Members of The New Jersey DREAM Act Coalition take turns reciting Langston Hughes' "Let America Be America Again"
http://www.facebook.com/njdac
https://twitter.com/NJdreamAct
Clergy, Faith Leaders, Activists, Community Members & Former Immigrant Detainees Gathering on Ash Wednesday to Repent the Sin of Imprisoning Immigrants for Profit
http://www.facebook.com/events/559439964085146/
http://www.facebook.com/notes/casa-esperanza/ash-wednesday-rally-march-vigil-in-new-jersey-against-immigrant-detention/10151423239208537
On Wednesday, February 13th, 2013, people from across New Jersey and New York representing over a dozen faith-based, community and immigrant rights groups gathered for the fourth year in a row in Liberty State Park in Jersey City in front of the bridge to Ellis Island and in sight of the Statue of Liberty to repent the sin of immigration detention. This is the beginning of a day long series of events called "No More Silence! Awake to Justice!"
Participants travelled to Hackensack, Newark and Kearney to highlight sites of suffering for immigrants and their families. The day culminated with the 17th annual vigil at the Elizabeth Detention Center, the for-profit facility operated by Corrections Corporation of America (CCA) where ICE first started incarcerating immigrants in NJ almost two decades ago.
The event was co-sponsored by: IRATE & First Friends; Pax Christi NJ; Action 21; American Friends Service Committee -- Immigrant Rights Program, Newark; Casa Esperanza, Felician Sisters of North America; Wind of the Spirit; Office of Peace, Justice and Ecological Integrity for the Sisters of Charity of NJ; St. Joseph's Social Service Center; Elizabeth Coalition to House the Homeless, CEUS; NJ DREAM Act Coalition,; Anakbayan-USA; St. Peter's University Social Justice Program; Haiti Solidarity Network of the Northeast; Sisters of St. Joseph of Chestnut Hill; Monmouth County Coalition of Immigrant Rights
____________________________________________________________
Action 21:
http://www.njaction21.org/
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Action-21/154352017954889
American Friends Service Committee, Immigrant Rights Program of Newark:
https://afsc.org/office/newark-nj
http://www.facebook.com/pages/AFSC-Immigrant-Rights-Program/184778154878751
Anakbayan NJ:
http://www.facebook.com/anakbayan.nj
http://anakbayannynj.wordpress.com/
https://twitter.com/anakbayannynj
http://bayanihanfestival.com/BayanihanFestival
Casa Esperanza:
http://www.facebook.com/casaesperanzanj
http://www.facebook.com/groups/casaesperanzanj/
http://www.tumblr.com/blog/casaesperanza
http://www.linkedin.com/in/casaesperanza
https://twitter.com/casaesperanzanj
https://plus.google.com/u/0/110331423146816267627/posts
http://www.flickr.com/people/casaesperanza/
http://www.stumbleupon.com/stumbler/casaesperanza
http://www.myspace.com/552664030
http://casaesperanza.newsvine.com/
http://digg.com/casaesperanzanj
And subscribe to our blogspots:
http://casaesperanzanj.blogspot.com/
http://immigrantdetainees.blogspot.com/
http://s-comm-nj.blogspot.com/
http://njaid.blogspot.com/
CEUS:
http://www.ceusnj.org/
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Centro-Comunitario-CEUS/127560981584
Elizabeth Coalition to House the Homeless:
http://www.theelizabethcoalition.org/
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Elizabeth-Coalition-to-House-the-Homeless/241497229099
Felician Sisters of Lodi:
http://www.feliciansisters.org/journeyhope.cfm?lang=E
https://plus.google.com/107813221673489142019/about?gl=us&hl=en
http://www.stjoenj.net/
IRATE & First Friends:
www.irate-firstfriends.org
http://www.facebook.com/IRATEFF
https://twitter.com/IRATEFrstFrnds
http://www.detentionwatchnetwork.org/irate
Lutheran Office of Governmental Ministry:
http://www.njsynod.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=225&itemid=98
http://www.lsmnj.org/programs-services/community-outreach-services/immigration-refugee-program/
Monmouth County Coalition for Immigrant Rights:
http://www.detentionwatchnetwork.org/visitationlistusprograms
New Jersey Advocates For Immigrant Detainees (NJAID):
http://njaid.blogspot.com/
http://www.facebook.com/groups/njaid
http://www.facebook.com/pages/New-Jersey-Advocates-For-Immigrant-Detainees/102314033207233
https://vimeo.com/album/1662771
New Jersey Dream Act Coalition:
http://njdac.org/
http://www.facebook.com/njdac
https://twitter.com/NJdreamAct
New Jersey Forum for Human Rights:
http://www.hg.org/law-firms/Human-Rights/USA-New-Jersey.html
http://law.newark.rutgers.edu/students/student-organizations
Pax Christi NJ:
http://paxsummit.blogspot.com/
http://www.facebook.com/groups/70959325050/
Wind of the Spirit:
http://www.windofthespirit.net/
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Wind-of-the-Spirit/130553323629649
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
Tuesday, February 19, 2013
Christian Indonesians Exit Sanctuary
Christian Indonesians Exit Sanctuary
For Harry Pangemanan, just having been able to walk his 10- year-old daughter Jocelyn to school this morning is something extraordinary.
