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Florida Immigrant Coalition
E-News!
March 1,
2005
Volume 4, Number 40
“People working together
for fair treatment of Florida’s Immigrants”
E-News! is
an electronic bulletin for Coalition members and others concerned with issues
affecting Florida’s immigrants. The Coalition is a program of Florida
Immigrant Advocacy Center (FIAC). Feel free to redistribute.
*E-NEWS! CONTENTS*:
COALITION IMMOKALEE
WORKERS AND TACO BELL AGREE TO END BOYCOTT
On March 8,
2005, the Coalition of Immokalee Workers (CIW) ended its three-year boycott of
Taco Bell and its parent company, Yum Brands, when the company agreed to pay
one-penny more per pound of tomatoes from Florida. Taco Bell secured an
agreement with its Florida tomato suppliers to ensure that the extra penny will
go directly to farm workers. The company also agreed to include new human
rights language in its code of conduct for suppliers. The boycott’s
success in a major inspiration for ongoing human and immigrant rights campaigns
across the United States. For more information and related articles see: www.ciw-online.org
www.palmbeachpost.com/news/content/news/epaper/2005/03/09/m1a_farmworker_0309.html
www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A18187-2005Mar8.html
www.courier-journal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050309/NEWS01/503090441
FLORIDA LEGISLATURE
WILL ADDRESS IMMIGRANT ISSUES
For the
third consecutive year the Florida Legislature will consider a bill that would
allow undocumented immigrant students to pay in-state tuition at state colleges
and universities. Similar bills in 2003 and 2004 unanimously passed the
Senate but did not pass the House. Representative Juan Zapata and Senator
Frederica Wilson will again sponsor the legislation, House Bill 119 and Senate
Bill 226. The 2005 legislative session officially begins on March
8. Other immigrant related legislation that may be addressed includes
driver’s licenses, KidCare access for immigrant children, and farmworker
transportation safety. Legislation to allow undocumented immigrants to
obtain driver’s licenses was expected to be filed, but pending federal
restrictions make state action uncertain. On February 2 the Miami-Dade
County Commission passed a resolution is support of state legislation that would
allow access to driver licenses. Immigrant and farmworker rights
organizations and activists will march through Tallahassee on March 30 to mark
Cesar Chavez’s birthday and to support these state and other federally pending
immigrant rights legislation. For more information about the march or how
to otherwise support this legislation contact Maria Rodriguez at
mrodriguez@fiacfla.org or 305-573-1106 x1160. To see the Miami-Dade
County resolution and in-state legislation go to:
www.flsenate.gov/session/index.cfm?BI_Mode=ViewBillInfo&Mode=Bills&SubMenu=1&Year=2005&billnum=226
www.co.miami-dade.fl.us/govaction/matter.asp?matter=043478&file=true&yearFolder=Y2004
ASYLUM AND DRIVER’S
LICENSES RESTRICTIONS PASS U.S. HOUSE
On February
10, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the “REAL ID Act.” The bill
proposes to severely restrict immigrant access to political asylum and driver’s
licenses. The legislation will now likely be attached to another bill
before being moved to the Senate for a vote. Florida Representatives
voted largely based along north-south geographic lines. Those who voted
against the legislation include Lincoln and Mario Diaz-Balart, Illeana
Ros-Lehtinen, Kendrick Meek, Debbie Wasserman-Schultz, Alcee Hastings, Robert
Wexler and Corrine Brown. Meek, Wasserman-Schultz and Hastings made
strong statements against the bill during the debate on the House floor.
