DREAM Act Rally In Tucson: Four Detained

Yesterday, in Tucson, Arizona, a group of undocumented immigrant students staged a sit-in at the Arizona offices of Senator John McCain, urging him to support the Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act (or DREAM Act), which would "provide certain undocumented alien students who graduate from US high schools, who are of good moral character, arrived in the U.S. as minors, and have been in the country continuously for at least five years prior to the bill's enactment, the opportunity to earn conditional permanent residency." Applicable students would have to prove their academic mettle or serve honorably in the U.S. Armed Services in order to qualify for this proposed path to citizenship.

But, Arizona! Not the most amenable place to undocumented immigrants to practice civil disobedience these days, is it? Naturally, a bunch of protesters were detained. The organization that supported the demonstration, TheDreamIsComing.org, issued the following press release:

Tucson, Arizona. May 17th, on the anniversary of landmark civil rights case Brown v. Board of Education, Arizona law enforcement arrested four undocumented leaders of the immigrant student movement in addition to Arizona native Raul Alcaraz. Lizbeth Mateo of Los Angeles, California; Tania Unzueta of Chicago, Illinois; Mohammad Abdollahi of Ann Arbor, Michigan; and Yahaira Carrillo of Kansas City, Missouri; were detained Tucson, Arizona, after staging a sit-in at Senator John McCain's office. With this challenge to local and federal law, these youth hope to highlight the urgency of legislative action in Congress, and catalyze mass grassroots mobilization to pass the DREAM Act before June 15th.

These four leaders are risking deportation from the United States in the hope that this action will make a significant contribution to the fight for immigrant rights. In response to the onslaught of enforcement-based immigration law, they staged a sit-in at Senator McCain's office, and urged congressional leadership to champion the DREAM Act and the values it represents: hard work, education, and fairness.

Lizbeth, 25, an organizer with DREAM Team Los Angeles, states, "There are already ten other states across the country considering immigration legislation similar to Arizona's: legislation that is anti-family, anti-democratic, and anti-freedom. Police states and enforcement are quickly becoming the standard, and we are running out of time. We are going to pass the DREAM Act because it is based on freedom and equality."

Mohammad, 24, co-founder of DreamActivist.Org, a resource web portal for undocumented students, said in a statement: "Never in our history has it been American to deny people their civil rights. We have decided to peacefully resist to encourage our leaders to pass the DREAM Act and create a new standard for immigration reform based on education, hard work, equality, and fairness."

Mohammed Abdollahi now finds himself in a particularly delicate situation. Niraj Warikoo of the Detroit Free Press reports:

Mohammad Abdollahi, 24 of Ann Arbor, was one of a group of protesters who were arrested Monday at the Tuscon, Arizona offices of Sen. McCain after trespassing and sitting in the office in protest of the Arizona law targeting illegal immigrants, according to activist and social media sites. He could now face deportation proceedings.

Abdollahi is an illegal immigrant who moved to the U.S. with his family when he was young. Now openly gay, he says he fears deportation back to Iran because of that country's stringent laws against homosexuality, which call for execution in some cases.

For more on Abdollahi, here's Steve Ralls of Immigration Equality, blogging about his story on these pages.

RELATED:
Undocumented Students Protest Outside Mccain's Office in Arizona [Current]
Ann Arbor illegal immigrant jailed after protest at Sen. McCain's office [Detroit Free Press]

PREVIOUSLY, on the HUFFINGTON POST:
A Gay Immigrant Reaches for a DREAM

Comments

[seekingtounderstand]

02:56 PM on 05/20/2010

Its an honor for young folks to want to become citizens of America. In the Dream Act, does it explain that our country is in deep debt and that becoming a citizen you will be paying it off for the rest of your life in high taxes? And that our social security and medicare are bankrupting and simply ponzi schemes. Just make sure that you understand what it really means to your future and keep your dual citizenship although Obama has cracked down on allowing Citizens to keep money out of the country. Make sure you seek wise council before making this decision so as you don't feel dooped in 20 years.

[seekingtounderstand]

01:47 PM on 05/20/2010

would someone kindly tell me how illegals manage to live in the US and supposedly have low paying jobs, send so much money back to Mexico each week. As a mom on a budget and clipping coupons, I really want to know so I can help my family. Its remarkable money management. Can anyone tell me, our budget is cut to the bone.