For much of the past year, Pangemanan has been unable to accomplish such an ordinary act. He and several other Indonesian Christians have been living within the sanctuary of their central New Jersey church because they feared immediate deportation.
As a follow-up to our story in late December, where we examined a group of eight people considered by their pastor to be at the greatest risk for deportation, ABC News reports a change in the federal government's position on their individual cases.
Without any fanfare early on Valentine's Day evening, Pangemanan and the others finally left the safety of the Reformed Church of Highland Park for the comfort and familiarity of their homes.
Pangemanan celebrated the holiday with his wife, Yana, who has also been at risk for arrest and removal from the United States, and his two American-born children. After a celebratory supper, the parents watched as their daughters opened up Valentine's Day cards from their classmates and friends.
RELATED: Christian Indonesians Live In NJ Church's Sanctuary to Avoid Deportation
This familial celebration was due to the efforts of the pastor, Rev. Seth Kaper-Dale. For more than a decade, Kaper-Dale has worked to help the Indonesian members of his congregation deal with their myriad of complex immigration legal issues and other needs.
On Wednesday, Kaper-Dale and two church leaders met in Washington, D.C., with Gary Mead, who heads ICE's Enforcement and Removal Operations unit, and other immigration officials.
Kaper-Dale's specific focus was to help the eight people he thought were most in danger of deportation, which include Harry and Yana Pangemanan. He won't go into specifics about what was discussed in that meeting except to say that, "ICE treated us with the utmost respect and [they promised] to speak with the Newark office." After a follow-up conference call on Thursday, which included a senior immigration official based in New Jersey, it was determined the Indonesians no longer needed to live in sanctuary.
In a statement to ABC News, ICE said, "Based on specific circumstances of their cases, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has placed the eight individuals on orders of supervision (OSUP) – with reporting requirements – at this time. OSUP allows these eight individuals to remain in the community as opposed to detention."
Kaper-Dale expressed his gratitude for the government's decision in an email to his church's congregants and friends. "We have been blessed today that ICE in Washington and in Newark has heard our deep concerns for our Indonesian brothers and sisters. Let us quietly--and with a deep sense of peace--thank our God."
This reprieve will allow the Pangemanans the opportunity to work with their attorneys and others to try to avoid deportation. Tomorrow, Kaper-Dale will assist them with filing some initial paperwork.
There are at least 3,000 other Christian Indonesians in the United States with serious immigration concerns.
Despite a drive for comprehensive immigration reform in Congress, there are now new bills filed in the Senate and House of Representatives, S-295 and HR-665, that would, "allow certain Indonesian citizens to file a motion to reopen their asylum claims."
Kaper-Dale tells ABC News, "We are pushing hard for the both comprehensive and piecemeal immigration legislation. What we want is for comprehensive legislation to include benefits for the noncriminal immigrants who face immediate deportation."
Pangemanan says, "It's a big relief for us, I feel very blessed to be at home with my family, it's a very big relief in my life." He says that the time he now can spend with his family outside of the church is precious—such as walking his daughter to school this morning. "Despite the bitter cold, this gave me great joy."
Christian Indonesians in New Jersey Leave Church's Sanctuary
For much of the past year, Pangemanan has been unable to accomplish such an ordinary act. He and several other Indonesian Christians have been living within the sanctuary of their central New Jersey church because they feared immediate deportation.
As a follow-up to our story in late December, where we examined a group of eight people considered by their pastor to be at the greatest risk for deportation, ABC News reports a change in the federal government's position on their individual cases.
Without any fanfare early on Valentine's Day evening, Pangemanan and the others finally left the safety of the Reformed Church of Highland Park for the comfort and familiarity of their homes.
Pangemanan celebrated the holiday with his wife, Yana, who has also been at risk for arrest and removal from the United States, and his two American-born children. After a celebratory supper, the parents watched as their daughters opened up Valentine's Day cards from their classmates and friends.
RELATED: Christian Indonesians Live In NJ Church's Sanctuary to Avoid Deportation
This familial celebration was due to the efforts of the pastor, Rev. Seth Kaper-Dale. For more than a decade, Kaper-Dale has worked to help the Indonesian members of his congregation deal with their myriad of complex immigration legal issues and other needs.
