Deportaciones desde las Carceles

See all the information at www.maydayinmadison.org

May Day 2009 

March for the poor, immigrants & workers "An Injury to One is an Injury to All!"

 We demand

 For the Workers:

Mandatory paid sick leave

Passage of the Employee Free Choice Act

A living wage

For the Poor

Universal health care now

Halt foreclosures and evictions

Increased funding for Section 8 housing

Free university tuition for low-income students

No increase in bus fares

A living wage for W-2 workers

Real funding for public schools

For the Immigrants

Immigrant access to identification and drivers licenses

Amnesty for immigrant workers

Stop sheriff notification to ICE

No firings for Social Security no match letters 

Friday, May 1, 2009

 11:00 a.m.     Gathering at Brittingham Park

11:45 p.m.     Depart Park to the Capitol

12:00 p.m.        Capitol event, to state and federal demands

12:30 p.m.        Depart Capitol to City-County Building

12:45 p.m.        City-County event, to address city and county demands        

More info at www.maydayinmadison.org ~

RES. 65, 04-05

DANE COUNTY PRIVACY POLICY CONCERNING ACCESS TO COUNTY SERVICES

WHEREAS, it is the policy of Dane County to promote the utilization of its services by all of its residents who are entitled to and in need of them; and

WHEREAS, individuals should know that they may seek and obtain the assistance of county agencies regardless of

personal or private attributes, without negative consequences to their personal lives; and

WHEREAS, the obtaining of pertinent information, which is essential to the performance of a wide variety of governmental functions, may in some cases be difficult or impossible if some expectation of confidentiality is not preserved, and preserving confidentiality in turn requires that governments regulate the use of such information by their employees; and

WHEREAS, in furtherance of this policy, confidential information in the possession of county agencies relating to

immigration status or other personal or private attributes should be disclosed only as provided herein;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Dane County Board of Supervisors hereby approves the following

privacy policy regarding individuals seeking access to county services:

Section 1. As used herein, "confidential information" means any information obtained and maintained by a county department or agency relating to an individual's sexual orientation, status as a victim of domestic violence, status as a victim of sexual assault, status as a crime witness, receipt of public assistance, or immigration status, and shall include all information contained in any individual's income tax records.

Section 2. No county officer or employee shall disclose confidential information, unless

(a) such disclosure has been authorized in writing by the individual to whom such information pertains, or if such individual is a minor or is otherwise not legally competent, by such individual's parent or legal guardian; or

(b) such disclosure is required by law; or

(c) such disclosure is to another county officer or employee and is necessary to fulfill the purpose or achieve the mission of any county department or agency; or

(d) in the case of confidential information other than information relating to immigration status, such disclosure is necessary to fulfill the purpose or achieve the mission of any county department or agency; or

(e) in the case of information relating to immigration status,

 (i) the individual to whom such information pertains is suspected by such officer or employee or such officer's or employee's agency of engaging in criminal activity other than mere status as an undocumented alien or

 (ii) the dissemination of such information is necessary to apprehend a person suspected of engaging in criminal activity, other than mere status as an undocumented alien or

(iii) such disclosure is necessary in furtherance of an investigation of potential terrorist activity.

County departments and agencies shall promulgate such rules as may be appropriate to detail circumstances in which confidential information may or may not be disclosed pursuant to this policy. Any county officer or employee other than law enforcement officers with a question relating to the disclosure of confidential information under this section shall consult with the Corporation Counsel.

Section 3. Information regarding immigration status.

(a) A county officer or employee, other than law enforcement officers, shall not inquire about a person's immigration status unless:

(1) Such person's immigration status is necessary for determination of program, service or benefit eligibility or the

provision of county services; or

(2) Such officer or employee is required by law to inquire about such person's immigration status.

(b) Law Enforcement Officers.

(1) For purposes of this subsection, "criminal activity" means unlawful activity other than status as an undocumented

alien.

(2) Law enforcement officers shall not inquire about za person's immigration status unless investigating criminal activity other than mere status as an undocumented alien.

(3) Law enforcement officers shall continue to cooperate with federal authorities in investigating and apprehending

aliens suspected of criminal activity.

