April 9 Rally in Downtown Miami

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 The rally was in downtown Miami for immigration reform. While we didn't draw the crowds that were present in other cities, we had a respectable turnout. Marlon and I were there representing D' People of the Caribbean. Let me know if you were there, and what you think of the current situation. If you have an interesting picture, send it to me and we'll post it on the website.

 

 

Posted
April 9, 2006

 
 

South Florida's Caribbean-American Diaspora

Encouraged to Contact Local Senator over Proposed Immigration Bill

 

Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., introduced his own immigration bill on Thursday March 16 to secure the nation's borders and crack down on illegal immigration.

Frist has been frustrated by the Senate Judiciary Committee's slow progress on politically sensitive immigration legislation.  Frist, wants to tighten borders, punish employers who hire illegal immigrants and provide more visas if the Senate Judiciary Committee doesn't complete a broader bill in the next 10 days.

 

Too often Caribbean-Americans wait until a bill has become law and then complain about its effects. It is important that Caribbean Americans participate in the political process in the United States by learning how to lobby. Immigration is an important fact and nothing unites Caribbeans in the Diaspora more than Immigration.

 

The urgent tasks for the Caribbean-American community this week is to keep pressure on Frist's office by calling and asking that Frist respect the Judiciary Committee process and not force a debate before the Committee has finished its markup. Frist's office number is 202-224-3135.

 

Additionaly, Caribbean Americans are encouraged to make a call TODAY to their local Senator to express concerns about the proposed bill with the following messages:

 

  • Tell your Senator that Sensenbrenner-like provisions that erode due process should not be included in the final Committee bill!

  • Tell them that we need a workable solution and path to eventual permanent status for the 11 million!(Undocumented aliens)

  • Tell them that we need a new temporary worker program that offers labor protections and a path to permanent status!

  • Tell them that the family and employment backlog provisions in the Chairman's mark are good and should remain in the bill!

  • Tell them that full access to the Circuit Courts of Appeal must be preserved!

Your local Senators can be reached at:

 

 

CARIBBEAN PEOPLE IN SOUTH FLORIDA

IT'S TIME TO STAND UP AND BE COUNTED!

 

In a much-awaited moment of growing unity and escalating action, over fifty diverse organizations invite the South Florida community to put Miami on the map as part of the historic national movement in favor of legalization. The organizations are calling on the churches, radio, government officials and business leaders to actively participate this week in the convening to make this mobilization a strong show of unity. Let's stand together in solidarity with the one million Floridians who are denied equality and full integration into our communities. The march is in support of comprehensive immigration reform that restores the rule of law, honors our history as a nation of immigrants and values the hard working immigrant families that make Florida's industries prosper. Immigrant contributions to our economy, culture and communities will be celebrated.

 

 Sunday, April 9th 3:00 pm,

 

Downtown Miami

United to Rally & March for Legalization

(From Government Center to Freedom Tower)

 

 

On Monday, April 10th several Florida cities will join the national Day of Action:

 

  • Miami Beach "We Are America! Human Billboard on the Beach" at 11 am at 73rd St. & Collins, behind the North Beach band shell.

  • Homestead at 6 pm Rally for Legalization at Harris Field, (Campbell Drive & US 1).

  • Lake Worth at 10 am Rally details to follow.

  • Ft. Lauderdale details to follow

  • Ft. Myers details to follow

  • Ocala details to follow

 

The growing list of organizations working together for the fair treatment of immigrants include:

 

  • Afro Visions

  • American Civil Liberties Union

  • American Friends Service Committee

  • American Guatemalan Association (AGA)

  • Catholic Charities Legal Services, Archdiocese of Miami

  • Democracy Movement

  • Farmworker Association of Florida

  • Florida Immigrant Advocacy Center (FIAC)

  • Fraternidad Nicaraguense Americana

  • Fundacion Salvadorena de la Florida

  • Guatemalan Unity Information Agency (GUIA)

  • Haitian American Grassroots Coalition

  • Haitian Women of Miami

  • Haitian American Youth of Tomorrow (HAYOT)

  • Honduran Unity

  • International Brotherhood of Ironworkers

  • Jamaican Diaspora

  • Jobs with Justice

  • Latinos United in Action

  • Mi Familia Vota

  • Miami Dade College students

  • Mt. Horeb Haitian Evangelic Church

  • National Farmworker Ministries

  • OLAMA

  • Organizacion Hondurena Francisco Morazan

  • SEIU, Local 11

  • Unite for Dignity

  • United Farmworkers of America

  • Veye Yo

 

For more information

 

Maria Rodriguez, Director

Florida Immigrant Coalition

FIAC

3000 Biscayne Blvd. Suite 400

Miami, FL 33137

(305) 573-1106 x 1160

(305) 322- 6705 (cell)

mrodriguez@fiacfla.org

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Immigration Debate

 

Myth:               All undocumented aliens are Mexicans who walked across the border

Reality: Undocumented aliens are from all over the world.  Many of whom entered the county legally and overstayed their visas.  Some entered with photo-switch passports.  Many did cross the border from Mexico and Canada into the US.

 

Myth:               Undocumented aliens are in the agriculture sector and tourism sectors.

Reality: Undocumented aliens work in every area of business in the US.  Many have been here for more than 20 years, they have USC children who do not know the land of their parents' birth.

 

Myth:   Undocumented aliens are a drain on the US Economy

Reality A great many undocumented aliens actually pay taxes.  Those who work in the underground economy still contribute to the US economy with their daily purchases - they rent and own houses, they buy cars, clothes, food, etc.  If all undocumented aliens were to leave the US the US economy would come to a grinding halt.

 

Myth:   Undocumented aliens are taking jobs from Americans and are driving down wages.

Reality  Some undocumented aliens do work in the underground economy for less than minimum wage. This actually increases the standard living for USCs as it keeps service and agricultural items at a low cost.

            Undocumented aliens if granted guest worker status that would lead to permanent residency would eliminate the pool of workers willing to work for less than minimum wage.

            Low paying jobs are available to all Americans.  Undocumented aliens are able to use low paying jobs as a stepping stone to education, home ownership and self improvement.

            All aliens - legal and undocumented often begin at the low end of the wage pool and are able to:

(1)        Send remittances to their home country thereby reducing the need for foreign aid and improving the standard of living in their home country.

(2)        Improve their education and send their children to school

Millions of immigrants migrated legally and contribute daily to the welfare of the US in all walks of life

 

What is needed:  Comprehensive immigration reform that will:

(1)        Provide a pathway to legalize those who are already here

(2)        Reform the current system to provide a faster way to obtain residency and reduce the backlog (5-12 years)

(3)        Provide a larger amount of temporary work visas for the business industry (not just agriculture)

(4)        Increase the number of Work visas (H's)