Courtesy Graham MacIndoe
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Kaper-Dale's specific focus was to help the eight people he thought were most in danger of deportation, which include Harry and Yana Pangemanan. He won't go into specifics about what was discussed in that meeting except to say that, "ICE treated us with the utmost respect and [they promised] to speak with the Newark office." After a follow-up conference call on Thursday, which included a senior immigration official based in New Jersey, it was determined the Indonesians no longer needed to live in sanctuary.
In a statement to ABC News, ICE said, "Based on specific circumstances of their cases, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has placed the eight individuals on orders of supervision (OSUP) – with reporting requirements – at this time. OSUP allows these eight individuals to remain in the community as opposed to detention."
Kaper-Dale expressed his gratitude for the government's decision in an email to his church's congregants and friends. "We have been blessed today that ICE in Washington and in Newark has heard our deep concerns for our Indonesian brothers and sisters. Let us quietly--and with a deep sense of peace--thank our God."
This reprieve will allow the Pangemanans the opportunity to work with their attorneys and others to try to avoid deportation. Tomorrow, Kaper-Dale will assist them with filing some initial paperwork.
There are at least 3,000 other Christian Indonesians in the United States with serious immigration concerns.
Despite a drive for comprehensive immigration reform in Congress, there are now new bills filed in the Senate and House of Representatives, S-295 and HR-665, that would, "allow certain Indonesian citizens to file a motion to reopen their asylum claims."
Kaper-Dale tells ABC News, "We are pushing hard for the both comprehensive and piecemeal immigration legislation. What we want is for comprehensive legislation to include benefits for the noncriminal immigrants who face immediate deportation."
Pangemanan says, "It's a big relief for us, I feel very blessed to be at home with my family, it's a very big relief in my life." He says that the time he now can spend with his family outside of the church is precious—such as walking his daughter to school this morning. "Despite the bitter cold, this gave me great joy."
Sunday, February 17, 2013
Saturday, February 16, 2013
Thursday, February 14, 2013
Immigrant Rights Advocates hold Ash Wednesday March and Service - Video | NJ.com
Immigrant Rights Advocates hold Ash Wednesday March and Service - Video | NJ.com
Immigrant Rights Advocates hold Ash Wednesday March and Service
Posted: Wednesday, February 13, 2013, 10:27 PM
About 100 participants were present for the 4th annual Ash Wednesday Prayer Service at Liberty State Park on Tuesday, February 12, 2013, in Jersey City, NJ. The group will travel to Immigrant detention centers throughout the day to advocate for Immigrant Rights. (Video by Frances Micklow/The Star-Ledger)
Wednesday, February 13, 2013
DREAMS NOT DETENTION Bus Tour & Vigils To End Immigration Detention (10-...
New Jersey advocates, faith leaders, & residents took a bus tour of the state's jails which house immigrant detainees to tell local politicians to choose "DREAMs not Detention" on Monday, October 8, 2012, in commemoration of Indigenous Celebration Day.
Vigils were organized in every NJ community that detains and profits from the incarceration of immigrant workers, students, parents and community members
The bus left the Elizabeth Detention Center & stopped at jails in Bergen, Hudson, and Essex counties. All hold people suspected of being in violation immigration laws in return for a per diem payment from Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Vigils were also held in Sussex and Monmouth counties which also hold immigrants for ICE. The bus will return for an afternoon vigil to the Elizabeth Detention Center, the for-profit facility operated by Corrections Corporation of America (CCA) where ICE first started incarcerating immigrants in NJ over a decade ago.
