12:17 pm By la Macha · GLBT| Health| Immigration| Women · 1 Comment
17 Nov 2009As horrified as I was to watch this video of Esmeralda speaking about her experiences in immigration detention prisons, I am so glad that she is speaking out. For so long, sexual violence against women in detention prisons has been the secret people don’t talk about. Or if they do, it’s (justifiably so) with pseudonyms or only found out about after a newspaper reporter manages to dig around enough.
This horror–the horror that specifically targets immigrant women in detention, is not new, it’s not unusual, it happens all the time. Women locked in little cells, many times with their children, and then forced to submit to the will of guards who promise extra blankets or play time for the kids, or most times, nothing at all.
Please watch Esmeralda’s testimonio (but be forewarned, there is lots of triggering stories!!!)
Esmeralda: A Transgender Detainee Speaks Out from Breakthrough on Vimeo.
It’s important to also point out that Esmeralda faced sexual violence that other women did not specifically because she is transgendered. So, even though she is a woman, she was put in prison with men. The U.S. government (not sure about Mexico), recognizes only the gender that is legally given to a person upon their birth, and as such when there are no transgendered facilities (which are bad enough because they segregate trans people from general populations as if they have a disease or something, talk about stigma!!!), trans women and men are often forced to stay in facilities meant for the opposite sex. Which makes already vulnerable women without citizenship papers or other legal representation even more vulnerable. If it’s nearly impossible to report guards, how on earth can women report fellow detainees who hurt her? Not to mention what happens if she has a period or needs other reproductive services while in a prison that functions for men’s needs?
These prisons (AND, please be aware, the U.S. prison system in general! These abuses are not particular to detention prisons!!!!) are a violation of human rights and dignity–and are one of the main reasons why I support calls for immigration reform (even as I work towards something more radical). The abuse is so horrific and so violent, we can not wait until there is something more radical in place to stop the violence. And doing nothing is an even worse idea. Please see restorefairness.org for how you can help!
Video found via Facebook
12:56 pm By la Macha · Detriot| Immigration · 1 Comment
16 Nov 2009One thing I love about writing on the Vivir Latino blog is that for probably the first time in my life, I have instant access to a wide range of Latino opinions and perspectives. Living in the U.S. Midwest is an often an isolating and solitary experience.
But one of the things I noticed about Vivir Latino is that it often focuses on the NYC experiences of Latin@s. Which is essential and vitally important! But I’ve been thinking that since I am from the Midwest, it’d be really great to use the platform that VL provides to start highlighting what’s happening with those of us who live in the Midwest!
One of the first things to note about politicized Latin@s in the Midwest is that very often there simply isn’t enough of us to do much “Latin@” based organizing. That is, we can’t organize huge parades (for example) like the folks out in California can–there simply isn’t enough of us.
So very often, we spend a lot of time organizing with other groups that are either dealing with the same sense of isolation or who are bigger and have more resources. For Latin@s in my area, this usually means hooking up with Arab and/or black communities.
Which means we spend a lot of time listening and learning. Not that we’ll ever know what it’s like to be Arab and/or black–but more that there are similarities and differences between communities that may lead to productive ways of allying together.
And one of the ways we “speak” when working together is through art. We may not understand each others languages, but how our art speaks volumes:
Dar Films Production © presents the first Palestinian Animation film. Inspired from a true story, Fatenah، a Palestinian woman who lives in Gaza Strip. Her simple wishes were her consolation in the absurd living situation around her. But when she discovers a lump near her breast, she will start a journey to save her dreams.
Directed and Animated by: Ahmad Habash
Executive Producer: Saed Andoni
Music: Said Murad
Editing: Saed Andoni
D.O.P: Ahmad Habash
Again, although the experience of Palestinians and Chican@s is not the same, it doesn’t have to be. And it actually makes us stronger that it’s not. In what ways can we in the Midwest be a part of creating an even stronger and more nuanced critical analysis of immigration–simply by sharing our stories with each other?
Are you a Latin@ from the Midwest? Or with a group that has organized with Latin@s in the Midwest? I’d love to hear your experiences in comments!