[J0E1]

03:01 PM on 05/20/2010

15 of them live in one hotel room.

[WalterJesseSmith]

10:41 AM on 05/20/2010

Harry Reid captured the spirit of the Washington, DC - Wall Street disconnect when, after failing to keep his promises to three senator (two Democrats and one Republican), all three voted against cloture yesterday. Said Reid: a senator lied to me.

You are right, Harry. Look in the mirror and you will see who lied to you. But take heart, Harry. You have revealed something very important to those of us who have difficulty grasping just how deep the DC-Wall Street corruption (conspiracy?) is. We now face the difficulty of being patient enough to distinguish between those who are so good at lying to themselves they have persuaded us to believe their lies on the one hand, and those whose missteps were genuine.

One thing is for sure: the latter camp has few occupants. This is why voters are so outraged they will vote against every policy and every sitting politician instead of waiting for the dust to settle.

Good-bye Specter. Good bye Bennett. Good-bye Lincoln. Good-bye Reid. Good bye Dodd. Good bye lots of others of both parties this fall. It is becoming increasingly clear the US citizenry is again discovering what the generation of 1765-1795 knew: if you do not take all political-economy matters into your own hands, the thugs will pose as aristocrats while they steal from you everything material and metamaterial.

[helonias]

07:16 PM on 05/19/2010

What would Jesus do with these folks?

Be deported with them.

[charles77]

01:26 PM on 05/19/2010

“Economic Logic of Illegal Immigration”

This report points out the point I keep trying to make that illegal immigration mostly helps the Elites, both GOP and DEMs.

Sure someone is making money off of the illegals or they would not be here.
This report is done by the COUNCIL ON FOREIGN RELATIONS, the Elites of the Elites. As I have said over and over, there is no question that illegals benefit the Elites on all sides. Why do you think Bill Gates always argues for more HB-1 Visas?

But it hurts average and poor Americans a lot!

“These benefits, however, are not shared equally. Labor inflows from abroad redistribute income away from workers who compete with immigrants in the labor market.”

“over the 1980 to 2000 period, wages of native workers without a high school degree fell by 9 percent as a result of immigration”

Think about that for a minute, you work 20 years and at the end of that, instead of your income going up, it went down 9%!
Those Americans include many poor White, Black AND Hispanic Americans!
These are the people the Left are supposed to help!

http://www.cfr.org/content/publications/attachments/ImmigrationCSR26.pdf

Elites get richer by employing low wage illegal workers, and low income Americans get poorer. The irony of many on the Left fighting for something that makes the rich, richer, and our poor, poorer is astounding.

[TggerJen]

01:53 PM on 05/19/2010

Unfortunately, you're right. The Democrats are no more the party of the working class, middle class and poor (or the environment) than the Republicans are the party of fiscal responsibility and 'trust but verify,' (or national security).
In fact, neither party is really much good for generating and implementing solutions.

We got the Medicare prescription plan but with a donut hole and no negotiation of prices. We got health reform that ends people getting dropped, but gives insurance companies more customers. We're about to get financial reform that doesn't break up the big banks, doesn't reinstate Glass-Steagall, and so on.

The DREAM Act is pretty much a huge amnesty that includes higher ed assistance for an unlimited number of illegal aliens with no real requirements on the illegal aliens.

Congressional Research Service summary--
http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=s111-729&tab=summary
The summary specifically states that it includes "higher education assistance" in addition to moving the illegal aliens to the front of the line.

Text of S.729-- http://www.govtrack.us/congress/billtext.xpd?bill=s111-729
The text states: "(d) Exemption From Numerical Limitations- Nothing in this section may be construed to apply a numerical limitation on the number of aliens who may be eligible for cancellation of removal or adjustment of status under this section."

They only have to manage to complete two years of college in good standing
in six years and with assistance, and that requirement can be waived.

[bdaved]

02:22 PM on 05/19/2010

Read it for reals. It doesn't include higher ed assistance. It limits the eligibility for assistance of aliens whose status is affected by it. There are also limitations on who is eligible for having their status adjusted. The law doesn't guarantee a change of status for everyone who applies for it. And you're mistaken in that last sentence. Go to your second link there and read Section 4 and Section 5. Click on those links in the bill in Section 4(a)(1)(C) and read those. There's a lot more to it than getting in two years of college in six years.