(4) Law enforcement officers and other employees shall not inquire about the immigration status of crime victims,

witnesses, or others who call or approach the police seeking assistance.

The following registrations were received:

Enmiendas

1. At the end of Section 2, add "other than law enforcement officers" after "Any county officer or employee."

2. In the first paragraph, delete "of its residents."

Here are some of the comment that wegot CC in the last 24  hours, to all THANK YOU VERY MUCH:

Dear Wyndham,

I am shocked and appaled to hear that a Dane County Family Court custody hearing was used to trap an immigrant mother and her family for deportation today. Please act immediately to condemn this abuse of family services, protect the family, and ensure this NEVER happens again. I speak as your constituent and a former family services social worker when I say that using family services to trap immigrants deters a whole community from utilizing services essential to health and safety and ammounts to nothing less than Dane County protecting and perpeeforetuating perpetrators of domestic violence. I refuse and I hope you will also join me in refusing to be complicit with this vile practice. And please continue to push for enforcement of our sanctuary policy. The sheriff is out of line.

Many thanks,

Samuel Swenson

*************************************************************************

Dear County Board Members,

As I hope you are well aware, our own Dane County has laws that prohibit law enforcement from extracting immigration status information from our residents.  When they are followed, these laws are very helpful in immunizing our community from the kind of polarizing and ruthless targeting of undocumented workers that has damaged other towns and cities around the country.  Yet local law enforcement routinely violate these standards that our elected leaders have created.  Just today a case has come to my attention of a woman who went to take care of some business in family court and now finds herself threatened with deportation.  This kind of infuriating disregard for Dane County laws needs to end, and I wish to hear what you are going to do to make that happen.

Thank you for your time,

Seth

12** E. Mifflin Rd. Madison WI

*************************************************************************

Hello, as a resident of Dane County I would like to express my great concern in how local government has been treating immigrants in my community.  This email is in response to the treatment of an immigrant who went to family court to settle a family dispute and now could be deported. 

The city of Madison and Dane County is busy deporting productive members of our community, ones who pay taxes and raise families here.  The federal government's failure to produce an enforceable immigration policy does not give local governments the right to harass community members.

By no means am I sending this message in defense of people who commit crimes against others, I'm standing up for the people who are here to make a difference in their lives and the others around them.  I  for one cherish the diversity of this community and believe its vital to the community.  I'm normally proud to be from this community, but reading and witnessing acts like this makes me wonder how  accepting we really are.

 I'm asking local government officials like yourself to take action and stand up for its community members regardless of where they were born.

Sincerely,

Brent Valentine

February 5, 2009

 *************************************************************************

To Carlo Esqueda,

In relation to the Hondurous family being threatened with deportation charges and being acted upon illegally by the family court system and the Dane County Justice System I am writing to demand that Dane County Sherrif Department and the Dane County Court System stops collaborating with ICE immediately.  Families should not live in fear of their own local government.  It is not the role of the local county government to enforce ICE legislation.

Furthermore the police department needs to have access to translation in all cases, especially when an individual is being forced to sign important documents.

Find Justice for this family, my Madison neighbor and all others who are recent immigrants to the US.

Sincerely,

Z! Lucas Haukeness

4**W. Olin Ave.

Madison WI, 53715

*************************************************************************

Dear county board supervisors,

 I have recently been informed by the Immigrant Workers Union about a family on the east side of Madison that seems to have been mistreated on several levels.  Although I do not personally know this family, and have only heard one side of the story, I am concerned and would greatly appreciate any assurance about what is being done in regards to this family receiving legal assistance, not being forced to do anything or sign anything they do not understand, and most of all, that they are being treated fairly and with respect.  Thank you for your time, compassion and response to the issue.

 Sincerely,

Kristin Rucinski

2*** University Ave., #***

Madison, WI 53726

*************************************************************************

The Honorable C. William Foust

  Dane County Circuit Court

  1** S. Hamilton St.

  Madison, WI   53703

  Thursday, 2/5/09

    Dear Judge Foust:

    I am writing you after discussing the incident described below with Carlo Esqueda today.  I am very disturbed to learn that our court commissioners refer all cases of outstanding warrants to bailiffs without making any distinction as to the nature of the matter underlying the warrant or, more importantly, the potential devastation of the lives of the subject of the warrant or their family.