President Bush issued a letter of support for the bill. Governor Jeb Bush
stated his opposition to the bill to the media. For more info see:
www.immigrationforum.org/DesktopDefault.aspx?tabid=713
www.bradenton.com/mld/bradenton/news/local/10871208.htm
www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/local/10871492.htm
www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/opinion/10851079.htm
www.stateline.org/stateline/?pa=story&sa=showStoryInfo&id=432046
NELSON AND MARTINEZ COSPONSOR
AGJOBS
The AgJobs
farm worker legislation was reintroduced into the 109th Congress in
February. Both Florida Senators, Bill Nelson and Mel Martinez have signed
onto the bill as cosponsors. The bill offers an earned legalization
program for farm workers and their families and substantially expands and
modifies the existing H-2A guest worker program. At a February 24 press
conference in Tallahassee, Florida Agriculture Commissioner Charles Bronson,
Orlando Bishop Thomas Wenski and representatives from the Florida’s
agricultural industry and farm worker organizations spoke in favor of the
bill. Bishop Wenski wrote a supportive op-ed in the Orlando Sentinel on
February 23. To see the op-ed and related information and articles go to:
www.fwjustice.org/IMAGES/AgJOBS/AgJOBS05brief.pdf
http://news.tbo.com/news/MGBB584JA5E.html
www.naplesnews.com/npdn/news/article/0,2071,NPDN_14940_3574540,00.html
www.naplesnews.com/npdn/business/article/0,2071,NPDN_14901_3570758,00.html
www.news-journalonline.com/NewsJournalOnline/Business/Headlines/03BusinessBIZ03022505.htm
U.K. AND SPAIN GO
OPPOSITE WAYS ON NEW IMMIGRATION POLICIES
In January
2005, Spain and U.K. both enacted significant new immigration policies.
Spain’s will allow about 800,000 undocumented immigrants to obtain legal
status. Applicants must prove they have residence for at least six
months, have a job and no criminal record. In 2004, Italy, Belgium,
France and Portugal enacted similar legalization programs. U.K.’s new law
goes the opposite way by eliminating a previous policy that granted permanent
residency to immigrants who lived in the country for four years. The new
system will favor high-income and “professional” immigrants. U.K. also
changed its asylum system to grant asylees work permission for five years
rather than permanent residency. For more information see: www.ipsterraviva.net/Europe/article.aspx?id=1408
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4242411.stm
http://news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=4102816
*COALITION UPDATE*
FLORIDA IMMIGRANT COALITION MEMBER HIGHLIGHT
WeCount!,
multi-cultural, grassroots organization in Homestead (south of Miami) voted to
join the Florida Immigrant Coalition during their immigration committee meeting
on February 27th. WeCount! has been instrumental in supporting
access to drivers licenses, facilitating a county resolution in favor of
drivers licenses for undocumented drivers and provided leadership in the SAFER
coalition. WeCount! also mobilizes the community around the improvement
of schools. Their meetings are held on Wednesday and Sunday
evenings. For information contact Jon or Mark at 305-247-9693 or
jonathanf@hscdade.org
SPECIAL THANKS
Special
acknowledgement and thanks to David Skovholt for having so aptly lead the
Florida Immigrant Coalition during the last 3 years. A special
recognition was done to David during the International Migrants Day Forum in
December. Although now in Minnesota, David is still employed part time
and is instrumental in securing resources for the coalition and supporting its
campaigns. David will be joining us in Tallahassee on March 30th
and in September at the Coaltion’s Annual Meeting.
NEW DIRECTOR
Welcome to
Maria Rodriguez as the new Director of the Florida Immigrant Coalition. Maria
is well acquainted with the Coalition, having served on the Steering Committee
in 2004. For the last 15 years she has been organizing and advocating for
healthcare as a human right and for the rights of low and no income
individuals. Previously she was Deputy Director of the Human Services
Coalition and administrator for the Good News Care Center, a free healthcare
clinic in Florida City. Please contact her and let her know how you’d
like to work with FLIC. She can be reached at mrodriguez@fiacfla.org
KUDOS
Thanks goes
to Miami-Dade County commissioner Katy Sorenson who endorsed and successfully
passed a County commission resolution in favor of driver’s licenses for
undocumented drivers. You can send her a thank you email at
District8@miamidade.gov
*FUTURE EVENTS*
MARCH 10, HUMAN
TRAFFICING WORKSHOP, PLANTATION
The Florida
Freedom Partnership will offer a one-day workshop on human trafficking at Coast
to Coast Legal Aid in Plantation. A follow-up session will take place on
March 31 from 9-12. For more information contact Cheri Zettle at
561-265-3797 x 114 or czettle@avda-fl.com.
MARCH 30, CESAR CHAVEZ
LEGACY MARCH, TALLAHASSEE
Immigrant
and farmworker rights organizations and activists will march through
Tallahassee on March 30 to mark Cesar Chavez’s birthday and to support state
and federal immigrant rights legislation. Issues supported will include:
in-state tuition, driver’s licenses, DREAM Act, AgJobs and legalization.
