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April 29th, 2010: Rights groups challenge Zebulon Police Department’s practice of targeting Latino churchgoers

RALEIGH (April 29, 2010) – Community churches are supposed to be a safe haven for worshippers, not sites for police to target. But Latino churchgoers in eastern Wake County say police officers routinely set up illegal checkpoints outside their parish – and even interrupt services themselves. This morning, the American Civil Liberties Union of North Carolina Legal Foundation (ACLU-NCLF), the North Carolina Justice Center, and the Southern Coalition for Social Justice launched an investigation into the practice of targeting Latino churchgoers by the Zebulon Police Department and the Wake County Sheriff’s Office. Congregants at the Iglesia de Dios “Catedral de Jesus” in Zebulon report that Zebulon police officers, with alleged participation by Wake County sheriff’s deputies, have repeatedly posted license checkpoints outside the church during church services. Members of the congregation report that police officers routinely “wave through” Caucasian and African-American drivers, stopping only those drivers who appear to be Latino. “The reality is that these types of license checkpoints are often no more than covers for blatant racial and ethnic profiling of the Latino community,” said Katy Parker, Legal Director of the ACLU-NCLF. “This includes those members of the community who are undocumented as well as those members who are American citizens and lawful permanent residents of North Carolina.” The groups have filed a public records request asking police to provide all documents related to license checkpoints, as well as all documents related to compliance with the North Carolina Racial Profiling Act. Police officers, congregants say, have entered church property and interrupted services to harass members of the congregation seeking information. Officers routinely select the entrance of the church at 717 S. Arendell Avenue to set up license checkpoints during regularly scheduled church events, such as church services on Saturday nights from 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., church members say. These scare tactics by police have caused a significant decrease in church attendance, as many congregants are afraid to attend church lest they be harassed by law enforcement in the process. “Even though Arizona’s outrageous new anti-immigrant law has made national headlines, we see similar disastrous policies and practices here in North Carolina,” said Dani Martinez-Moore of the NC Justice Center. “It’s shameful that checkpoints are routinely set up in Latino neighborhoods and in front of churches where services are conducted in Spanish.” The three groups sent a letter this morning to Zebulon Police Chief Tim Hayworth and Wake County Sheriff Donnie Harrison outlining the illegality and unconstitutionality of these practices under both state and federal law. “Using local police officers for immigration enforcement erodes public trust in law enforcement, systematizes racial profiling, creates incentives for illegal arrests and prevents police from doing their job, failing to keep some of our most vulnerable communities safe,” said Rebecca Fontaine of the Southern Coalition for Social Justice. To read the three organizations’ North Carolina Public Records Request, visit http://www.ncjustice.org/?q=node/499. The public records request is part of “Uncovering the Truth,” a weeklong national campaign of coordinated actions and advocacy highlighting the effects of local law enforcement collaboration with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on community safety. CONTACT: Katy Parker, ACLU-NCLF, (919) 834-3466, acluncklp@nc.rr.com; Dani Martinez-Moore, NC Justice Center, (919) 856-2178, dani@ncjustice.org; Rebecca Fontaine, Southern Coalition for Social Justice, (919) 323-3380, rebecca@scsj.org

Ditching exams for a dream

Remarkable UNC Chapel Hill first year student and activist Wooten Gough will be missing finals this year. Gough has arranged with his professors to leave school early — in order to go for a very long walk. After meeting Trail of Dreams walkers and immigration reform activists Juan Rodriguez, Carlos Roa, Felipe Matos and Gaby Pacheco during their passage through North Carolina, Gough was inspired to join them. A member of Reform Immigration for American and the Coalition for College Access, Gough passionately believes that all students deserve access to higher education, regardless of their documentation status. “In class, I see these empty chairs around me where my friends could be here who are undocumented,” says Gough, “Why would I stop [pushing for reform]?” “I can no longer wait around to see what might happen, but instead stand up and fight for what is right! Each step on the Trail of Dreams is for a real person, a real face, a real life, and above all, each step is for the dreams of a student. This is not just a Latino issue, this movement is for anyone who has ever been told they cannot accomplish something, for anyone who has a dream.” Gough will join the dreamwalkers on their journey from Miami to Washington, D.C. for the final leg of their trip starting in Richmond, Virginia. Check out his blog. He needs to raise $1000 to pay for food and accomodations along the way. To help him, donate here. Check out the Daily Tar Heel’s video profile of Gough, or SCSJ’s Statement of Support for Trail of Dreams for more information.

