immigration

Ever since Ted Kennedy died a few months ago, I've been reading magazine articles and books on his life and accomplishments. I've always admired Kennedy's leadership in progressive causes, but I have to admit that I didn't realize how much he had accomplished until I read some of the bills that he had passed.

Luis Ramirez, a Latino immigrant, is dead. Why? Racism is alive and well and running ramp id in the United States. The deep rooted seeds of racism that laid dormant in many people were brought to the surface post President Obama's victory and we're witnessing the ugly results of it. This is not an isolated event, Louis unfortunately is one of many immigrants that have suffered the same fate. According to the FBI, hate crimes against Latinos rose 35% between 2003 and 2006.

Louis Ramirez had no chance in the town of Shenandoah, PA. The jury foreman for the case was quoted as saying:

"I believe strongly that some of the people on the jury were racist. I believe strongly that some of the people on the jury had their minds made up maybe before the first day of trial...And I believe the four boys that were involved the most are racist. I absolutely do..."

We, the Board at IPC, embrace the decision of The Department of Justice to further investigate the findings of the jury in Shenandoah, PA. Please join with us and our friends at Maldef by signing the following petition: http://maldef.org/

"When a foreigner lives with you in your land, do not mistreat him. The foreigner living with you must be treated as one of your native-born. Love him as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt. I am the Lord your God." Leviticus 19:33-34

"In the family, which is a community of persons, special attention must be devoted to the children by developing a profound esteem for their personal dignity, and a great respect and generous concern for their rights. ... By fostering and exercising a tender and strong concern for every child that comes into this world, the Church fulfills a fundamental mission: for she is called upon to reveal and put forward anew in history the example and the commandment of Christ the Lord, who placed the child at the heart of the Kingdom of God: "Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them; for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven." from FAMILIARIS CONSORTIO by Pope John Paul II

On March 3rd groups from American Friends Service Committee and Families for Freedom will be in Washington, DC lobbying congress about the Child Citizen Protection Act. Please call your congressman that day and ask him to co-sponsor H.R. 182.

About the Bill

An estimated 3.1 million US citizen children have at least one parent who is undocumented. Every year thousands of children are either separated from a parent who has been deported or forced into exile.

“In migrants the Church has always contemplated the image of Christ who said, “I was a stranger and you made me welcome” (Mt 25:35). Their condition is, therefore, a challenge to the faith and love of believers, who are called on to heal the evils caused by migration and discover the plan God pursues through it…” From the PONTIFICAL COUNCIL FOR THE PASTORAL CARE OF MIGRANTS AND ITINERANT PEOPLE (The love of Christ towards migrants)

Please join IRATE (the Interfaith Refugee Action Team - Elizabeth) and Pax Christi NJ as we begin our Lenten journey and gather to offer our prayers for the grace to recognize the face of Christ in immigrants and the courage to show them the radical hospitality of the Gospel.

[Ownership] becomes illegitimate... when it is not utilized or when it serves to impede the work of others, in an effort to gain a profit which is not the result of the overall expansion of work and the wealth of society, but rather is the result of curbing them or of illicit exploitation, speculation or the breaking of solidarity among working people. Ownership of this kind has no justification, and represents an abuse in the sight of God and man. Pope John Paul II from Centesimus Annus

A group of investors who have no background in law enforcement or running residential facilities of any kind has just been awarded a contract by ICE and the Department of Homeland Security to build and run a 1000 bed facility in the city of Farmville, Virginia.

According to this article in Facing South the contract was hastily awarded to keep pace with increased demand for space and overcrowding in current facilities as a result of the stepped up pace raids and incarceration.

We had beautiful weather on Sunday and a great turnout. Over 200 people showed up to protest the inhumane treatment of immigrants at the Elizabeth Detention Center. The march stretched almost the entire length of Evans St.
To see the rest of the photos with captiosn go to the Pax Christi NJ Facebook page.

Please join IRATE (the Interfaith Refugee Action Team - Elizabeth) and Pax Christi NJ at 1:30 pm on Sunday, October 12th as we march with the flags of the nation to honor our immigrant heritage and protest the treatment of immigrants held at the Elizabeth Detention Center. We will assemble on Progress Street, just off Dowd Avenue in Elizabeth and march two blocks to the Detention Center where we will hold a vigil to remember those who are being held inside and at similar facilities across the country.
Immigrants in detention include families, both undocumented and documented immigrants, many who have been in the US for years and are now facing exile. They include survivors of torture, asylum seekers and other vulnerable groups including pregnant women, and children. Individuals who are seriously ill are held without proper medication or care. Immigrants detained during this process are in non-criminal custody because being in violation of immigration laws is not a crime. It is a civil violation similar to a traffic ticket.

IRATE is an alliance of grassroots organizations whose members believe that the current U.S. policy of detaining immigrants in prison-like conditions is contrary to our tradition of welcoming refugees. Currently in New Jersey, the Bureau of Immigration and Custom Enforcement (ICE) has some 300 people detained at the Elizabeth Detention Center and an unknown number of people in county jails throughout the state.

For more information on Pax Christi or the the vigil contact Kathy O’Leary 908-273-0751 kathy-wargo@comcast.net

For more information on immigration detention go to www.irateweb.org, www.detentionwatchnetwork.org or www.cliniclegal.org

On July 15th, as Congressmen Alcee Hastings and John Dingel reintroduced HR 6496 they “lauded” the work of NGO’s who have supported legislative action from the US government. Among those recognized for their contribution was Pax Christi USA. According to Network, this bill is the best legislative attempt to date to deal with the worsening Iraqi refugee crisis. As of this writing there are no co-sponsors from New Jersey. Please contact your congressman and urge him to support this legislation.

About the Iraqi Refugee Crisis
There are currently 5 million Iraqi’s who have been displaced, internally and externally, due to the ongoing violence in Iraq. Of the 2.4 million who have left the country few consider returning to Iraq an option.

Iraqi refugees are among the most traumatized in modern history. It is estimated that 80% have experienced torture, extortion or the violent death of a family member. The children are the most seriously affected.

The United States Government, under previous legislation has allowed for up to 12,000 visas to be issued by this September. To date only 4,700 have actually been processed. The USCCB is calling for an allotment of at least 100,000 visas for next year.

For more information on the Iraqi refugee crisis you can go to these links