[Roguewolf]

12:59 PM on 05/19/2010

Part 2

If an economic boycott is truly what you desire, I will be happy to encourage Arizona utilities to renegotiate your power agreements so Los Angeles no longer receives any power from Arizona-based generation. I am confident that Arizona’s utilities would be happy to take those electrons off your hands. If, however, you find that the City Council lacks the strength of its convictions to turn off the lights in Los Angeles and boycott Arizona power, please reconsider the wisdom of attempting to harm Arizona’s economy.
People of goodwill can disagree over the merits of SB 1070. A state-wide economic boycott of Arizona is not a message sent in goodwill.
Sincerely,
Commissioner Gary Pierce

[Roguewolf]

12:59 PM on 05/19/2010

Part1


Dear Mayor Villaraigosa,
I was dismayed to learn that the Los Angeles City Council voted to boycott Arizona and Arizona-based companies — a vote you strongly supported — to show opposition to SB 1070 (Support our Law Enforcement and Safe Neighborhoods Act).
You explained your support of the boycott as follows: “While we recognize that as neighbors, we share resources and ties with the State of Arizona that may be difficult to sever, our goal is not to hurt the local economy of Los Angeles, but to impact the economy of Arizona. Our intent is to use our dollars — or the withholding of our dollars — to send a message.” (emphasis added)
I received your message; please receive mine. As a state-wide elected member of the Arizona Corporation Commission overseeing Arizona’s electric and water utilities, I too am keenly aware of the “resources and ties” we share with the City of Los Angeles. In fact, approximately twenty-five percent of the electricity consumed in Los Angeles is generated by power plants in Arizona.

[Roguewolf]

12:56 PM on 05/19/2010

(a) Every law enforcement agency in California shall fully cooperate with the United States Immigration and Naturalization Service regarding any person who is arrested if he or she is suspected of being present in the United States in violation of federal immigration laws. (b) With respect to any such person who is arrested, and suspected of being present in the United States in violation of federal immigration laws, every law enforcement agency shall do the following: (1) Attempt to verify the legal status of such person as a citizen of the United States, an alien lawfully admitted as a permanent resident, an alien lawfully admitted for a temporary period of time or as an alien who is present in the United States in violation of immigration laws. The verification process may include, but shall not be limited to, questioning the person regarding his or her date and place of birth, and entry into the United States, and demanding documentation to indicate his or her legal status. (2)

[Roguewolf]

12:53 PM on 05/19/2010

By Jerry Markon
Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, May 18, 2010

In the legal battle over Arizona's new immigration law, an ironic subtext has emerged: whether a Bush-era legal opinion complicates a potential Obama administration lawsuit against Arizona.

The document, written in 2002 by the Justice Department's Office of Legal Counsel, concluded that state police officers have "inherent power" to arrest undocumented immigrants for violating federal law. It was issued by Jay S. Bybee, who also helped write controversial memos from the same era that sanctioned harsh interrogation of terrorism suspects.

The author of the Arizona law -- which has drawn strong opposition from top Obama administration officials -- has cited the authority granted in the 2002 memo as a basis for the legislation. The Obama administration has not withdrawn the memo, and some backers of the Arizona law said Monday that because it remains in place, a Justice Department lawsuit against Arizona would be awkward at best.

[seekingtounderstand]

01:51 PM on 05/20/2010

A post said that Mayor of LA is afraid of losing his position and that anyone who lives in LA knows he is into Latino power and never helps others who may be non-latino. Is that true. Is he a La Rizza?

[rhetoricdog]

12:32 AM on 05/24/2010

Not sure if I can totally verify this, but I heard an audio -clip of him alluding to La Raza and its sensibilities. Again, its internet stuff, but its out there.

[Roguewolf]

12:51 PM on 05/19/2010

“So much for the drop in illegal immigrants in AZ.

Immigrant crossings into Arizona on the rise
By OLGA R. RODRIGUEZ (AP) – 18 hours ago



New U.S. Border Patrol statistics show arrests on the Arizona border were up 6 percent — by about 10,000 — from October to April, even as apprehension of illegals dropped 9 percent overall. The agency uses arrests to gauge the flow of migrants; there are no precise figures on the number of illegal crossings.

Statistics from the Mexican side also show a rise in illegal crossings through Arizona.

Grupo Beta, a Mexican government-sponsored group that aids migrants, helped 5,279 people from January to April in the area across the border from Douglas, Ariz., compared to 3,767 in the same period last year, said agent Carlos Oasaya.

