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Protests Against Secure Communities Sham Task Force Continue While ICE Tries to Cover It’s Lies

10:48 am By Maegan La Mala · chicago|Immigration|Secure Communities · 1 Comment

18 Aug 2011

As the Secure Communities task force circus continues it’s national tour, assuring people that they are listening as they deport people, the protests continue and are escalating.

Yesterday in Chicago, following the trend started at the Los Angeles S-Comm task force meeting, there was a massive walk out. Following the walk out, while the “meeting” continued inside with some giving testimony as to the local impact of the deportation policy, 6 undocumented youth were arrested in acts of civil disobedience. All of the undocumented youth who were part of the action have been released, along with 3 supporters who were also detained by police.

Court ordered documents released earlier this week include acknowledgement by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) attorneys that they would have to “rewrite” memos on whether the program is mandatory for states and localities and revealed schisms between the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on the right of states and localities to opt out of the program.

Today ICE will be back in court today arguing it should be able to keep secret documents relating to the agency’s purported legal basis to impose S-Comm on unwilling states like Massachusetts, Illinois and New York.

More Actions/Voices Against Secure Communities : Today in Boston, Chicago, Houston, Miami

16 Aug 2011

As I wrote yesterday, the actions and voices against Secure Communities grow louder. Today there are at least six actions planned targeting President Obama and the Democratic Party as the continue to lie and pass the blame onto the Republicans while pushing over a million deportations. Some organizations are calling today a National Day of Action Against Secure Communities. See if you can find and event near you and stay tuned for reports from the protests as they come in.

• CHICAGO, IL press conference & rally at 11:25 AM: Obama’s national campaign headquarters, One Prudential Plaza 130 E. Randolph St, Chicago, ILL
• HOUSTON, TX at 11:00 AM: Harris County Democratic Party, 1445 North Loop, Ste. 110, Houston, TX
• BOSTON, MS at 1:30 PM: Massachusetts Democratic Party , 77 Summer St. 10th Floor, Boston MA
• MIAMI, FL at 3:00 PM: Miami Dade Democratic Party, 801 Arthur Godfrey Rd., Miami Beach, FL
• ATLANTA at 11:00 AM: Democratic Party Georgia Headquarters, 763 Trabert Ave., Atlanta, GA
• CHARLOTTE, NC at 2:00 PM: Mecklenburg County Democratic Party, 500 E Morehead St # 106, Charlotte, NC

Illinois DREAMer Released from ICE Custody but Not Safe From Deportation

12:59 pm By Maegan La Mala · chicago|DREAM Act|Immigration · Comments Off

19 Jul 2011

26 year old Marcelo Castañeda Llamas, an Illinois DREAMer, was scheduled to be deported yesterday. The good news is that he wasn’t. He was instead released yesterday but that is where the good news ends. Marcelo still has a final deportation order which means if he is detained again he could be deported- at any time.

Marcelo has lived in the US since he was 9 years old. He was born in Mexico. On July 12, Marcelo’s family member contacted the police in Illinois to assist her in getting into her locked car. The police opened the car door, but then they also arrested Marcelo and turned him over to ICE without filing any criminal charges or claiming that he had committed any crime. There was a prior order of deportation, not because he had committed any crime but because Marcelo missed an appointment (how many of you have missed an appointment?).

While Marcelo is with his family now, without deferred action and his case being reopened, that unity is at risk. According to the memo released last month by the head of ICE, John Morton, Marcelo should qualify for deferred action. However, to date, requests for a stay and deferred action have been denied.

You can sign a petition in support of Marcelo here.

DREAMs Come Out of the Shadows in Chicago

4 Apr 2011

This past, March 10th, young people, many whom would be eligible for the DREAM Act (if politicians would just get it passed already), came out of the shadows and declared their immigration status, without fear and without apologies.

The following is a video from the “Coming Out of the Shadows” rally in Chicago, organized by the Youth Justice League.

The film moved me to tears, and I was really appreciative of how it showed the diversity of the young people involved in the struggle for the DREAM Act.

If you want to support these youth or want to learn how to get involved. Visit the Youth Justice League online or email them at info@iyjl.org.

Day of Action for DREAM Act

10:30 am By Maegan La Mala · chicago|DREAM Act|Immigration|youth · 12 Comments

7 Dec 2010

As expected, yesterday Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid filed cloture on the DREAM Act, moving things along for a vote tomorrow.

Today across the country there are actions in support of the DREAM Act. In Chicago, today’s action focuses on the psychological impact that being undocumented often has on young people following the suicide of a young DREAMer.

A DREAM DEFERRED A LIFE DENIED
Undocumented youth talk about suicide, mental health and the DREAM Act, in memory of those who took their lives because their dreams and futures were denied.

Tuesday, December 07, 2010
12:00 PM, Federal Plaza

From Reyna Wences, Immigrant Youth Justice League

“I graduated in June of 2009, a day after my graduation I attempted suicide because I was tired, because I did not want to tell my mom we’d have to pay for my education out of our own pocket. And when schools gave me scholarships I didn’t want to put her through the pain of telling me that we still couldn’t afford it. That’s when a funeral started to look less expensive than 4-years of education at the school of my choice. I’ve decided to come out about this because every day that passes by without addressing this is another day another student is probably thinking the same and I don’t want that anymore.

“I know that for the past months we’ve worked under an unpredictable legislative schedule and it has come down to this: a vote in the House and Senate as early as next week. I know that this is something that some of us have experienced, or thought about, and I can only imagine how many other undocumented people there are just like us, who need hope and inspiration. And others need to realize that this is what fighting for DREAM is about, fighting for our lives.”