The event was co-sponsored by: IRATE & First Friends; Pax Christi NJ; AFSC Immigrant Rights Program - Newark; Wind of the Spirit; Felician Sisters of North America; Casa Esperanza; St. Joseph Social Service Center; Elizabeth Coalition to House the Homeless; Reformed Church of Highland Park; Passaic County Coalition for Immigrant Rights; Lutheran Office of Governmental Ministry - NJ Synod; NJ; St. Stephan's Grace Community- ELCA; Jornaleros Unidos de Passaic; Action 21; NJ Haiti Solidarity Network of the Northeast; Monmouth County Coalition of Immigrant Rights; (NJAID) NJ Advocates for Immigrant Detainees, Unidad Latina en Accion- NJ; Casa Freehold; Shrine of St. Joseph- Sterling; Sojourners Visitors Project; NJ Forum for Human Rights; Elizabeth Lutheran Center; JAN-NJ; Intentional Community -- Wyckoff
_______________________________________________
The press release for the event may be found here:
http://www.facebook.com/notes/casa-esperanza/dreams-not-detention-bus-tour-vigils-to-end-immigration-detention-press-release-/10151189895933537
The facebook event is archived here:
http://www.facebook.com/events/361779337233916/
Pictures from the day may be viewed here:
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151192008088537.475467.122914673536&type=1
_______________________________________________________________________________
More information about the organizers of the day's event may be found here:
www.irate-firstfriends.org
http://www.facebook.com/IRATEFF
https://twitter.com/IRATEFrstFrnds
http://www.detentionwatchnetwork.org/irate
_______________________________________________________
And you can encourage us to make more of these videos by following us on our social media sites:
http://www.facebook.com/casaesperanzanj
http://www.facebook.com/groups/casaesperanzanj/
http://www.tumblr.com/blog/casaesperanza
http://www.linkedin.com/in/casaesperanza
https://twitter.com/casaesperanzanj
https://plus.google.com/u/0/110331423146816267627/posts
http://www.flickr.com/people/casaesperanza/
http://www.stumbleupon.com/stumbler/casaesperanza
http://www.myspace.com/552664030
http://casaesperanza.newsvine.com/
http://digg.com/casaesperanzanj
And subscribe to our blogspots:
http://casaesperanzanj.blogspot.com/
http://immigrantdetainees.blogspot.com/
http://s-comm-nj.blogspot.com/
http://njaid.blogspot.com/
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________
DREAMS NOT DETENTION Bus Tour & Vigils To End Immigration Detention (10-...
New Jersey advocates, faith leaders, & residents took a bus tour of the state's jails which house immigrant detainees to tell local politicians to choose "DREAMs not Detention" on Monday, October 8, 2012, in commemoration of Indigenous Celebration Day.
Vigils were organized in every NJ community that detains and profits from the incarceration of immigrant workers, students, parents and community members
The bus left the Elizabeth Detention Center & stopped at jails in Bergen, Hudson, and Essex counties. All hold people suspected of being in violation immigration laws in return for a per diem payment from Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Vigils were also held in Sussex and Monmouth counties which also hold immigrants for ICE. The bus will return for an afternoon vigil to the Elizabeth Detention Center, the for-profit facility operated by Corrections Corporation of America (CCA) where ICE first started incarcerating immigrants in NJ over a decade ago.
The event was co-sponsored by: IRATE & First Friends; Pax Christi NJ; AFSC Immigrant Rights Program - Newark; Wind of the Spirit; Felician Sisters of North America; Casa Esperanza; St. Joseph Social Service Center; Elizabeth Coalition to House the Homeless; Reformed Church of Highland Park; Passaic County Coalition for Immigrant Rights; Lutheran Office of Governmental Ministry - NJ Synod; NJ; St. Stephan's Grace Community- ELCA; Jornaleros Unidos de Passaic; Action 21; NJ Haiti Solidarity Network of the Northeast; Monmouth County Coalition of Immigrant Rights; (NJAID) NJ Advocates for Immigrant Detainees, Unidad Latina en Accion- NJ; Casa Freehold; Shrine of St. Joseph- Sterling; Sojourners Visitors Project; NJ Forum for Human Rights; Elizabeth Lutheran Center; JAN-NJ; Intentional Community -- Wyckoff
_______________________________________________
The press release for the event may be found here:
http://www.facebook.com/notes/casa-esperanza/dreams-not-detention-bus-tour-vigils-to-end-immigration-detention-press-release-/10151189895933537
The facebook event is archived here:
http://www.facebook.com/events/361779337233916/
Pictures from the day may be viewed here:
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151192008088537.475467.122914673536&type=1
_______________________________________________________________________________
More information about the organizers of the day's event may be found here:
www.irate-firstfriends.org
http://www.facebook.com/IRATEFF
https://twitter.com/IRATEFrstFrnds
http://www.detentionwatchnetwork.org/irate
_______________________________________________________
And you can encourage us to make more of these videos by following us on our social media sites:
http://www.facebook.com/casaesperanzanj
http://www.facebook.com/groups/casaesperanzanj/
http://www.tumblr.com/blog/casaesperanza
http://www.linkedin.com/in/casaesperanza
https://twitter.com/casaesperanzanj
https://plus.google.com/u/0/110331423146816267627/posts
http://www.flickr.com/people/casaesperanza/
http://www.stumbleupon.com/stumbler/casaesperanza
http://www.myspace.com/552664030
http://casaesperanza.newsvine.com/
http://digg.com/casaesperanzanj
And subscribe to our blogspots:
http://casaesperanzanj.blogspot.com/
http://immigrantdetainees.blogspot.com/
http://s-comm-nj.blogspot.com/
http://njaid.blogspot.com/
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________
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