  The case below illustrates that the result can be exactly the opposite of what the Family Court's mission is, which is to support & protect children & their families.  And it is evident, as illustrated by the mass arrest and violation of the civil & human rights of undocumented workers in Postville, IA, that ICE is currently operating in a manner that we used to associate with totalitarian regimes.

    It is completely unacceptable that such violations of basic decency are being triggered by a policy of our county court system.  As I discussed with Mr. Esqueda, it is clear that the decision to enforce a warrant must be made with more discretion if we are to maintain the moral values that this community stands for. 

    I would welcome an opportunity to discuss this further with you or any members of the 5th Circuit Judiciary.

    Thank you,

    Edward Kuharski

  4** Sidney Street

  Madison, WI   53703

Madison, WI - This morning I wake up with the feeling that there is not enough time for an organizer / activist in this city of Madison, getting ready for the trillions of things that need to be done right after I get out of work. It is about 6:15am and I realized that I got a voice message from a long time friend of mine, E.P., he called me at 12:34, clearly something is wrong.

It never gets any easier to be the last call for people that are in problems that we can do nothing about it. This morning is one of those occasions when one feels the scam of the earth because behind our good intentions, many hours working in the community we have nothing to offer; perhaps a shoulder soak in tears of many immigrants that see their lives' going to hell.

Yesterday, my friends' brother got detained by local enforcement (we believe sheriff deputies) and place in local jail for a hold by ICE to pick him up later today. His story really hits home to us, Sergio .P. is 22 years old, he has been here for 3 years. No criminal record, just a young worker. He got a charge for "Operating While under Influence (2nd)" getting 15 days w/Huber and DOT License Revoked for 17 Months.

He stopped by UTI's office last march to get some guidelines, we suggest him to weight the risk to delay the process and avoid to step into jail, or just plea guilty and go to jail the sooner the better as deportations from jail in march'08 were down 50% so the chances were way smaller. We suggest him to talk with a lawyer (Anthony Delyea) and make a decision about his strategy.

After a costly and long court process, he just started to go to Huber Center at the beginning of this week, for what we can see, that is all what I.C.E. was waiting for to get hold on him. Most likely, Sheriff Office sent the information of our friend as soon as he was charged with the traffic offense last year and Sheriff Mahoney was sitting on the hold ready to jump on the young worker, Sergio never had a chance!

Sheriff's actions are solely sponsored by his political and ideology agenda and the tacit consent of progressive / liberal / left forces in Dane County who still think that if they look to the other side this is not happening. There is no law that obligates to our local law enforcer to report this information to ICE.

This is profiling, on the assumption that people from other countries should be examined by ICE. This is not procedure; this is actually in opposition of spirit of law particularly I.N.A. act, that clearly states that immigration is federal jurisdiction. It is in opposition of city and county ordinance promoting a sort of "do not ask, do not tell" and it is in opposition for the safe and justice in our community.

His policy is doing not good to nobody, other than the gangs recruiters that enjoy the best time in their life, youngsters are turning into the gangs because there is no way to win in the system, because a police traffic stop can send your father to deportation procedure. It is hard to convince a high school student that the system is fear; design to treat people with dignity and for common spirit to build up a safer community. It is hard because the local politicization of this issue by Sheriff Mahoney is making local enforcement a factory of segregation, discrimination and hate.

Sergio is waiting in county jail to be pick up by ICE and drop in Milwaukee where most likely he will be "offered" with a "voluntary deportation" which means to sign out a voluntary deportation losing any right to re enter the country in 10 years plus renounce any right to appeal your case before a immigration court or to wait for a court date in federal prison up to 6 months.

Mean while, his mother and sister are arriving today at 2pm to Madison from Mexico to reunite their family after almost a decade. Unfortunately, they will be welcome for the recent news, Sergio is not with us any more, we do not know what is going to happen, of for that matters who is going to be able to talk with him. His brother just got into the legalization process last month, he was crying impotence, worry for his brother, for his mother and sister and for the cruelty to life and work in a country that treat us like animals.

The compañeros y compañeras of Immigrant Workers Union set our primary goal to get Sheriff Mahoney out of Office and change the current policy. We need all help possible for this struggle, and we are asking you to help!

