2. • Use the term
UNDOCUMENTED
• No person can be
illegal, only actions
are illegal
• Not a crime to be
undocumented
– Civil violation not
illegal, meaning no
criminal record
http://media.portland.indymedia.org/images/2007/06/360993.jpg
3. Reasons why people have immigrated
throughout U.S. History:
• Political freedom
• Religious tolerance
• Economic opportunities
• Political refugees
• Freedom
• Forced Immigration (slavery)
• Family reunification
(L. Samusenko, personal communication, April 8, 2010)
4. • MYTH: Immigrants don’t want to become
citizens.
• FACT: Many immigrants to the U.S. seek
citizenship even though the process is
extremely difficult, costly, and can take many
years.
http://wwu.aclu.org/immigrants-rights/immigration-myths-and-facts
5. Who are immigrants?
• http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2009/03/10/us
• Top Ten Countries Immigrate to U.S. (2009):
– Mexico 7.03 million
– El Salvador 570 thousand
– Guatemala 430 thousand
– Philippines 300 thousand
– Honduras 300 thousand
– Korea 240 thousand
– China 220 thousand
– Brazil 180 thousand
– Ecuador 170 thousand
– India 160 thousand
http://www.tburg.k12.ny.us/ms/ms%20images/immigration2.gif
7. • MYTH: Weak border enforcement has led to high
rates of undocumented immigration. We should
increase enforcement.
• FACT: Increase border control and fences have
done very little to reduce the flow of immigrants
across the border and is extremely costly. In
addition, the undocumented population has
increased due to the difficulty to return to
country of origin.
http://wwu.aclu.org/immigrants-rights/immigration-myths-and-facts
8. U.S Spending on Regulation of
$85
Immigration
billion
Cost of continuing
$285 enforcement over
billion a five-year period.
Total cost to
deport
the
undocumented $94 Billion estimated cost for
immigrant deportation of undocumented
population
and continue immigrants.
border
$200
interdiction
billion
and interior
Total cost to find
enforcement
and arrest, detain,
efforts over a
legally process,
five-year period
and transport the
(in
undocumented
2008 dollars).1
population over a
five-year period.
http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2010/03/pdf/cost_of_deportation_execsumm.pdf
9. Immigration costs to the U.S.
– MYTH: Immigrants have a negative impact on the
economy and the wages of citizens and take jobs
away from citizens.
– FACT: Immigration has a positive effect on the
American economy as a whole and on the income
of native-born workers.
http://wwu.aclu.org/immigrants-rights/immigration-myths-and-facts http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_js6Ecwn9hcM/R6ymiFPC18I/AAAAAAA
AAy8/VeaK4Gpd5RM/s320/money_management.jpg
10. • MYTH: Immigrants are a drain on U.S. social
services.
• FACT: Undocumented immigrants pay taxes
and social security, which contributes greatly
to public revenue. They will never get a return
until they become citizens. Immigrants pay
sales, income, and property taxes.
http://wwu.aclu.org/immigrants-rights/immigration-myths-and-facts
12. Current Immigration Policies
• How laws are enforced?
– Deportation methods
• Purpose:
– To control the number of non-
citizens allowed in U.S., why they
can be in country, who, and
duration of stay
• Alien Act 1798-1917
• McCarran-Walter Act of 1952
– Posed current immigration law
structure
– Created quota system based on
nationality
– Set up deportation procedure
http://webb.nmu.edu/InternationalPrograms/Images/Immigrationcrop.jpg
13. Current Immigration Policies
• The Governing Law Arizona Immigration Law SB1070 of
– Who is immigrant, who is citizen 2010
– Who can enter country from Defines any undocumented
abroad person a “trespasser”
Law enforcement have legal
– Determine Visa administration
right to ask for documentation if
– How immigrants maintain legal they suspect an immigration
status status: “if reasonable
– Which immigrants can become suspicion exists that the
permanent residents or person is an alien who is
naturalized citizens unlawfully present in the U.S”
– Which immigrants can be Any offender will be turned over
removed to ICE for deportation
– Who qualifies as refugee or
asylum
14. Why comprehensive immigration
reform is needed?
