This week’s immigration roundup will cover comprehensive immigration reform, detentions, and more.
Today there will be a meeting at the White House on immigration reform. You can submit your questions for the Reform Immigration FOR America folks to ask Secretary Janet Napolitano here.
Last Monday, about 150 faith leaders gathered to set an agenda to encourage debate of immigration reform in their congregations and convince Congress to pass it.
A report by the Center for Trade and Policy Studies found that legalization of low-skilled immigrants would economically benefit American workers. Migra Matters blogs about the “two tiered caste system” that values skilled over unskilled immigrants that may be proposed. Such a system would facilitate recruitment of skilled workers who can gain permanency, while unskilled workers would be “tolerated” as guest workers or under temporary status. Migra Matters argues that such a system is “not only morally vacant ..But contrary to a common sense approach to immigration reform…How can the worth of those who provide your food, build your homes, or care for your youngest and oldest, be of any less value than that of those who work in any other fields.”
Reinforcing the need for immigration reform, ICE disclosed 10 previously unreported deaths at immigrant detention centers, bringing the total to 104 deaths since 2003. The alternatives to detention are significantly cheaper, according to a recent Amnesty International report.
In San Francisco, a measure was passed to prevent underaged undocumented immigrants suspected of a crime from being handed over to ICE until they are found guilty. Angela Chan of the Asian Law Caucus said, “This would be the first city to use this kind of a strategy–requiring due process for youth before they’re referred to ICE.” Sandra Fewer of the city Board of Education also said that the measure corrects “the wrong way of working with our juveniles who might have gotten into trouble.”
Lastly, here is a report on immigration-related activities at last week’s Netroots Nation Convention by Robert Gittelson.
