VivirLatino

It’s been about two weeks since the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the White House made an announcement that is being (purposely) interpreted as a victory and something to be thankful for by many in the immigrant advocacy movement(s).

DHS announced the eventual (time frame please) creation of a panel that will allegedly review the approximately 300,000 currently active deportation cases. The panel will separate those cases into two categories : high priority and low priority (no word on how that determination will be made). DHS will then allegedly suspend the deportations of the low priority cases, focusing instead on the same “dangerous” and “bad” immigrants allegedly targeted by Secure Communities. But don’t worry, those who have their cases suspended will not get green cards or even work permits. They will be able to live in the same shadow they always have, just without a deportation process.

Yay?

On a call that I was on two nights ago sponsored by Reform Immigration for America (RI4A), Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles (CHIRLA), featuring Congressman Luis Gutierrez (perhaps you were reading my angry tweets), “Victory” was the buzzword. While it was made clear that there was no process to apply for and that people should not put themselves in deportation in order to have their case reviewed (a call I saw some making in the days immediately following the announcement), the DHS press release (because really that is all it is until panel is formed and procedures are established) was hailed as an answer to “our” demands.

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