We just want to make clear, that those who are in the middle, close or supporting Dave Mohoney immigration policies, in any sort of compromising, understanding or half way agreement with the current situation will have the same oposition from us.

This is an issue that should be resolved a year ago when it started happening, today it is too late for hundreds of families. Since May 2008 we have been building up our organization to be prepared for a long battle against Sheriff Mahoney, his policies and his supporters, and we are going to go as far as we need to, and we will go against to those who support him or do not support the cause of our community.

This letter is to ask for your help, and to advice any political force in town that whether they are with the criminal anti immigrant forces represented by Mahoney or whether they are with our community.

Enough is enough, if local politicians (latinos or not) are more afraid to right wing media, moderate-swing voters or aspirations to run in a state wide election than the safety and protection of their community, then so be it, those politicians are in our way.

In solidarity!

-- -Alex

(Alex UTI) Madison WI - El pasado miércoles, 15 de octubre, el Comité de Igualdad de Oportunidades (EOC) del Condado de Dane celebró una audiencia pública con el Sheriff del Condado de Dane, Dave Mahoney, sobre la Política de arrestos y colaboración con la Migra.

En la reunión, Dave Mahoney finalmente admitió que su oficina envía un mensaje de correo electrónico a la ICE con la información de cada recluso de la cárcel del Condado de Dane que no es ciudadano, incluyendo los residentes legales.

  Se trata de un nuevo desarrollo en la larga controversia con Dave Mahoney y su Política de colaborar con la ICE. El pasado mes de febrero en una audiencia pública anterior, Dave Mahoney dijo que sólo un promedio de 30 correos electrónicos eran enviados a la ICE cada mes, aunque nunca explicó los criterios utilizados por el personal de la cárcel para seleccionar estos de los cientos de no-ciudadanos que terminan en la cárcel por diversas razones, ya sea una noche de detención por intoxicación etílica o los miles de presos que solo están esperando una fecha de corte.

Dave Mahoney con estas declaraciones redefine un nuevo marco sobre esta cuestión: Dave Mahoney trae a la ciudad de Madison las políticas muy cuestionadas de la ICE y en especial de la patrulla fronteriza.

Esto es cuestión muy delicada, sobre todo porque Tomás Contreras casi perdió la vida en 2007 en manos de la ICE en Texas. Tomas Contreras es un miembro de la comunidad que ha vivido en el Madison durante 30 años. Fue detenido por la Patrulla Fronteriza en enero de 2007, cuando regresaba de un viaje en Navidad para visitar a su familia. Tomas es el único con la condición de residente legal en su familia. En el momento en que cruzaron la frontera, la Patrulla Fronteriza le preguntó por sus papeles. Como los documentos estaban un poco desgastados, lo pusieron en arresto durante 3 meses sin un solo cargo. Tuvo que hacer una semana de huelga de hambre antes de que finalmente pudo ver a su familia y abogados.

Dave Mahoney admitió ayer que está aplicando las mismas políticas, informar a ICE de todos y cada uno de los inmigrantes, con o sin documentos que entran en la cárcel.

  La reunión duró tres horas y fue especialmente emotivo, cuando la familia de un joven inmigrante recientemente puesto en arresto por la ICE, llegó a declarar.

La familia presentó un caso que puede servir como ejemplo de las políticas actuales. SP de 22 años de edad, un trabajador que fue detenido el pasado mes de octubre por un DUI (manejar bajo los efectos del alcohol).

La ley de inmigración es muy clara acerca de qué tipo de crímenes pueden desencadenar en una deportación automática y cuáles no. DUIs, al igual que con muchos otros delitos menores que no implican violencia, terrorismo, tráfico de drogas, tráfico de seres humanos, etc no es una ofensa "deportable".

SP pasó a los tribunales, contrató a un abogado y después de tiempo y dinero gastado en el proceso, recibió una sentencia de 10 días en el Centro de Huber. El centro Huber es un proceso por el que durante el día el preso esta libre en la calle haciendo su vida normal con un brazalete en la pierna para ser monitoreado por la policía, y ya en la noche el preso ha de dormir en la cárcel de mínima seguridad.