That's the same area where Arizona rancher Robert Krentz was fatally shot in March as he surveyed his property in an all-terrain vehicle. Authorities suspect an illegal immigrant who was headed back to Mexico and worked as a scout for drug smugglers.”

[Flying Sparkz1]

12:43 PM on 05/19/2010

Just to put things in perspective, where was the outrage when this man was granted residency after entering the country illegally? Luis Posada Carriles.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luis_Posada_Carriles

[TggerJen]

11:58 AM on 05/19/2010

The DREAM Act is much worse for America than it is being described in this story.

Congressional Research Service summary-
http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=s111-729&tab=summary
The summary states that it includes "higher education assistance" in addition to moving illegal aliens to the front of the line for legal status.

S.729 Text- http://www.govtrack.us/congress/billtext.xpd?bill=s111-729
The text states: "(d) Exemption From Numerical Limitations- Nothing in this section may be construed to apply a numerical limitation on the number of aliens who may be eligible for cancellation of removal or adjustment of status under this section."

This sounds like a big blanket amnesty, with NO LIMITS on the numbers.

"(f) Removal of Alien- The Secretary of Homeland Security may not remove any alien who has a pending application for conditional status under this Act."

So illegal aliens have to manage to complete two years of college in good standing in six years and With Assistance- wow, that's a boon to America.
Even that isn't really required- the hardship section explains the time limit of 6 years can be extended and/or the requirement to complete any college or military service can be waived. And it works for children as young as 12.

If this isn't controversial it should be.

No limits on numbers, no requirement for college completion, no real requirements for college attendance or military service. No way to deport anyone with a pending application.

[bdaved]

02:09 PM on 05/19/2010

I wish you'd take a closer look at that bill. The section about higher education assistance is a limitation on what assistance an alien who becomes a lawful permanent resident under the act is eligible for, not any kind of guarantee of assistance. Look at Section 11. The limitations on the eligibility are there-- they're not in numbers, they're in the qualifications. Look at Section 4(a)(1) & -(2). The 2-years-of-college provision is a qualification, among others, for removing the conditional basis of permanent residency. Look at Section 5(d).
Once someone's application is no longer pending, there are several provisions for removing the conditional permanent residency. Look at Section 5(b) and (c), and Section 7(d).

[luvobama]

03:14 PM on 05/19/2010

He doesn't care.

He will do anything to justify his hatred of minorities and other hard working people.

It's how he rolls.

[chonus]

11:47 AM on 05/19/2010

Q. What's the difference between Sarah Palin and a Mexican immigrant?
A. One is dangerous, won't hold a job, has too many kids, and refuses to learn to speak English. The other is a Mexican immigrant!

[Flying Sparkz1]

12:26 PM on 05/19/2010

Good one! Especially the dangerous part. You left out being a burden on the taxpayers ;)

[parkeremma]

10:32 AM on 05/19/2010

Their evidence doesn't hold water. I respect immigrants, but if they do want to fight for something, they should go home and fight the drug cartels for their cities and homes back.If you want to come to this country for better life - great!!! Just learn how to respect the laws, to become legal, to speak English.
Cast your vote at http://immigration.civiltalks.com/. Your comments count.

[chonus]

11:49 AM on 05/19/2010

So...the Mexican army can barely take on the drug cartels. And you want some moneyless and itemless men, women, and children to go take them on?

Why, when it is our money and addictions that keep the cartels in power?

[luvobama]

03:15 PM on 05/19/2010

they don't like minorities and other hard working people.

[Emma2011]

07:29 AM on 05/19/2010

Obama chooses to protect a few Democratic US senators and House members from having to vote on immigration reform this year at the expense of millions of vulnerable immigrants across the nation.

[Peter007]

09:01 AM on 05/19/2010

And the Health care bill, stripped many immigrants of any right to purchase private health insurance for their families even though many of them ( children) are US citizens and are willing to pay for their own insurance. They are worse off now.

[TggerJen]

11:38 AM on 05/19/2010

Immigrants are stripped of any right to purchase? Immigrants? Maybe you mean illegal aliens?

[chonus]

11:50 AM on 05/19/2010

I agree. I couldn't believe that. How sadistic as a country are we? Reap the benefits of their slave labor but deny them the chance to fix their backs with their own money!?