrests that end with deportations. "It's an attempt to intimidate our community," the activist accused.
Jesus Vargas, another activist, said that families of many arrested are going through days of necessity, since the detainees are generally those who earn their bread, and requested help for them. Contributions of clothing, diapers and even money can be made to the Anglican Mission Catholic Our Lady of Guadeloupe, 2500 S. Harding, in La Villita.

Whatever happens at the hearing, Vargas felt that the damage is already done. "The families feel intimidated by the police," he said while several children stood banners in the air asking clarification arrests of their parents.

Report your case
The community activist Emma Lozano announced that it will hear cases of arrests by the police who have completed such as immigration cases, to be presented during the hearing of the City on August 5 at City Hall.

Those affected should visit the offices of councillor Danny Solis at 2439 S. Oakley Blvd. , In Chicago. An attorney will be present and protect the identity of individuals.

The schedules are to receive cases on Saturday, August 1 10:00 am to 5:00 p.m. and Sunday August 2 from 9:00 a.m. at noon. For more information call the office of alderman Solis at (773) 523-4100.

Posture official
The news director of the Police Department of Chicago, Monique Bond, said that officers "do not apply the law based on citizen status and that the allegations are not documented in any police report."

Penny Mateck, spokeswoman for the office of Sheriff of Cook County, said the agency would arrest the person, in this case the Chicago Police, is responsible for contacting ICE, which began a process and that file is what gives the arrested, whether he is in jail or in the district police.
Subsequently, if the subject is found not guilty or he sets a bond, not release it until ICE will arrest him and this does not happen quickly. According to the procedure of the Sheriff's Office, within 48 hours if ICE does not claim to the subject, should liberate it.

In a communique, the Cook County sheriff, Tom Hart, said that his office does not check the immigration status of the detainees nor informed the immigration service and Customs (ICE) on the presence of aliens in prisons handled.

The Sheriff said that the ICE conducts routine checks in prisons on the immigration status of foreigners who have been detained by local police departments.

He added that by federal and state law, ICE can maintain a "retention migration" to anyone suspected of a crime, either because these are people who entered the country illegally or because they are required from other jurisdictions for other offences.

The illegals protesting reminds me of the reaction a teenager has when their parents put their foot down and make the teen tow the line... in this case the illegals have been given free reign over our system for many years.. they have gotten all sorts of "freebies" and "goodies"....of course they don't want to lose their "free ride"...and they have even convinced themselves that they somehow deserve all the "gifts" they have been given via the American tax payer....so naturally and they will resort to any means to keep the "illegals gift packages" coming!

By the way: I found this these portings at one of the Google groups the illegals in Chicago hang out at. The group that actually posted this was : socialistworker.org (We have to deal these nuts here too!)

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http://socialistworker.org/2008/07/24/v ... poli-migra

Victims of the "poli-migra"
Orlando Sepúlveda explains how Chicago's local law enforcement is collaborating with federal immigration authorities in violation of city policy--and how activists are challenging the "poli-migra."

July 24, 2008

JOSÉ TORRES, a Northeastern Illinois University business student, was stopped for speeding June 11. He was arrested for driving without a license or insurance, and a DUI.

His sister Erika, a prospective high school math teacher, said that the family attempted to pay the bail, set at $2,000, but officials at Cook County Jail only gave them excuses about why they couldn't accept it.

In a similar case in May, a 26-year-old restaurant worker, Jacobo Ruiz, was coming back from his job and stopped to fill up his gas tank. He was arrested by a Chicago police officer for driving without a license. Ruiz had no police record.

For most drivers, this would have probably ended with a ticket and a court date. But the police "suspected" that Ruiz was an "illegal," so he was arrested, charged and put in Cook County Jail.

The next day, when Ruiz's wife Severa offered to pay his bail of $1,500, she was told that the jail had received an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) order requiring that Ruiz be detained for another two days. But the 48-hour period multiplied many times over. After five months of uncertainty, ICE came for Ruiz, and he now faces deportation. His current bail is an unattainable $10,000.

For his part, the arrested business student, José Torres decided that raising bail would be too hard on his family. He's the primary caregiver of his child and biggest provider of income for his family. So he decided to submit to the court, receive a sentence, pay a fine and take his chances about being turned over to ICE.

But last week, a judge, citing a backlog, indefinitely postponed José's court date. He was relocated from Cook County Jail to a detention center in the Chicago suburb of Skokie.

