Thread: MN: March to focus on children of immigrants

March to focus on children of immigrants

March on Sunday highlights hardships of children left behind.

Juana Reyes has been living undocumented in America for 15 years; several weeks ago she was picked up by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in front of her house and faces deportation. Now Betty, Juana's nine-year-old daughter and an American citizen, is faced with losing her mother.

"No one is talking about the deep negative effects these deportations and raids are having on our children," said Alondra Espejel of the Minnesota Immigrant Network. Espejel said Betty's story is not uncommon; many children born in this country to undocumented parents become stranded when their mothers and fathers are picked up by ICE.

To support Juana and to advocate for immigration reform, the Immigrant Freedom Network is organizing a march Sunday. It will start at 3 p.m. at St. Luke's Church, 1079 Summit Ave, St. Paul.

For more information Download a pdf flier for Sunday's march.
Find out more about the Minnesota Immigrant Freedom Network.

Read more about http://tcdailyplanet.net/article/2007/0 ... randmoth... ">Juana's story in this article from the Twin Cities Daily Planet.
Marchers will follow the children of undocumented immigrants from the church to the home of U.S. Senator Norm Coleman, where they will put a life-size card telling about their struggles on his lawn.

"People don't understand the severity and depth these raids and deportations are affecting our communities," said Espejel. "This is Nazi era-like treatment . . . People are being taken away in the middle of the night, kids are being woken up by police flashlights.

"We need a moratorium on deportations and raids until we reach a workable solution to our immigration policy," she said.

The Immigration Reform and Control act of 1986 granted amnesty to large numbers of undocumented workers, but the numbers of migrants has increased in recent years as NAFTA and other free trade deals have destroyed jobs in Mexico and driven farmers off the land. Congress failed to take action earlier this year on legislation that would have provided a path to citizenship for some undocumented workers, but also contained provisions opposed by many labor unions and immigrant rights groups.

Most experts say it's unlikely Congress will address comprehensive immigration reform before the 2008 presidential election.

Workers affected by the current raids don't have time to wait, Espejel said. "People come and make a life, contribute to their communities, then are asked to leave. What we need now is real changes."

Elliot Ward is an intern this summer with Workday Minnesota.

Posted: Thu, 07/26/2007 - 23:25

http://www.tcdailyplanet.net/article/20 ... ml&print=1

Here is a story of fiction: John & Mary Doe break into an elderly neighbors house . They steal her Identity, eat her food use the water, gas, electric leave the house in shables. Now the neighbor is in dire straights, she can't prove the bills that the Does ran up are not hers, the value of her house has deminished, and she is at wits end. but finally the Doe's do get caught......Their about to go to be punished for their crimes but wait.......What will happen to little Johnnie Doe Jr? He may have to stay with a relative. The family will be broken up. SHOULD WE JUST SAY "OH WELL LETS LET THE DOES SLIDE ON THIS! Just too bad for the neighbor but we can't break up a family. She'll just have to suck it up. NOW I ASK YOU WHO IS THE VICTIM HERE? Illegal Immigration isn't a victimless crime.

... but the numbers of migrants has increased in recent years as NAFTA and other free trade deals have destroyed jobs in Mexico and driven farmers off the land.
Workers affected by the current raids don't have time to wait, Espejel said. "People come and make a life, contribute to their communities, then are asked to leave. What we need now is real changes."

So now NAFTA is to blame for the Mexican economy? It wasn't already bad? I read somewhere that the problem facing the farmers was all the working age men leaving Mexico, and the older men don't want to do farm work and neither do women. So that's why the farms are failing, same as here. Maybe Mexico should bring in immigrants from even poorer 3rd world countries to do the farm work?
As far as Betty goes, if 9 year olds can be brought here illegally by their parents and "adapt" then I'm sure she can adapt to Mexico, just give her a few years and she'll feel like she was born there, just like the Mexican kids who are removed from Mexico and the only life they know, to come here.

Maybe Mexico should bring in immigrants from even poorer 3rd world countries to do the farm work?


Actually, I read a news story to that effect. Mexico does bring in people from SA to work in the fields.

One of the things I notice when they tell these 'sad stories' - they always show how long the people have been here - as in this case - 15 years.

The writer seems to be saying that the fact one has been here for a long time, makes it better or all right. Actually, just the opposite. It shows how long that person has been here and how long he/she has scammed the American worker. If we talked about any other crime being systematically broken for 15 years, it would weigh against the criminal.

Originally Posted by nntrixie

The writer seems to be saying that the fact one has been here for a long time, makes it better or all right. Actually, just the opposite. It shows how long that person has been here and how long he/she has scammed the American worker. If we talked about any other crime being systematically broken for 15 years, it would weigh against the criminal.

I agree they have gained the most for their illegal behavior.

Doesn't Tancredo have a bill pending in the house dealing with "Anchor Babies"?

This definitly needs to be dealt with NOW.