2006 press releases

Congress is trying to expand the government's powers to detain, deport and criminalize immigrant families without a fair process. These powers are already too broad and have devastated countless immigrant families. This community hearing will feature speakers highlighting their personal stories of harsh detention conditions, the impact on U.S. citizen children whose parents are unfairly detained or deported, and harsh consequences of our broken immigration system.

Washington, DC - In response to Congress' immigration field hearings, the Liberty & Justice for All campaign coordinators will host three community forums about the impact of current immigration proposals. Campaign leaders including Hate Free Zone Washington (Seattle, WA), the National Network for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (Oakland, CA), and the Arab Community Center for Economic and Social Services (Dearborn, MI) will hold the forums in mid-August (August 15-17, 2006). The forums will occur in Bellingham (WA), Detroit (MI), and Arizona.

The Rights Working Group, in collaboration with local partners, will hold a telephonic press conference to highlight the impact of provisions in the Hagel-Martinez compromise immigration bill on American families. Of great concern are provisions that will further expand the government's power to erode the civil liberties and human rights of immigrants and American families.

SPEAKERS:

Media Advisory (April 25, 2006): Provisions within the immigration bills that would erode basic rights for everyone in America, while also erecting barriers to legalization, have not yet made significant headlines in the broader debate. It is important to highlight these issues as negotiations continue.

The immigration bills raise serious concerns about civil liberties, due process and the basic implementation of legalization. The harmful provisions would: