Sunday, March 26, 2017
VOX Article on: "Why the white middle class is dying faster, explained in 6 charts"
We are reaching out to the vulnerable Undocumented among us, and to Immigrants, Refugees and Muslims who are being painted with suspicion. This is great. I personally would also like to understand what is driving the now obvious alienation and despair at the center of our society, and why it is motivating so many to want to "tear the whole thing up" in order to get their concerns addressed. Ed found the following article from vox.com which sets out the problem in stark, objective numbers:
Report on "Meet your Muslim-American neighbors" open house by the Islamic Association of Raleigh
Mary Jo Bulbrook very kindly attended this open house at short notice a few weeks ago, and came away with a very positive impression. Not only are we at Newman trying to reach out across barriers, but other communities we are trying to reach out to are doing so to. Here is the follow up email she received from the Islamic Association of Raleigh.
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Sunday, March 19, 2017
Minutes of Meeting with Dean Luis Royo at St Thomas Moore March 15, 2017
March 15, 2017 Meeting at STM
Finbar, MSK and Ed Neely met with Deacon Luis Royo at STM. lroyo@stmchapelhill.org
Topic: How can Newman parishioners provide support to STM Latino community?
STM is deeply engaged with local nonprofits, government and police in addressing the needs of undocumented folks in our community. Deacon Royo described 3 major ongoing projects at STM which provide opportunities for support by the Newman community:
- Faith ID Initiative – provides identification cards to undocumented individuals
- Drivers Certificate Program – provides option in Orange County for undocumented individuals cited for driving without a driver’s license.
- Power of Attorney Program – assists undocumented community members in creating legal documentation re: who will take custody of their children and their property in an emergency, i.e. if they are arrested and immediately deported.
Faith ID Initiative
Almost any transaction in our modern life requires us to provide identification – proof that we are who we say we are. Whether we are getting a library card at the public library, applying for a loan at the bank, or picking up our kids from school, that ID card is something we need but mostly take for granted. For many years, the Mexican Consulate would issue IDs to undocumented individuals and those IDs provided people with crucial verification of their name and address. However, per NC law, government agencies (e.g. the police) can no longer accept IDs issued by the Mexican consulate. The Catholic church, working along with nonprofits such as EL Centro Hispano, and other organizations, has created a Faith ID Initiative which provides undocumented people with a verified “community” ID. Chapel Hill, Durham and Orange County police accept the Faith ID as a valid form of identification.
On Feb. 4th, 2017, STM sponsored a Faith ID session run by the Sheriff’s Office. Individuals must present proof of their address (e.g. a utility bill) and a valid ID from their country of origin in order to receive a Faith ID. Blessed Sacrament in Burlington runs the same program. This Saturday there is a Faith ID drive in Hillsboro. Newman parishioners can volunteer to help at these Faith ID sessions.
The next step in the initiative is to get businesses in the community to accept the Faith ID as a valid identification card. STM has successfully negotiated with the Chapel Hill Public Library to accept the card. They would like help getting schools on board as well as banks, markets, etc., particularly those where the Hispanic community shop. Newman parishioners can help with this effort.
Driving without a license
Almost 70% of people arrested for driving without a license in our community are Hispanics who are not able to get a driver’s license under current law. Yet people have to drive to work (perhaps cleaning your home, taking care of your yard!), drive to the grocery story, take their kids to the doctor, etc. The Interfaith Counsel’s “Justice United” program has negotiated with Orange County DA Jim Woodall to address this issue. District Attorneys have broad discretion in deciding whether to prosecute particular cases. Mr. Woodall has agreed to an innovative certification program that allows individuals who are cited for driving without a license to go through a two-part certificate program that will essentially shield them from prosecution for this infraction for 3 years. Importantly, the individual must not have broken the law in any other manner in order to qualify for the certification program. If they meet that requirement, they will go through a 4-hour safe driving course (remember current law forbids undocumented individuals from taking a driver’s test and receiving the license that demonstrates they know the rules of the road), and an additional 4-hour community education program that essentially explain how the US system works in terms of schools, doctors, etc. Once an individual completes this program and receives a certificate, they can take that certificate to court and their charge will be dismissed. That certificate will shield against further “driving without a license” charges for three years.