Hace dos viernes, el día que su hermana y su madre llegaron de México para reunir la familia, el joven inmigrante fue detenido en su casa por agentes del sheriff.

Esto es debido sólo a que el Sheriff Mahoney envía la información a la ICE bajo la presunción de que todos los no son ciudadanos deben ser reportados a la ICE.

Los miembros del comité de igualdad de oportunidades (EOC) mencionaron, extra-oficialmente, que les tomó medio año para conseguir que el Sheriff del Condado de Dane finalmente se sentara con ellos a responder las dudas y preocupaciones de la comunidad y los representantes del condado.

Finalmente, después de un par de docenas de testimonies y declaraciones de rechazo al sheriff, y después de veinticinco personas que protestaron por escrito contra del sheriff.

El Sheriff Demócrata se prepara para explicar su posición.

Dave Mahoney optó por iniciar su respuesta mencionando las elecciones a presidente, y dando a entender su apoyo a Barack Obama. Si lo hizo para contentar a una sala llena de gente simpatizante con los inmigrantes o no esta poco claro pero confirmó nuestros peores temores: lo que realmente define sus acciones al parecer es la política nacional y no sus efectos en nuestra comunidad.

  El sheriff, uso la habitual lista de inconcluyentes argumentos demagógicos para apoyar su política. Básicamente, sostiene que a fin de asegurar una identificación positiva, pide a la ICE que haga una investigación sobre cada uno de los no-ciudadanos, aunque él admite que no recibe ningún informe o confirmación de vuelta a no ser que la ICE les pida retener a cientos de reclusos, y, finalmente, la deportación de entre cinco a treinta inmigrantes cada mes.

En este punto, la EOC ha esperado durante al menos dos horas entre los comentarios del público y la respuesta del Sheriff, y ha llegado el momento de la EOC haga las preguntas. Shiva Bidar abrió lo se convirtió en un diálogo de sordos con el sheriff, cuantas más preguntas se planteaban al sheriff, más intranquilo, evasivo e inseguro contestaba. Dave Mahoney se negó a dar respuestas simples y directas, no trajo ni una sola de las políticas por escrito y muchas de sus respuestas parecían destinadas a desviar la atención de la cuestión central: ¿por envía esta información a ICE de forma voluntaria e innecesaria?

  Parece claro que Mahoney Sheriff no quiso abordar cualquier pregunta de una forma seria porque parece pensar que él puede hacer lo que él quiera. Uno de los miembros de la EOC expresando su frustración se dirigió al sheriff con un dilema moral: "los que tienen el poder deben abrir el diálogo con los que no, ejercer el poder sólo porque uno puede hacerlo, no es suficiente razón para hacerlo".

La reunión termino sin incidentes, con excepción de una multitud insatisfecha, una familia exhausta de llorar y sufrir el dolor y la impotencia y un muy decepcionado EOC, que después de todo este trabajo aún no tiene respuestas, o incluso la percepción de que Dave Mahoney está tratando de entablar un verdadero diálogo con la comunidad.

El EOC hizo un fantástico y respetuoso trabajo, destacando Fabiola Hamdma y Shiva Bidar,  y que ahora lideran el esfuerzo en contra de esta política desde el interior del condado de Dane.

Una vez más, extra-oficialmente, algunos funcionarios de la Oficina del Sheriff admitieron con preocupación que la oficina se está convirtiendo cada vez menos transparente inclinándose a los intereses políticos de Dave Mahoney, que por cierto, ha pasado varias semanas de entrenamiento del FBI en Washington DC este verano. ¿Significa esto que Dave Mahoney pone un ojo a la reelección y otro ojo mirando hacia un puesto con el gobierno federal??Esta Dave Mahoney colaborando con la ICE para ganarse puntos para su carrera profesional?

Si ese es el caso, si toda esta resistencia al cambio de la política proviene de sus ambiciones personales, entonces se le puede aplicar el refrán: "el que sirve a dos amos con uno queda mal".