Trail of Dreams: Walking for Change

Felipe Matos is among the top 20 community college students in America, but he’s ineligible for financial aid at the top universities that have accepted him. Gaby Pacheco has three education degrees and plans to use music therapy as a teaching tool for autistic children and adults. Brought to the United States at age 2, Carlos Roa wanted to join the military but could not because of his immigration status. Three months ago, they embarked on Trail of Dreams, a 1,500 mile walk from Miami to Washington. These students are facing much more than sore feet; several are undocumented, and they risk deportation and detention to share their stories and raise awareness about the need for just immigration reform. These students exemplify why support is growing for the DREAM Act, federal legislation that would enable students brought to the U.S. at a young age to legally access higher education and financial aid. Every year, 65,000 students graduate U.S. high schools but are denied a college education because of our broken and unjust immigration system. These students include valedictorians, class presidents and community leaders. Yet they are refused the opportunity to further their education and give back to America — the country they see as their home. Just graduating high school can be more challenging for undocumented students than for their peers; they often must learn English as a second language, take care of family responsibilities that their parents cannot manage without understanding English, overcome low socio-economic status and all that that entails, and cope with the psychological trauma of living in fear of deportation. Trail of Dreams, which made its way through the Triangle last week, is a journey of hope for these students and the 12 million undocumented migrants in the United States. For more information, check out the Southern Coalition for Social Justice’s Statement of Support.

A beautiful dream



We were sad to see the dreamwalkers go. Trail of Dreams is one of the most inspiring ongoing nonviolent action movements. When the dreamers came upon a secret detention facility for undocumented immigrants in Cary, instead of engaging in destructive or angry behavior, they continued their work putting a human face to the 65,000 undocumented students who graduate high school every year but are denied college access because of their immigration status.

In this video, the dreamers spoke with the head of Immigrations and Customs Enforcement at the facility and gave him a poster with a picture of the Statue of Liberty and the words "No Human Being is Illegal."

For more check out Trail of Dreams, SCSJ's Statement of Support, or our Press Release.

The Story of Samuel

Samuel will soon be deported after living in the US for thirteen years. He will leave behind his wife, three children, and two grandchildren, and with unanswered questions about the death of his son, shot by police in Durham in 2007. The Southern Coalition for Social Justice and the National Immigrant Bond Fund are fighting for dignity and due process in North Carolina.

Trail of Dreams in Cary

On January 1, 2010, Juan, Carlos, Felipe and Gaby embarked on a 1,500 mile walk from Miami to Washington, D.C. These students are facing much more than sore feet; three of them are undocumented, and they risk deportation and detention in order to share their story and raise awareness about the need for just immigration reform. Trail of Dreams is a journey of hope for the 12 million undocumented migrants in the United States who live in constant fear, and especially for the students who dream of higher education but are barred from attending college or accessing financial aid because of their citizenship status. In this video, the dreamers spoke with the head of Immigrations and Customs Enforcement at a secret detention facility they found in Cary and gave him a poster with a picture of the Statue of Liberty and the words "No Human Being is Illegal."

Trail of Dreams: walking for change

On January 1, 2010, Juan, Carlos, Felipe and Gaby embarked on a 1,500 mile walk from Miami to Washington, D.C. These students are facing much more than sore feet; three of them are undocumented, and they risk deportation and detention in order to share their story and raise awareness about the need for just immigration reform. Trail of Dreams is a journey of hope for the 12 million undocumented migrants in the United States who live in constant fear, and especially for the students who dream of higher education but are barred from attending college or accessing financial aid because of their citizenship status. Felipe is among the top 20 community college students in America. He wants to be a teacher and has been accepted to top universities but cannot enroll because he is ineligible for financial aid. Gaby has three education degrees and plans to use music therapy as a teaching tool for autistic children and adults. Brought to the U.S. at age 2, Carlos wanted to join the military but could not because of his immigration status. He is now studying architecture at Miami Dade College. Juan became a U.S. resident last year with the help of his stepmother and wants to earn a sociology degree from the University of Chicago. These four stellar students exemplify why we must pass the DREAM Act. 65,000 students graduate high school every year, but are denied college access because of our broken and unjust immigration system. These students include Valedictorians, class presidents, and community leaders. Yet they are refused the opportunity to further their education and give back to America — the country they see as their home. Juan, Carlos, Felipe and Gaby are walking from Chapel Hill to Durham today. We applaud their courage and conviction. They are more than a symbol of hope — they are leaders in a movement for change. Join them. For more information, check out our Statement of Support, our Press Release, and this column in the Daily Tar Heel.