• Recession + Immigrants = Economy
Stimulation
– Save on detention and deportation fees
– New legal immigrants will pay more
fees, fines, and become greater tax-
payers
– Congressional Budget Office estimate
Treasury revenue $44 Billion net
increase over 10 years
• Decrease violence at border regions
and decrease drug trafficking
• Create stronger U.S.-Latin American
relations and end shameful treatment
of Latin workers in U.S. and abroad
• Lessen racism in government and
American society
15. • MYTH: Immigrants, particularly Latino
immigrants, don’t want to learn English.
• FACT: Immigrants, including Latino
immigrants, understand that it is necessary to
learn English in order to succeed in the U.S.
and will need to know it for work.
http://wwu.aclu.org/immigrants-rights/immigration-myths-and-facts
16. Comprehensive reform cont.
• DREAM Act 2009:
– The Development, Relief, and
Education for Alien Minors.
– Allows undocumented students to
gain citizenship after completing
higher education or 2 years of
military service.
– Within 6 years of applying for the
program
• HB 1079
– Low income undocumented students
could qualify for state financial aid
• HB 1706:
– Expanding resident student eligibility
for purposes of the state need grant
program
(R. Guillen, personal communication, May 8, 2010)
17. • MYTH: Immigrants bring crime to our cities and
towns.
• FACT: Immigrants are far less likely to commit
crimes because of increased chances of detainment
and deportation if caught. Even though
undocumented populations have increased in the
U.S., crime rates have decreased significantly.
http://wwu.aclu.org/immigrants-rights/immigration-myths-and-facts
18. Detention Centers/Deportation Ethics
• Where are the well-known
centers?
– Puerto Rico
– Colorado
– Florida
– New York
– California
– Texas
– Arizona
– Georgia
– Washington
http://media.portland.indymedia.org/images/2009/10/394780.jpg
• North West
Detention
Center Tacoma
Contract Detention
Facility
• 1500 beds
19. Detention Centers cont.
• Business of the centers
– Organizations are privatized
• Make profit from number of detainees
• U.S. citizen tax money supports privatized detention centers
• Obstruction of rights of immigrants:
– Unaware of reasons being detained
– Not read Rights in corresponding language
– Inadequate access to attorney representation
• Ethical Violations
– Inadequate health care
– Insufficient nutritious food and living conditions
– Language barriers
• ICE
– Use criminal enforcement and detention
– Immigration Customs Enforcement
– There are more than 30,000 detainees and more than 200 facilities in the U. S.
20. Local Agencies
– www.foodjustice.org
– Aguila del Norte Immigrant
Justice Program: – www.ccsww.org
• Works with immigrant leaders, local
organizations, elected officials, and – Immigrant Services Include:
law enforcement to provide • Family reunification
immigrant support. • Citizenship/naturalization
• Humane immigration reform • Adjustments of status (Green Cards)
• Education for civil and human rights • Travel documents
• Employment authorization
• Green Card replacement
• Mock interviews
• Education/Awareness
Student Coalition for Immigration Rights • Multilingual staff
• WWU community organization and allies.
• Brings attention to DREAM act and positive
social, political, and economic matters
• Support for undocumented students
21. National/State Agencies
• www.aclu-wa.org
•American Immigration Lawyers
• Mission: “We work to protect
freedoms of speech and religion, Association: WA Chapter
equality, privacy, and fair treatment • Non-profit organization of over
by government, the rights guaranteed 10,000 attorneys and law
to us by the U.S. Constitution.” professors who practice and
• Immigration Services: teach immigration law
– Legal information •Represent foreign individuals
– Coaching to assert own rights and families to gain residence
– Advocate services
– Referrals
– Support
22. How this applies to you!!
• “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell”
• What kind of legal and ethical obligations do
you have if you know that an undocumented
immigrant is seeking services from your
agency?