12:18 pm By Maegan la Mamita Mala · Immigration| Justice| New York| Violence| crime · 3 Comments
5 Nov 2009
There is much remembering that one year ago the United States elected it’s first person of color president. The U.S. was overwhelmed with bold, bright promises of hope and change. People wept, and I was among them. The start of the Obama era marked the end of the Bush era and hopefully would mean policy changes that would directly impact the everyday lives of all people pero yes, for people of color and immigrants there was a special hope. Hope that immigration reform that would keep all families together and value the lives of people who live and work in the shadows and out in the open.
But then something happened that many thought wasn’t supposed to happen anymore. Weren’t we post-racial? Days after Barack Obama became the president-elect a group of teenagers in Patchogue, Long Island, NY hung out doing what they did about once a week. “Beaner jumping”. That’s what they called it when they went out looking for anyone who looked Latino (they don’t care what kind of “beaner” you are) so they could assault them. That night the young men were out for blood though and they killed Marcelo Lucero.
Read more…
6:13 am By Maegan la Mamita Mala · Bilingualism| Immigration| Media| Politics| language| media justice · No Comments
28 Oct 2009It’s not just immigration that is being criminalized as some people have commented. Any trace of Latinidad deems people as targets for varying forms of harassment ranging from traffic stops, to tickets, to jails, to beat downs, to deaths. While some think that skin color alone can “mark” someone as other, and in this case Latino, language and varying levels of accents also brand. Just look at how much time is spent in this discussion on Latino in America on the issue of assimilation, acculturation and the role of language.
The issue always is how can you speak Spanish and still assimilate/aculturate with the ultimate goal seemingly being not being labeled/identified/called out as “other”. If you are going to insist on speaking Spanish then for everyone’s sake do it at home, where no one else can see or hear you or else face the consequences:
Let us not forget that we started 2009 with someone getting physically attacked while having a cell phone conversation in Spanish.
Sometimes we don’t even need language. Just having a name that could remind someone that you are Latino is enough to get you fired.
2:03 pm By la Macha · Immigration · 1 Comment
19 Oct 2009This video explains what is going on to immigrant youth in San Francisco. In short, they’re being deported without due process:
There will be a rally tomorrow at 2PM in San Francisco! If you’re there, let us know how it went!
4:53 pm By Maegan la Mamita Mala · Immigration| Justice| Politics · Comments Off
17 Oct 2009
Yesterday, the Department of Homeland Security announced that it had entered into revised 287(g) pacts with 67 local and state law enforcement agencies. Despite the fact that many organizations, from this little Latino space in the blogmundo to the United Nations, have been critical of the program that empowers police to identify and remove undocumented immigrants, the “new and improved” 287(g) allegedly is “friendlier” (when have you known law enforcement to be friendly) and “race neutral” (is that like post-racial). The new Memorandums of Understanding (MOA’s), which haven’t been made public so they cannot be compared with the old MOA’s, allegedly include more oversight and state that the participating agencies have to focus on “serious” criminals and promise to follow civil rights and constitutional laws (no one checked if the signers had their fingers crossed behind their back).
Read more…
9:48 am By Maegan la Mamita Mala · Immigration| Politics · Comments Off
13 Oct 2009Today is supposed to be a big day for the immigration reform movement(s). It is being called a National Day of Action organized , with some events already having taken place and more planned for today including people meeting with members of Congress and a vigil on the West Lawn of the Capitol, calling for family unity. That is the theme of today, la familia and keeping it together in the face of a politic and policy that seeks to weaken togetherness. Leading the charge politically is Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-IL), who will propose his own immigration reform bill this month.
2:51 pm By Maegan la Mamita Mala · Family| Immigration| Nashville| Women| children · 1 Comment
7 Oct 2009It reads like a bad novela if it weren’t the real nightmare that so many families are living in the United States. First, Maria Gurrola is violently attacked and her newborn, Yair Anthony Carillo, is abducted by a woman claiming to be an ICE agent. Then, once reunited with her baby, Maria lost Yair and her other three children, this time to State authorities who cited vague “safety issues”.
Yesterday, the petition to remove the children from the home was withdrawn and Gurrola has been reunited with all of her children.
Tuesday’s hearing was planned at Juvenile Court to discuss allegations that the family may have known of a plot to sell the baby for $25,000. Court documents did not detail who made the allegations.
Metro police spokesman Don Aaron released a press release saying that Metro police agree that the children should be returned to the parents after extensive interviews by Metro, TBI and the FBI over the last day. All the agencies are in agreement, he said.