De cualquier manera, una cosa está clara: él no será capaz de servir a los dos por mucho tiempo.

hola a todoa el mundo de la farandula nocturana tacitruan y de turno :)

El pasado lunes 25 de Febrero la comunidad realizó una histórica audiencia ante el Sheriff y algunos representantes del condado. Las reacciones no se han hecho esperar, la clase política en Madison tomo Buena nota y se ha puesto a trabajar, en palabra textuales de Kathleen Falk (Dane County Executive)  respondiendo a una carta de apoyo a nuestra causa explica: "… mas de 35 hablaron sobre el tema ante el comité. Unos pocos hablaron a favor de la actual póliza del Sheriff que pide documentos a aquellos que ingresan en la cárcel procedentes de otros países […] La mayoría de los que hablaron mostraron oposición a la ordenanza del sheriff y hablaron largo sobre la positiva contribución que la comunidad inmigrante hace a todos los residentes del condado de Dane County […]"

Esta carta de Kathleen Falk, la máxima representante del condado, muestra claramente que los políticos del condado ya no pueden mirar a otro lado mientras el Sheriff persigue y separa a nuestras familias.

Sin embargo, el problema no ha concluido y por lo tanto la lucha continúa. Cada semana la Unión de Trabajadores Inmigrantes así como otras organizaciones y activistas realizaremos acciones con el fin de mantener la atención sobre problema y evitar que se olvide en el tiempo. Esta semana se ha enviado una carta a todos los representantes del condado con  un resumen de la preguntas que se hicieron el pasado lunes y que el Sheriff no contesto.

 El próximo lunes 10 de marzo se celebrara una vigila en frente del edificio del condado 210 Martin Luther King Bulevard en rechazo a las ultimas deportaciones de la ICE el fin de semana pasado y en apoyo a las familias de las victimas de la MIGRA. 

To all Supporters!
 
Yesterday more than 120 people attend the Public hearing about Immigration Raids from Dane County jails. All but 2 come in support of the immigrant community and to address the current sheriff policies to persecute and criminalize immigrants in the area.
 
Tens of people testify, and many more register in support of immigrant rights for the lack of time. Among the testimonies, we could listen first hand experiences from immigrant  workers, business concerns, social workers, lawyers, nurses, students, labor activist, faith activist, peace activist; a long and diverse list of speakers that voluntarily come to complete why Sheriff Mahoney should quit persecuting and criminalizing immigrants in the area.
 
A big big big message of support and a clear warning to the sheriff and county officials and executive: Dane County says clearly NO to Profiling, No to further politicized law enforcements, Says NO to use Law and Justice as the new immigration debate arena.

 
The Immigrant Workers Union we can not thank enough to all supporters of the immigrant rights movement! Big Thank you! Yesterday we did see democracy, solidarity and the unbreakable unity for social justice and we do feel proud to life in Madison even if we have to deal with some insensitive, profilers elements in the system, we know, and they know now, that our cause and the cause for social justice enjoys multiple and massive support!
 
As some of you may know already, ICE have been patrolling around the area from Friday to Monday, in one of the biggest and more visible operations in the last years. Although, ICE did not stop people in the streets or raid any factory, they patrol and harass many families homes in the area. If ICE did this as a clear maneuver of intimidation or not, we can not say for sure, but we can assert that tens of immigrant workers and their families come to the hearing and many testifies not knowing if this would lead them or people in the community to deportation.  We would like to denounce this scary tactics used by the federal government to further move along their local agendas and congratulate the courage and determination that immigrant workers show yesterday.
 
As for Dave Mahoney reaction, although visible overwhelming, he refused to give any further answer other than he wants to collaborate with ICE (despite there is a resolution explicitly prohibiting him to do so). Even when brilliantly exposed by many, the effects of his current policies: deporting victims of domestic abuse, creating stress and panic among the population, creating distrust and reluctance to participate in the justice system, the unbelievable cost that will damage county budget, and so on.
 
Yesterday, Dave Mohoney got tens of testimonies to think about, and we hope he will act in tune with what he listen yesterday, but our community will not wait for ever. We ask all supporters to keep calling Sheriff Mahoney office and County Executive to keep the pressure on this issue.
 
Once again Thank to all who come or help to bring people to the hearing, and for all the people who could not come but support our struggle! BIG THANK YOU!
 
En solidaridad y en la lucha!
 
                                                      -Immigrant Workers Union-