Jacobo's and José's relatives are only some of the 60 families that came to Chicago's Our Lady of Guadalupe Mission during the last few months, seeking help. Jacobo heard about the mission when he saw the church's priest, Father José Landaverde, on television. José's sister was referred by lawyers and activist groups. In some cases, Chicago aldermen's offices sent immigrants to the mission.

In response to the requests for help, Landaverde began rounding up money to pay for bail. This inspired a handful of church members and activists from Chicago's March 10 Movement, who were instrumental in organizing recent big immigrant rights demonstrations in the city, to document individual cases, organize visits from lawyers to the church, hold fundraisers and organize a few successful political events.

The mission has become the aid of last resort for families threatened by what activists call "poli-migra"--that is, the network of Chicago cops and Cook County sheriff's deputies working with ICE and using their authority to victimize undocumented workers and the families they sustain.

"We have proof now," said Father Landaverde in a press release, "that the Chicago Police Department is asking for papers and submitting people to immigration authorities in violation of Mayor Harold Washington's I-85 executive order and the city of Chicago's Sanctuary Resolution from 2007 forbidding that practice."

At a press conference, Landaverde and others presented paperwork, signed by arresting officers of the Chicago Police Department, requesting immigration holds for several detainees. That was compelling enough to move several Latino aldermen to initiate hearings into the allegations that the cops are working with ICE in violation of city law--though dates have not been given for the hearings.

Jorge Mujica of the March 10 Movement explained that the I-85 executive order was issued to prevent racial profiling by Chicago police. "How can a police officer perform immigration enforcement without racially profiling people?" Mujica said. "Is the immigration status of every driver going to be suspected 'unauthorized' just because he's driving without a license?"

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

THE MISSION has been trying to deal with the complexity of the crisis. On one hand, the church is trying to ease the crisis for the families, and on the other, it is seeking legal and political means to free the families' breadwinners. But that requires overcoming a mountain of obstacles from the law enforcement bureaucracy, as well as plain racism.

But these struggles take time. And after months of hardship, family arrangements are starting to break down.

One family seeking help from the mission was illegally evicted, yet the CPD did nothing but defend the landlady involved. Some families have had to move to cheaper, rundown places, and many have been forced to go to food banks.

"This is destroying the families," said Jesús Vargas of the March 10 Movement, who is collaborating with the mission. "Bails can jump up to $17,000, and just now, MarÃ*a called to tell me that she had been evicted and couldn't get into her apartment to get her stuff," he said describing one of the cases he's working on.

Marilú Vargas, recently named administrator of the mission, explains, "Not having the money for bail is only half of the problem. When we have the money, we go to pay the bail, and they [at Cook County Jail] don't accept it. We had to try with a very aggressive lawyer to make the jail accept the bail for one of the cases. Predictably, they put a 48-hour immigration "hold" on him. We thought we had a chance that ICE wouldn't appear, but [jail authorities] made sure that ICE came very quickly."

Activists in the mission thought they might be able to pressure jail officials to accept bail money, because that tactic has worked in some places. In Irving, Texas, ICE has had to ask local law enforcement to stop the practice of applying the Criminal Alien Program to undocumented immigrants who committed minor offenses.

But in Chicago, the poli-migra is in a hunting mood. "Does this mean that anyone," asked Jesús Vargas, "driving home from work, 'suspected' to be undocumented could be stopped by the police, taken in and detained for periods of 48 hours by Cook County, or until ICE decides the time to take him away?"

The threat of the poli-migra is much bigger than what the mission and volunteer activists can handle. So they are reaching out.

Activists recently held a press conference at Alderman Billy Ocasio's office, gave his staff a copy of the cases they've documented and asked when the City Council would hold hearings on the issue. Ocasio was absent, but his staff promised hearings would begin August 5.

But the activists aren't waiting. They're calling all pro-immigrant rights and antiracist groups to a meeting at the end of July at the mission to collaborate in organizing their side for the city council hearings.

As Jorge Mujica spelled out the activists' demands: "We want the Chicago Police Department to stop using racial profiling, we want Resolution I-85 to include ways to punish this practice, and we want the name of the officers involved in each case."

Raquel Vega contributed to this article.

We even have the "Jewish Council on Urban Affairs" helping the illegal immigrants. (another posting from that google group)

------------------

----- Forwarded Message ----
From: Michael Deheeger <mich...@jcua.org>
Sent: Friday, August 1, 2008 4:38:56 PM
Subject: Join JCUA on Tuesday and Take a Stand for Chicago Immigrants!

Dear friends,

By marching together in Postville, IA this past Sunday, we drew nationwide attention to our broken immigration system. We learned firsthand how families are being torn apart and people forced to live in shadows.