“At this time, (authorities) do not believe the parents, Maria Gurrola and Jose Carrillo, are involved,” Aaron said. “Significant unanswered questions remain, however, including why Gurrola and her newborn son were chosen by alleged kidnapper, Tammy Renee Silas. Statements made to law enforcement by Silas are part of the continuing investigation.”
Now if only all the babies can be reunited with their mothers, like Cirila and Angeline.
Via / USA Today
1:10 pm By la Macha · Bilingualism| Education| Immigration| children · 6 Comments
7 Oct 2009One of my biggest pet peeves about anti-immigration pro-nativist rhetoric is how it has created this universal idea in U.S. culture about what “stupid” really is, especially in the area of language. Specifically, if you don’t speak English, you are actually (among other things) stupid. Irritating logic to say the least, but somewhat understandable how easily racism can twist lack of comprehension into stupidity.
What is beyond fathomable–what just destroys my faith in humanity every time I hear it, is the idea that being *bilingual* (or speaking more than one language), means you are stupid. Or “lagging behind.” Or somehow unable to keep up with the world or simply unprepared for life.
Witness: This very interesting clip from CNN that showcases a white family that decided to send their white children to a school that teaches it’s kids in Spanish. Which means that the kids are fluently bilingual before they graduate.
Notice how many times the reporter let us know that the kids are not “lagging behind?” And that there is a waiting list to get into the school? And that, holy Jesus, it’s actually a GOOD thing to know more? That when you know more, you are actually SMARTER?
I’ve said it a thousand times, and I’ll say it again here. Only in the Good Ol’ U.S. of A. could the population be so blinded by racism that we actually refuse to be educated in the attempt to ‘be smart.”
Only here could we honestly take pride in and form a national identity around ignorance.
12:25 pm By la Macha · Family| Immigration| children · Comments Off
6 Oct 2009Remember Maria Gurrolla of Nashville, Tennessee? The woman whose son was kidnapped by a woman posing as an ICE agent? Well, in what has to be described as the most inane bullshit that could only happen in the good ol’ U.S.A., William Bennet let’s us know in comments that Gurrolla got her son back, only to lose him AND HER THREE OTHER CHILDREN in the same day.
A kidnapped newborn is safe in foster care and an Alabama woman suspected of taking him is in custody, but investigators say the case of 4-day-old Yair Anthony Carillo is far from closed.
Among the questions still unanswered are whether a woman who posed as an immigration agent and stabbed the baby’s mother was working alone and why state child welfare workers took the baby and three siblings into custody shortly after the family was reunited.
Child welfare officials would say only that Maria Gurrolla’s children were placed in foster care for “safety” reasons. The department said in a statement Monday that a juvenile court hearing is expected in Nashville Tuesday.
…
He said the caseworkers saw something in this situation that made them concerned enough that they felt the safest thing to do was find a foster home for the children. He declined to say what caseworkers were concerned about or whether complaints had been filed against the family.
He said most of the time when DCS takes children, they are eventually returned and the agency always explains to the family what they can do to regain custody.
I wonder what it was that made the caseworkers feel “concern” about. Was it, as was the case with Cirila Baltazar Cruz, that the mother couldn’t speak English? Or, did a family member, as the AP is reporting, attempt to sell the baby?
Sources familiar with the case of a kidnapped Tennessee newborn tell The Associated Press that the boy and three siblings are in foster care after allegations that a family member tried to sell the infant.
The thing about cases like this, is that you never can know for sure. ICE *has* stolen babies from their birth parents for no other reason than English not being a first language in the home. Ex-partners *have* hired people to pose as ICE agents to scare and intimidate women they think still “belong” to them. There is no singular-agreed-upon-written-out-in-multiple-languages method for the government taking children from parents who are in the country without proper documentation.
Terror fuels the government led war against immigrants, and it’s tearing families apart, leaving women stabbed and without their children, and immigrant families criminalized when they are the legitimate victims. I am not a big fan of reform, but if reform at least gets a set singular process in place for ICE agents who are removing children to do so–sweet Jesus, let’s get moving.
No mother, no child, no human being should have to live with this terror hanging over their heads.
VivirLatino is a daily publication published by 2 Mujeres Media, dedicated to featuring all the latest politics, culture, entertainment of interest to the diverse and influential Latino and Latina community in the U.S.
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