Once this program has been up and running for a year, STM would like to pitch it to other District Attorneys in the State. For now, STM could use help raising funds for scholarships to pay for the Driver’s Safety Course. That course will be provided by a private Drivers Ed company and the hope is to keep the cost down to $100 per person. A significant number of people may have difficulty coming up with the $100 and that is where scholarships come in. It sounds like Justice United will design and provide the community education component free of charge.
March 28, 2017 at 7pm: The District Attorney will present this program and take questions from the community. Several hundred people are anticipated to attend this meeting at STM. Our parishioners are welcome to attend.
Deacon Royo anticipates that they will have similar community meetings on this program up to 4 times a year.
Power of Attorney
Can you imagine what would happen to your children – not to mention your car, your home – if you were arrested tomorrow, taken to detention in Georgia and deported in a matter of weeks? Would your children – who are US citizens – go into the foster care system? Undocumented people are terrified and need to prepare for the worst. By executing a Power of Attorney document, an individual can designate someone to have legal guardianship of their children and their property.
On Sunday, March 26, 2017, 9am - 1:30pm, STM is hosting El Centro Hispano and other local groups that will meet with undocumented community members and help draft a legal power of attorney for them. Volunteer attorneys are needed.
Minutes of Idea Generation Meeting at Newman on Immigration Issues, March 5, 2017
MSK Notes re: Immigration Issues
March 5, 2017: Meeting at Newman
- Introductions
- Overview of Feb. 26 Newman meeting; share handouts
- MSK discuss:
- Taxes: Undocumented workers pay almost $10 billion each year in payroll taxes and an addition $12 billion per year in state and local taxes. This directly funds social security and disability benefits. Those same undocumented workers are not eligible for benefits under our system. An estimated 50% of undocumented households use ITINs (Individual Tax Identification Numbers). ITINs allows payment into the system but undocumented workers are not eligible for benefits unless they obtain legal status.
- GDP: Undocumented immigrants contribute $1billion per year to our Gross Domestic Product
- Group discussion of group purpose and next steps
- Reach out to STM re: Spanish Language Mass
- Attend upcoming Mass at STM as a group
March 15, 2017 Upcoming Meeting at STM with Deacon Luis Royo
Minutes of Immigration/ Refugee Meeting at Newman on February 26, 2017
February 26, 2017 Immigration/ Refugee Meeting at Newman
PRESENTERS:
- Prof. Deborah Weissman (Law School, overview of immigration law and EO status)
- Dr. Elizabeth Barnum (UNC Global Services: working with students and profs re: EO)
- Dr. Rumay Alexander (Interim Chief Diversity Officer)
- Wendy Kadens (Clinical Social Worker/ Counselor UNC CAPS: Dealing with trauma)
OVERVIEW OF THE LAW (DEBORAH WEISSMAN)
Immigration law = who is allowed in/kept out
Alienage law = who gets drivers licenses. Up to states
Citizenship in USA via:
- Birth in USA
- Birth to US Citizen abroad
- Naturalizing (3-5 years legally in country with green card)
History of Immigration:
- 1952: INA
- 1962: Elimination of Quotas (race and national origin), but hemispheric caps
- 1982: Amendments re: amnesty and greater restrictions
Immigrant status
- Immigrant: get a green card, come here to become a citizen
- How to become an immigrant:
- Family: (1) high priority = immediate relative – married to US Citizen (2) family preference – much more difficult and changing contstantly
- Employment: (1) talented professionals; (2) unskilled workers
- Humanitarian: political asylum refugee
- Non-immigrant: here for a specific purpose and time period
- Undocumented: overstay your visa or come in without papers
- DACA: People brought to USA at an early age. Not a path to citizenship.