Organizations supporting the march include: Florida Catholic Conference,
Farmworker Self-Help, Florida Immigrant Coalition, Unite for Dignity and
others. Many organizations are also planning to meet with their elected
officials while in Tallahassee. Several Florida communities are sending
buses to attend the march. All supportive organizations and individuals
are encouraged to join. For more information contact Maria Rodriguez at
mrodriguez@fiacfla.org or 305-573-1106 x1160.
JUNE 16-18, NATIONAL
LOW-INCOME IMMIGRANT RIGHTS CONFERENCE, WASHINGTON DC
The 5th
National Low-Income Immigrant Rights Conference will bring together community
leaders, organizers, experts, attorneys, and advocates from around the country
to share information and experiences and to develop strategies around some of
the core issues affecting low-income immigrants. Conference conveners
include National Immigration Law Center, National Immigration Forum, AFL-CIO,
Catholic Charities USA and National Council of La Raza. Florida Immigrant
Advocacy Center is a sponsor of the conference. For more information
visit www.nilc.org
*NEW RESOURCES/ANNOUNCEMENTS/NEWS BRIEFS*
NEW GOVERNMENT REPORT
SHOWS ASYLUM SEEKERS ARE TREATED POORLY
A new
report by the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom shows
that asylum seekers in the U.S. are not being treated fairly. The report
gives detailed information about the asylum system and various detention
centers. See the report and related articles: www.uscirf.gov/reports/ERSrpt/index.php3?SID=fd649a44b166a00607cb2d5dd4b4707a
www.nytimes.com/2005/02/08/nyregion/08asylum.html
www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2005/106/43.0.html
HAITIANS IN COLLIER
COUNTY FEARFUL OF IMMIGRATION AUTHORITIES
See two
Naples News reports about fear in the Haitian community created by recent
immigration enforcement operations. Haitians have been targeted in
immigration operations over the last few months throughout Florida:
www.naplesnews.com/npdn/news/article/0,2071,NPDN_14940_3579882,00.html
IMMIGRANT FAMILY
CHILDREN NOT USING AVAILABLE BENEFITS
A February
2005 Urban Institute report shows that children of immigrants are not accessing
government programs available to them. See the report and a related
article: www.urban.org/UploadedPDF/311139_ChildrenImmigrants.pdf
www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/news/articles/0208immigrant-kids.html
GOP FUNDS HAITIAN
ASSISTANCE CENTER IN DELRAY BEACH
The Palm
Beach County Republican Party is funding a new community assistance center for
Haitian immigrants in Delray Beach. For more information see: www.palmbeachpost.com/politics/content/local_news/epaper/2005/02/05/s1b_haitian_0205.html
RELEASED IMMIGRANT
DETAINEES LEFT HOMELESS
See two
Miami Herald articles about the recent Supreme Court decision that led to the
release of hundreds of Mariel Cubans from immigration detention: www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/10919027.htm
www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/11009730.htm
RECENT FILMS ABOUT
IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEES
See
descriptions of films about immigrant and refugees over the last few years from
Grantmakers Concerned with Immigrants and Refugees: www.gcir.org/resources/gcir_publications/filmography_FINAL.pdf
ICE INCREASING
ENFORCEMENT OF IMMIGRANTS WITH CRIMINAL RECORDS
See a USA
Today article on increasing operations against immigrants with criminal records
by Immigration and Customs Enforcement:
www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2005-02-16-illegals-deportation_x.htm
2006 PRESIDENTIAL
BUDGET DROPS FARMWORKER JOB TRAINING PROGRAM
See a Tampa
Tribune article about the President’s proposal to stop funding the National
Farmworkers Job Program in 2006: http://news.tbo.com/news/MGBXH86JA5E.html
NEW 500 BED
IMMIGRATION DETENTION CENTER BEING PLANNED FOR GLADES COUNTY
See an
article in the Okeechobee News about plans to build a new 500 bed immigration
detention center in Glades County: www.newszap.com/articles/2005/02/23/fl/lake_okeechobee/glades03.txt
MIAMI
IS AN IMMIGRATION MODEL
See an
Arizona Republic article about Miami’s successes as an immigrant destination
city: www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/centralphoenix/articles/0204ext-teclocol0204Z4.html