Statement of Support for the Trail of Dreams

The North Carolina organizations supporting the Trail of Dreams are inspired by the Dream Walkers' courageous commitment to their vision and to their journey from Miami to Washington, DC, to demand justice for all immigrants. We welcome the walkers into North Carolina as activists challenging multiple oppressions and look to connect their stories and struggles with organizing work of all oppressed communities in the South. We support their demands for fair and humane immigration reform, access to college education, workers' rights, and an end to unjust immigration enforcement policies. As organizations engaged in immigrants' rights work, we support the leadership and self-determination of those most directly affected by unjust policies. We also honor their place in a long history of social justice movements in our state in which young people have played a leading role. As each walker shares his or her story, it touches everyone - even to those who do not agree with their demands. We believe that storytelling humanizes policies and is a powerful tool for transformation. The courage of the walkers as they challenge injustice, in spite of the risks they face as undocumented youth, has brought energy and inspiration to our work in North Carolina. We honor them by continuing our work building and strengthening local and statewide movements for immigrant justice, human and civil rights, and progressive social change. Adelante Education Coalition of North Carolina North Carolina Justice Center Reform Immigration For America Southern Coalition for Social Justice Student Actions with Farmworkers To learn more, check out our Blog, Press Release, or some of this great press coverage by The News & Observer, The Herald Sun, and 1360 WHCL.

A message from North Carolina

The North Carolina organizations supporting the Trail of Dreams are inspired by the Dream Walkers' courageous commitment to their vision and to their journey from Miami to Washington, DC, to demand justice for all immigrants. We welcome the walkers into North Carolina as activists challenging multiple oppressions and look to connect their stories and struggles with organizing work of all oppressed communities in the South. We support their demands for fair and humane immigration reform, access to college education, workers' rights, and an end to unjust immigration enforcement policies. As organizations engaged in immigrants' rights work, we support the leadership and self-determination of those most directly affected by unjust policies. We also honor their place in a long history of social justice movements in our state in which young people have played a leading role. As each walker shares his or her story, it touches everyone - even to those who do not agree with their demands. We believe that storytelling humanizes policies and is a powerful tool for transformation. The courage of the walkers as they challenge injustice, in spite of the risks they face as undocumented youth, has brought energy and inspiration to our work in North Carolina. We honor them by continuing our work building and strengthening local and statewide movements for immigrant justice, human and civil rights, and progressive social change. Adelante Education Coalition of North Carolina North Carolina Justice Center Reform Immigration FOR America Southern Coalition for Social Justice Student Action with Farmworkers

April 1, 2010: Triangle Community Welcomes Immigrant Students Walking the East Coast for Just Immigration Reform

Contact: Erin Krauss, UNC Graduate Student intern with Reform Immigration for America; (828) 273-0927 or Rebecca Fontaine, Southern Coalition for Social Justice, (781) 277-1314, Rebecca@SCSJ.org Durham, N.C. - Four immigrant students walking 1,500 miles from Miami, FL to Washington, D.C. will arrive in the Triangle this weekend as part of their "Trail of Dreams" to demand just immigration reform. Peers at UNC-Chapel Hill are hosting the group and immigration reform supporters will be walking with the students for parts of their journey.Several organizations are also hosting events and dinners to support the effort and the message. North Carolina, like other southern states, has seen a significant increase in deportations, workplace raids, and barriers to higher education for immigrant students. "We hope to share our own experiences as immigrant students with the larger community, and to explain the fear and pain that detentions and deportations cause within families," said Gaby Pacheco, one of the walkers. "We seek real solutions to fix our broken immigration system and to stop the deportation of students just like us who know the United States as their only home and want to make it prosperous for all." Pacheco and the other students: Felipe Matos, 23; Carlos Roa, 22; and Juan Rodriguez, 20, started their walk on January 1 to raise awareness about the need to reform the U.S. immigration system; they are expected to arrive in Washington, DC on May 1. The Triangle community will welcome the walkers by hosting a number of events to promote dialogue on the issue of immigration reform and access to education for all immigrant students. Saturday, April 3: Walk begins at 7:30am at the McDonald's at 105 E South St, Raleigh; lunch will be held at the Fruit of Labor World Cultural Center at 4200 Lake Ridge Dr. Monday, April 5: A 12:00 noon rally at the Wilson Library at UNC, then the walk kicks off at 1pm at the Franklin Street Post Office and ends at 5:30pm with a community dinner at CAARE, 214 Broadway St., in Durham. Ron Bilbao, chair of the North Carolina Coalition for College Access said, "The Dreamers are an inspiration. Their presence at UNC, the nation's first public university, shows their commitment to achieving educational access for all students. We welcome them with open arms." To follow and support the Trail of DREAMS' campaign, send a text message to: 3-0-6-4-4 with the word TRAIL. For more information and biographies on the Dream Walkers visit www.trail2010.org

