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Wednesday, November 7, 2007
Report on Effects of Raids
Washington, DC– A new report released today by the National Council of La Raza (NCLR) and the Urban Institute found that for every two people detained in immigration enforcement operations, one child is left behind. Two-thirds of these children are U.S. citizens and a similar share is under age ten.
The report, Paying the Price: The Impact of Immigration Raids on America’s Children, details the consequences of immigration enforcement operations on children’s psychological, educational, economic, and social well-being. It also outlines the heavy burden that workplace raids are placing on communities, school systems, social service providers, and religious institutions, which have acted as first responders for families in these incidents.
“The local governments and communities we studied did not have adequate resources to deal with children’s needs in the aftermath of the raids,” said Randy Capps, a demographer with the nonpartisan Urban Institute. “At the same time, the federal government did not have in place policies and procedures that explicitly consider the protection of children.”
A team of researchers from the nonpartisan Urban Institute studied three communities that experienced large-scale worksite raids by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents within the past year: Greeley, Colorado; Grand Island, Nebraska; and New Bedford, Massachusetts. A total of 912 people were arrested and 506 children were directly affected.
NCLR funded the study to obtain an independent, objective assessment of how recent immigration actions have affected the children of immigrants.
“That we are putting the youngest, most vulnerable members of our society at profound risk is something that must be taken into consideration in any policy decision. This report clearly demonstrates that it may be years before we know the full effect of the worksite raids on these children and the long-term costs to our society,” stated Janet Murguía, NCLR President and CEO.
The study found that the raids forced schools, child care providers, and extended families to act swiftly as important safety nets for children. On the day of the raids in all three sites, for example, the school districts made sure that children were not dropped off to empty homes or left at school overnight.
“Strong extended networks of families and friends took on significant caregiving and economic support responsibilities for children with parents arrested in the raids,” said Urban Institute researcher Rosa Maria Castañeda. “These resourceful networks were effective in ensuring that no children were left alone or taken into the custody of the state.”
The report, Paying the Price: The Impact of Immigration Raids on America’s Children, details the consequences of immigration enforcement operations on children’s psychological, educational, economic, and social well-being. It also outlines the heavy burden that workplace raids are placing on communities, school systems, social service providers, and religious institutions, which have acted as first responders for families in these incidents.
“The local governments and communities we studied did not have adequate resources to deal with children’s needs in the aftermath of the raids,” said Randy Capps, a demographer with the nonpartisan Urban Institute. “At the same time, the federal government did not have in place policies and procedures that explicitly consider the protection of children.”
A team of researchers from the nonpartisan Urban Institute studied three communities that experienced large-scale worksite raids by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents within the past year: Greeley, Colorado; Grand Island, Nebraska; and New Bedford, Massachusetts. A total of 912 people were arrested and 506 children were directly affected.
NCLR funded the study to obtain an independent, objective assessment of how recent immigration actions have affected the children of immigrants.
“That we are putting the youngest, most vulnerable members of our society at profound risk is something that must be taken into consideration in any policy decision. This report clearly demonstrates that it may be years before we know the full effect of the worksite raids on these children and the long-term costs to our society,” stated Janet Murguía, NCLR President and CEO.
The study found that the raids forced schools, child care providers, and extended families to act swiftly as important safety nets for children. On the day of the raids in all three sites, for example, the school districts made sure that children were not dropped off to empty homes or left at school overnight.
“Strong extended networks of families and friends took on significant caregiving and economic support responsibilities for children with parents arrested in the raids,” said Urban Institute researcher Rosa Maria Castañeda. “These resourceful networks were effective in ensuring that no children were left alone or taken into the custody of the state.”
Will We Reap What We Sow?
Miami Herald writer Andres Oppenheimer asks this question of the swelling hysteria against undocumented immigrants in his recent article. What becomes of a Dream deferred? Where do good people go when they are cased as "illegal" humans for the want of a simple visa? "We cannot let everyone in!" will be the refrain. But this does no justify the unorganized, mean spirited, manner in which everyday people are trying to solve the problem. Where is the leadership? Have we not learned that meanness only begets meanness?
Several years ago I conducted a painting workshop titled "Planting Anew" in which I paired people from different backgrounds together (immigrant with minority, African with Asian,) and asked them to create a collaborative painting. Titled "Planting Anew" it was a hopeful project that got its name that came from the Gardener's habit of deciding each year what to plant. Today, I fear we are planting the seeds of a bitter garden.
Several years ago I conducted a painting workshop titled "Planting Anew" in which I paired people from different backgrounds together (immigrant with minority, African with Asian,) and asked them to create a collaborative painting. Titled "Planting Anew" it was a hopeful project that got its name that came from the Gardener's habit of deciding each year what to plant. Today, I fear we are planting the seeds of a bitter garden.
Tuesday, November 6, 2007
Does this make sense?
Does this graphic make sense? Some say I need to put the line down the middle. What's your opinion?
Monday, November 5, 2007
Book mark this blog
Book mark this blog and return soon to read stories of abuse and neglect levied against undocumented immigrants in the United States.
5 things you can do:
1.Send your stories, links, original art, poems, and essays, on the subject to todd@tdrake.com for inclusion in this site.
2. Go out and buy an electric candle (safe) and place it in your window. Take a picture and send it to todd@tdrake.com .
3. Tell others about this protest, send them a link to this blog. Organize a "one candle campaign" at your place of worship.
4. Write a letter to your local newspaper editor sharing some of the stories and facts you have learned here.
5. Call your Senator and demand their action on creating a sane, humanitarian, nationwide immigration policy-now-not post election.
5 things you can do:
1.Send your stories, links, original art, poems, and essays, on the subject to todd@tdrake.com for inclusion in this site.
2. Go out and buy an electric candle (safe) and place it in your window. Take a picture and send it to todd@tdrake.com .
3. Tell others about this protest, send them a link to this blog. Organize a "one candle campaign" at your place of worship.
4. Write a letter to your local newspaper editor sharing some of the stories and facts you have learned here.
5. Call your Senator and demand their action on creating a sane, humanitarian, nationwide immigration policy-now-not post election.
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