NATIONAL GOVERNORS
ASSOCIAITIN OPPOSES REAL ID ACT
See a joint
letter by the NGA and the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators
in opposition to the REAL ID Act: www.nga.org/nga/legislativeUpdate/1,1169,C_LETTER^D_7928,00.html
NATIONAL CONFERENCE OF
STATE LEGISLATURES IN OPPOSES REAL ID ACT
See a NCSL
letter in opposition to the REAL ID Act: www.ncsl.org/statefed/REALid.htm
ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS
OPPOSE THE REAL ID ACT
A coalition
of prominent environmental groups is opposing the REAL ID Act because of
environmental destruction that would be caused by building a wall along the
Mexican, U.S. border as mandated in the bill. See a letter cosigned by
many of these groups: www.ombwatch.org/article/articleview/2663/1/192?TopicID=5
REAL ID ACT WOULD COST
100 MILLION TO IMPLEMENT
The
Congressional Budget Office estimates that enactment of the REAL ID act would
cost states a combined 100 million dollars from 2005-2010. See the CBO
report: www.cbo.gov/ftpdocs/60xx/doc6072/hr418.pdf
PRESIDENT BUSH
SUPPORTS REAL ID ACT
See a White
House statement in support of the REAL ID Act: www.whitehouse.gov/omb/legislative/sap/109-1/hr418sap-h.pdf
ABC’S OF
IDENTIFICATION FOR IMMIGRANTS
See a
report by the National Conference of State Legislatures on the ABC’s of IDs for
immigrants: www.ncsl.org/print/immig/immigrantid05.pdf
Immigration
Basics 2005
See a
comprehensive overview of immigration issues from National Immigration Forum: www.immigrationforum.org/documents/Publications/ImmigrationBasics2005.pdf
BROWARD COUNTY REPORT
ON THE NEEDS OF LOW-INCOME HISPANICS
See this
new report from Hispanic Unity of Florida and Florida Atlantic University: www.hispanicunity.org/nuevo/executive.pdf
CHERTOFF IS NEW
HOMELAND SECURITY SECRETARY
New DHS
Secretary Michael Chertoff was confirmed 98-0 by the Senate in February.
See a Boston Herald article about immigration cases he presided over as a judge:
TIME MAGAZINE
IMMIGRANT ESTIMATE WAS INACCURATE
The
American Journalism Review noted the inaccuracy of Time Magazine’s 2004
estimate that 3 million undocumented immigrants enter the U.S. per year: www.ajr.org/Article.asp?id=3816
PUBLIC SUPPORTS LEGALIZATION
See a
Naples News article about the national immigration reform debate and a recent
ABC News poll showing public support for immigrant legalization: www.naplesnews.com/npdn/perspective/article/0,2071,NPDN_14966_3521593,00.html
SETTING UP RETIREMENT
FUNDS FOR NON-RESIDENT IMMIGRANTS
See an
article by Compliance Headquarters about Individual Retirement Accounts (IRA)
for non-resident immigrants: www.complianceheadquarters.com/IRA/IRA_Articles/2_11_05.html
POST 9/11 IMMIGRATION
TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS COST U.S. BILLIONS
A Reason
Magazine article explores the financial implications of new post 9/11
immigration travel restrictions: http://reason.com/0412/ci.js.lost.shtml
CONSERVATIVE CASE FOR
IMMIGRATION REFORM
See an
article in the Weekly Standard by Tamar Jacoby of the conservative Manhattan
Institute in support of President Bush’s proposed immigration reform:
www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/005/272chkkb.asp?pg=1
ABOUT THE COALITION
The Florida
Immigrant Coalition is a network of groups and individuals working together for
fair treatment of Florida’s immigrants. The Coalition meets its mission
through advocacy, community empowerment, public education, technical assistance
and referral. The Coalition includes members of urban, rural, religious,
legal, and community-based organizations. The Coalition is a program of
Florida Immigrant Advocacy Center.
ABOUT FIAC
Florida
Immigrant Advocacy Center (FIAC) is a non-profit organization advocating for
the human rights of all immigrants in Florida. FIAC offers direct legal
representation in immigration and public benefits law, community education and
impact advocacy. For information about intake procedure, contact the FIAC
operator at 305-573-1106.
E-NEWS! CAN HELP YOU
If you have
information you would like included in E-News! or would like to be added or
removed from the mailing list, please contact David Skovholt, Coordinator
of the Florida Immigrant Coalition at the Florida Immigrant Advocacy Center at
dskovholt@fiacfla.org or 305-573-1106 x1160.