Improving legal circumstances for those with no legal status

For Edwin Aly Ramirez of Greensboro, his first thought after being arrested on immigration charges was that he would never see his wife and three children again. Mr. Ramirez was asked about his status and arrested after he had gone to court to help translate for a friend. ”I thought I would never get to meet my newborn,” he said. That is the fear — and the daily reality — of 12 million people living in this country. They work in your office, clean your house, go to your school, and tomorrow, they might be gone. Undocumented immigrants do not have the same right to due process and a fair trial afforded U.S. citizens. If immigrants cannot post bond immediately after entering Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody, it can dramatically affect their case. Detainees are often accelerated into deportation proceedings, which are difficult to contest because they do not have the right to an attorney if they cannot afford one, face language barriers, and lack access to the documents they need to build their case while in custody. The Southern Coalition for Social Justice partnered with the National Immigrant Bond Fund to combat this injustice and pursue dignity and due process for immigrants. Since September, SCSJ has used the Bond Fund to help seven families, including Edwin’s, by providing zero interest matching loans to immigrants who cannot afford to pay full bond. The Fund may play only a small role in the overall fight for human rights, but it has a dramatic and tangible impact on immigrant families. “When immigrants are detained without being able to pay their bond, they are denied the ability to fully defend their right to stay in this country, which often unjustly results in their being deported without being able to see their families or tie up outstanding obligations,” said SCSJ staff attorney Marty Rosenbluth. Edwin chokes up when he recalls his relief at seeing his three children after being released on bond. “I just want them to have a good life; a good education.” For more information check out SCSJ’swebsite.

Ayudan a pagar fianzas de inmigración a extranjeros en Carolina del Norte

Charlotte (Carolina del Norte), 24 feb (EFE)- Un fondo creado con dinero de organizaciones privadas ha ayudado a varias familias a pagar parte de la fianza de inmigración de sus seres queridos para que disputen sus casos en los tribunales, se informó hoy. La Coalición de Justicia Social del Sureste (SCSJ), con sede en Durham, al norte del estado, y el Fondo Nacional de Fianzas de Inmigración, han proporcionado desde su creación en septiembre de 2009 siete préstamos sin intereses a familias inmigrantes. Carolina del Norte es uno de los estados del país con más programas 287 g y Comunidades Seguras en marcha, los cuales permiten la identificación de indocumentados en las cárceles locales y ha puesto en proceso de deportación a miles de hispanos. Marty Rosenbluth, abogado del SCSJ, dijo hoy en un comunicado que el fondo es una herramienta para combatir la "injusticia y desigualdad del sistema de inmigración". "Cuando los inmigrantes son detenidos sin poder pagar la fianza se les niega el derecho de defenderse para quedarse en el país lo que resulta en su deportación sin ver a sus familias y arreglar sus obligaciones", apuntó Rosenbluth. Según la organización, si un indocumentado no paga la fianza inmediatamente al ser detenido por el Servicio de Inmigración y Aduanas (ICE) sus posibilidades de tener acceso al sistema judicial son "pocas". Una vez en custodia de ICE, los detenidos comienzan el proceso de deportación que es muy difícil de impugnar por la falta de un abogado además de enfrentar otros obstáculos como desconocimiento del idioma y acceso a documentos para sustentar su caso. A diferencia de las fianzas en las cortes criminales, que puede cancelarse hasta el 10% del monto total, la de inmigración debe pagarse en efectivo y la cantidad completa. De no hacerse, resulta en el traslado inmediato del inmigrante a un centro de inmigración, que en la mayoría de los casos está ubicado fuera del lugar de su detención. Samuel, un inmigrante que no dio a conocer su apellido, dijo al SCSJ que una vez que ICE lo arrestó en Greensboro, al noreste del estado, fue transferido a la cárcel de inmigración en Stewart (Georgia). "Todo el mundo era como yo. Sin dinero y recursos. Nos trataron peor que a los criminales. Como si fuéramos animales", contó el inmigrante. El SCSJ enfatizó que al pagar la fianza, el indocumentado puede salir del centro de detención para arreglar con su familia su futura salida del país e inclusive tendría tiempo para vender sus propiedades. EFE av/cs