Tragically, the same situation prevails right here at home in Chicago. According to the Mexican Consulate, about eighty Mexican immigrants are being deported from the area every week.

Our allies from the March 10th Movement and Our Lady of Guadalupe Anglican Catholic Mission in Little Village have invited us to take action to preserve the City of Chicago as a place of sanctuary for immigrants, and to (re)educate the police department and residents of this City about their rights and responsiblities.

Join us next Tuesday, August 5th…

- At 7:30 a.m. at the Misión Our Lady of Guadalupe in Little Village, at 2500 S. Harding, for a march to City Council and picket line in support of Chicago immigrants, including 60 families that have been fighting deportation for the last five months with the help of organizers at the Misión. Friends and allies of those who have been detained will be participating.

- At 10.00 a.m., Chicago's City Council, 121 N. La Salle St. for a public hearing being hosted by the Human Relations Committee, chaired by Alderman Billy Ocasio, to hear community input on the relationship between the City of Chicago and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). We will be developing a statement on behalf of JCUA to be delivered at the hearings.

If you are interested in joining JCUA at either or both events on Tuesday, please contact Advocacy Director Tom Walsh, at t...@jcua.org. or 312.663.0960 (ext. 129).


Shabbat Shalom,

Michael Deheeger, Synagogue Organizer
Tom Walsh, Director of Advocacy

--
Michael Deheeger
Synagogue Organizer
Jewish Council on Urban Affairs
610 S. Michigan Ave. 5th floor
Chicago, IL 60605
(312)663-0960 ext 122
www.jcua.org

Thanks for posting all this. Will anyone be speaking on behalf of Americans and legal immigrants?? I doubt it.

Will anyone mention what happened in San Francisco to Mrs. Bologna? I doubt it.

I'll be taping the news Tuesday night to see if this is even covered. I'm more interested in the self-deportation program that starts in Chicago on Tuesday.

Here is another post where they posted links to web articles that they feel support them for the up and coming hearing(s)

I didn’t post them all, it would be too much, so here are the links for you to read.

(Note some are thru Google Translate)


------------------------------



Compañeros:
The first two are articles about reports that came out accusing police in Illinois to use racial profiling and Cook County Jail of denying rights to inmates. These two articles can be very helpful if put in the context of our struggle. The rest of the articles are about the polimigra and the Tuesday hearings. Enjoy them


Drug War Chronicle - August 1, 2008
Racial Profiling: Latest Illinois Report Prompts Civil Rights Groups to Call for End to Consent Searches
The Illinois Department of Transportation earlier this month issued its annual report on race and traffic stops. The results showed that police were much more likely to ask minority drivers to consent to searches without probable cause, but that they were much less likely to actually find drugs, guns, or other contraband in consent searches directed at minority drivers.
http://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle/545 ... ling_of_...

Chicago Tribune - July 18, 2008
U.S. blasts jail conditions
Sheriff calls 98 pages of criticism 'unprofessional,' defends reform program
By Jeff Coen, Hal Dardick and Matthew Walberg | http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/loca ... -web-jul...

Chicago Tribune - July 29, 2008
Chicago alderman to host immigrant rights hearings
AP CHICAGO - Immigrant rights activists and several Chicago aldermen are investigating claims that city and county agencies are violating laws regulating ...
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi- ... h,0,1773...


The Day - July 25, 2008
They ask for help families of the Villita
La Villita, one of the most abundant communities where Mexicans and Hispanics in general, being one of the areas hardest hit by the raids taking place in the nation.
http://tinyurl.com/6lth89 [MOD EDIT -PAGE SCROLLING]





Socialist Worker – July 24, 2008
Victims of the "poli-migra"
Chicago police and Cook County sheriff's deputies have teamed up with federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement to harass immigrants.
http://socialistworker.org/2008/07/24/v ... poli-migra

La Raza – Junio 29, 2008
Presos ¿hasta cuándo?
Por Fabiola Pomareda y Antonio Zavala
http://tinyurl.com/6pcdjf [MOD EDIT]


Diario Hoy – Julio 30, 2008
Instan a inmigrantes a compartir testimonios
Por Leticia Espinosa
http://tinyurl.com/5a4cfc [MOD EDIT]

W.
You can almost do a complete radio show on this one.

Just call this episode

“The Last Chicagoan Standingâ€

What a mess of this country the idiots in DC have made.May all thier children and grand children have to live in card board shacks with no utilities and compete with all the cheap labor for the few jobs we have left just to earn a meager existence.