Immigrants and Lawmakers Criticize "Illegal Immigration" Report

By Lindsey Twin, The Glocalist
February 05, 2006
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A recent Minnesota government report on "The Impact of Illegal Immigration" in the state ignores the contributions that immigrants make to Minnesota’s economy and culture, citizens and legislators at times passionately complained at a meeting here last week.

The report “focused on enforcement and enforcement only,” said State Representative Rod Hamilton at a public meeting last Sunday in Worthington, attended by about 250 citizens and a panel including Rep. Hamilton, Worthington Mayor Mayor Alan Oberloh, police chief Mike Cumiskey, Mexican consul Nathan Wolf, Rep. Doug Magnus, and Mariano Espinoza , co-director of Freedom Network for Immigrants.

The 21-page report, written by the state’s “Office of Strategic Planning and Results Management,” examines what it calls the issue of “illegal immigration” in the state by chapters cover “Education Costs,” “Health Care Costs,” “Public Safety Costs,” “Housing Costs,” “Unpaid Taxes,” etc.

At the Worthington meeting, the report was widely criticized for its exclusive costs focus and for labeling undocumented immigrants as “illegal.”

“For those of you who call yourself illegal, according to U.S. law, you are not illegal, you are undocumented,” Wolf told the audience.

The panel stressed that the state’s immigrant policies need to strike a balance by not only a clearer assessment of costs, but also of the benefits of immigration in the state. More agricultural and service worker visas should be issued in a more streamlines process, the panel said.

The audience, including many immigrant agricultural and service workers, said the state’s present immigration process is cumbersome and leaves them in legal limbo for years. Unfair arrest and deportation leaves families separated for years, they said. Immigrants also often fear asking police for help for fear of being asked about their immigration status.

Copyright @ 2006 The Glocalist

Copyright @ 2006 The Glocalist

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    America Needs Humane and

    Submitted by Dave Berger (not verified) on Tue, 02/07/2006 - 12:29pm.
    America Needs Humane and Sustainable Immigration Policy, the Green Party Urges Minnesotans To Reject Pawlenty’s Anti-Immigrant Proposals Contact: Dave Berger 5th Congressional District Green Party 612-338-3630 DaveBerger [at] MNGreens [dot] org Tuesday, February 7, 2006 Minneapolis, Minn. America’s current immigration policies are not working because they are based on enforcement and patrolling rather than recognizing the needs of people seeking gainful employment. Nationwide statistics show that the pro-enforcement immigration policies do not prevent illegal immigrants from crossing the United States border. Also, current U.S. policy encourages exploitation of undocumented workers by unethical employers and criminals engaged in human contraband (coyotes). The Green Party calls for permanent pan-American border passes for all citizens of North America whose identity can be traced and verified. This action would help eliminate worker exploitation and help ensure that the appropriate taxes will be paid correctly in each nation per its laws. These measures will also help temporary residents in all North American countries secure driving privileges and liability insurance. Therefore, the Green Party urges Minnesota representatives to seek a humane and sustainable solution to immigration that balances the need for documentation while de-criminalizing non-citizens seeking gainful employment. Immigrants deserve equal protections and rights under labor and civil rights laws, including legal protections for acts of hate or discrimination, the right to due process, the nondiscriminatory application of immigration laws, the right to a social security number, the right to organize and unionize to improve wages and unsafe working conditions, and the right to change employers. The Green Party supports immigration policies that reflect our constitutional guarantees of free speech, freedom of association, and travel. We ask Minnesotans to reject the new anti-immigrant laws proposed by Governor Pawlenty and the United States Congress. Please join the Green Party and other community organizations for the March for Immigrant Rights on Sunday February 12, 2006. The March begins at 2:00 p.m. at Lake Street and Chicago Avenue in Minneapolis, turns north at Lake Street and Bloomington Avenue, and finishes at the American Indian Center (AIC), 1530 East Franklin Avenue. All are welcome to march with the principles of Legalization, Family reunification, Worker’s rights, Civil liberties and Civic participation in mind. An Educational Forum designed to transplant new ideas about immigrants into your mind will be held at the AIC after the March. Also note: An all-day event to celebrate immigrant culture and value will be held on Tuesday, February 14, 2006, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at El Nuevo Rodeo at Lake Street and 27th Avenue South, Minneapolis. Come freely and hear Minneapolis Green Party Councilmember Cam Gordon speak at a press conference outlining the truth about immigrants and immigration in Minnesota at noon. If you cannot take off work to attend this event, please wear a brown armband and make your purchases at immigrant-owned businesses to show your support. Everyone is invited to join in this celebration. Further information can be found on the Green Party website: http://5cd.mngreens.org/ ###

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