- Cancellation of removal of undocumented person via:
- Waiver if show removal will cause extreme hardship
- Ask for Political Asylum
- Prosecutorial discretion
Executive Order
“Muslim Ban” since revised. Likely new version still unconstitutional because Due Process under the US Constitution is not limited to US Citizens.
Border Security:
ICE
Department of Homeland Security contracts with local police to deport people. Thus empowering police to work as immigration officers. Voluntary in each state and county. North Carolina has the most agreements in the US (and South overwhelming supports agreements). Up to each county. Orange does not have agreement. Wake and Allamance DO.
Encourages racial profiling
People afraid so do not report crimes or show up in court as witnesses
Wall: In fact, drugs go North and guns go South
NAFTA – Allows us to sell subsidized corn to Mexico, but Mexico cannot sell subsidized corn in Mexico. Thus crop system collapsed and drug crops rise up.
Sanctuary Cities
Unclear re: ongoing federal and state bills to punish. HB318 Threatens sanctuary locales in NC. However, the law is on your side. Request to turn people over is just a request.
Recommendation re: UNC Campus: Use private funds to hire outside counsel to address concerns of students, staff and faculty as campus did re: athletics scandal.
COMMENT BY PROF. JOE KENNEDY (Criminal law prof., UNC) – Important to let undocumented community know that they need not offer information to police. They need not let them in home without a valid search warrant.
DR. ELIZABETH BARNUM (UNC Global Services: working with students and profs re: EO)
- DACA students pay out of state tuition to attend UNC campuses.
- Foreign Students and Profs impacted EO travel ban re: Spring and Summer travel home and abroad.
- She advises carrying travel documents as proof of status when traveling around town.
- Be kind to one another, especially foreigners.
DR. RUMAY ALEXANDER (Interim Chief Diversity Officer: importance of diversity on campus, special advisor to Chancellor Folt)
- Discussion of intersectionality and the multiple identities we each have
- Diversity of culture is critical to UNC mission.
WENDY KADENS (Clinical Social Worker/ Counselor UNC CAPS: Dealing with trauma)
- Trauma – what it looks like and how to help
- People are grieving the loss of security. Helps to talk with and be with other people who are willing to listen. Relief goes both ways – volunteering to help allows you to do something when you otherwise feel powerless.
- Listen to people. You need not give advice or fix them, just be kind and listen: “Tell me more.” I can sit with you and be here for you.
- Be kind to yourself. “You cannot pour from an empty cup.”
ACTION IDEAS
- Showing a movie + discussion: Safe space to have a difficult discussion by talking about characters
Joe Kennedy and OJ Salinas will create skit in Spanish to discuss immigrant rights in police situation
- Simulations: Put yourself in someone elses shoes. For example, nursing school has students go through 3-hour poverty simulation to better understand patients.
- One on one interactions – be kind
- Volunteer with Refugee resettlement project. Provide supplies
- Offer to host international students coming to UNC Chapel Hill
- Listen and learn how to respectfully disagree. Have a dialogue.
- Speak out – stand with the UNC community
- Interpreters and translators needed
- Make a donation. For example, to Justice Matters or the North Carolina Justice Center.
Fr. Justin: Connect with Alamance, Siler City and STM parishes
John OSullivan – connections with farmers in Warsaw
Monday, March 6, 2017
Sunday, March 5, 2017
What are we organising
Is/Might Be
- Support / help for Refugees and Immigrants
- Direct, practical assistance:
- Legal
- Logistical
- Communication
- Succor, reassurance, community, solidarity
- Re-establishing / rebuilding community, solidarity and support between fragmented / alienated groups across divides:
- Sectarian
- Class
- Geography
- Social
- Ethnic, Race, Origin
- A political campaign
- Anti Trump
- Partisan: Democrat or Republican
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