Reyna Wences,
Immigrant Youth Justice League

If you are undocumented and someone who has thought about, or attempted suicide, or even if you know of someone who has, will you work with us to write and tell your story? Please contact iyjleague@gmail.com.

VL Libros: Lady Q: The Rise And Fall Of A Latin Queen

2 Aug 2010

***Trigger Warning***

When my homegirl Nilki asked me if I’d like to review the book Lady Q: The Rise And Fall Of A Latin Queen, I said “of course!” It’s rare when our stories are told in general, especially in book form, and specifically as testimonio. What is also a rarity is hearing from Latinas who are involved or associated with gangs in the US. Often there is this idea that we should not hear such stories because it gives “us a bad name.” Or such narratives focus on such a negative aspect of our community. My opinion is that there is positive, there is negative, there is struggle and redemption and all of those stories must be shared, heard, and valued.

I received a free copy of the book for review through the Condor Book Tour, and I must say as a disclaimer that the opinions expressed in this review are mine alone.

Before I begin this review I must state my bias: I do not see all gangs as negative aspects or parts of communities. I have worked with youth for over two decades and in that time have worked directly with youth involved or associated with various gangs. In that work I’ve learned a lot about my own social justice agenda, ways to mentor youth, and how to help young people learn about self-determination without lecturing, bullying or judging them.
Read more…

But Puerto Ricans Aren’t Immigrants Right? Rican in Chicago Almost Deported

12:03 pm By Maegan la Mamita Mala · chicago|Immigration|Puerto Rico · 8 Comments

28 May 2010

This goes out to all of those Latinos comfortable in their privilege, all of those who say that the “legal” Latinos have nothing to worry about, all of those who are offended when they are called Mexican.

Last week, a Puerto Rican born U.S. citizen, 32 year old Eduardo Caraballo, arrested on criminal charges was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (I.C.E) for being undocumented.

Young Women Organizing Themselves

8:07 pm By la Macha · chicago · 1 Comment

19 Apr 2010

From Incite! Blog, comes this really important update on the Young Women’s Empowerment Project, who recently got interviewed by Chicago Public Radio.

Young Women’s Empowerment Project (YWEP) recently released their findings from a participatory action research project entitled, , “Girls do what they have to do to survive: Illuminating Methods used by Girls in the Sex Trade and Street Economy to Fight Back and Heal.” YWEP is a youth leadership organization grounded in harm reduction and social justice organizing by and for girls and young women (ages 12-23) impacted by the sex trade and street economies, and is run by girls and women with life experience in the sex trade and street economies. YWEP members were interviewed about their research by Chicago Public Radio program, Eight Forty-Eight, who posted a podcast of the interview.

The most startling thing I heard on the podcast:

I would say for us, the surprises in the data were about how much people were being denied help from institutions. And by help, we don’t mean rescue or saving. We mean, I need stitches. We don’t mean, save me from the street. We mean, give me a hug, or I need to file a report against this person. We’re not even talking about elaborate forms of life changing help, we’re talking about really simple emergency intervention type care that was really shocking to hear how infrequently girls were being successful in getting that help from systems.

So young women and girls can not even get emergency help when they have problems like needing stitches. This is not just heartbreaking, but absolutely infuriating. Can you imagine being a teenager, getting the shit kicked out of you, and then not even able to get help from the local clinic or hospital?

Does anybody else besides me see how impossible the “Pull yourself up by your bootstraps” dictum really is?

Listen to the whole podcast here!

Vigils for Justice y en Memoria de Jorge Steven Lopez Mercado

19 Nov 2009

georgestevenmercado1-233x300 There are a number of vigils that will be happening this coming weekend across the U.S. and in Puerto Rico demanding justice and in memory of Jorge Steven . I will be at the one in NYC this coming Sunday (local VL’ers hit me up if you want to come with or meet up).

As soon as more information comes in I will update this post. If you have information about a vigil in your community please leave a comment or email us at info@vivirlatino.com

Amherst
Monday November 23, 2009
6:30 pm
Food for Thought Books
106 North Pleasant Street
Bay Area
Sunday, November 22nd, 2009
3:30 pm
Mac Arthur and Grand Ave. at Lake Merritt
CONTACT: Leah Lakshmi Piepzna-Samarasinha, Liz Latty
PHONE: (510) 282-5223
EMAIL: morethanavigil@gmail.com

Chicago
Sunday, November 22nd, 2009
4-6 pm
Humboldt Park

Los Angeles
Sunday, November 22nd, 2009
8pm-9:30 pm
West Hollywood Corner of Santa Monica and San Vicente

New York City
Sunday, November 22nd, 2009
7-9 pm
Hudson Pier 45 at Christopher Street

Philadelphia
Sunday, November 22nd, 2009
7 pm
Love Park 15th and Arch

Washington D.C.
Sunday, November 22nd, 2009
5-6:30pm
Dupont Circle, Washington D.C.
For more information contact Rayyan 410-530-6078.

People are also post vigil information from across the U.S on this facebook page.

Mas on the Young Lords Party

6:28 am By Maegan la Mamita Mala · chicago|history|New York City|Puerto Rico · Comments Off

25 Aug 2009

I would have liked to see more of the mujeres of the Young Lords Party represented here, pero a good video none the less that I think especially points to the power of grassroots organizing by the people.

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