Asian American, Black activists rally for immigration reform

"We are making it known that this is a rainbow movement."



From Huffington Post: Asian-American and black activists took to Capitol Hill on Wednesday, calling on Congress to move quickly to address immigration reform.

An estimated 150 protesters, led by nonprofit UndocuBlack Network and Asian-American coalition AAPI Immigrant Rights Organizing Table, rallied to ask Congress to pass a clean Dream Act, which would provide a pathway to citizenship for young undocumented immigrants with no strings attached, along with a permanent solution for temporary protected status (TPS) holders.

"I stand in solidarity with Dreamers. I stand in solidarity with folks with TPS," Rep. Karen Bass (D-Calif.) said at the rally. “We are making it known that this is a rainbow movement."

More here: Asian-American, Black Activists Rally Together For Immigrants In Their Communities

Under Trump, Dreamers -- But Not Parents -- Will Be Allowed to Remain in U.S.

By Jenn Fang. Cross-Posted from Reappropriate.



In a surprise announcement on the 5th anniversary of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), the Trump administration announced yesterday that it would reverse one of the president's campaign promises and would instead continue the popular federal program. Founded in 2012, DACA granted renewable permits to undocumented immigrants who had been brought into the United States as children, protecting them from deportation and allowing them to work.

However, yesterday also saw U.S. Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly sign a memorandum to roll back a program proposed by the Obama administration in 2014 called Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents (DAPA). DAPA was intended to provide legal protections for the undocumented parents of American citizens or residents in an effort to not break up immigrant families. That program was never put into place due to legal challenges in federal court filed by 26 states led by Republican governors.

In January, Trump was quoted as saying about undocumented immigrants, "They are here illegally. They shouldn't be very worried. I do have a big heart. We're going to take care of everybody." However, it is clear by yesterday's dual announcements that the Trump administration is less interested in "taking care of everybody", and more interested in taking care of Trump's approval rating.

Jeb Bush on Anchor Babies: "Frankly it's more Asian people."

And this is how a presidential candidate throws Asians under the bus. Wow, that was easy.



It has begun. You may have heard the derogatory term "anchor babies" -- yes, shit is derogatory -- being used in discussions about immigration, particularly from the likes of Republican presidential candidates like Donald Trump, et al. who are calling for stricter crack downs on undocumented immigrants who purportedly taking advantage of America's policy of birthright citizenship under the 14th amendment.

Jeb Bush: 'Chill Out' on Criticism of 'Anchor Baby' Term

Criticized for using the term "anchor babies" during a conservative radio interview last week, Florida governor Jeb Bush has doubled down, telling reporters that he does not believe the term is offensive. "Nothing about what I've said should be viewed as derogatory towards immigrants at all," he said Monday in McAllen, Texas. "I think we need to take a step back and chill out a little bit." This is all apparently political correctness run amok.

He clarified further, saying that he used the term "anchor babies" specifically to refer to fraud in a "specific targeted kind of case" involving mothers who travel to the U.S. only to win citizenship for their unborn children.

"Frankly, it's more Asian people."

Got that, folks? In case you were concerned that Jeb Bush was referring to Latinos when talking about "anchor babies" taking advantage of birthright citizenship, don't worry -- he was just talking about Asians.

Petition: Protect immigrants and keep families together

Sign the petition urging President Obama to go big and bold on executive action for immigration relief



Helping to get the word out... Our friends at Asian Americans Advancing Justice-AAJC recently launched an online petition urging President Obama to go big and bold on executive action to stop or limit deportations and make other important changes to immigration enforcement.

Protect immigrants and keep families together!

We need changes to protest immigrants from deportation, reduce family visa backlogs, and end programs that encourage racial profiling. In light of the continued failure of the House to move progressive immigration reform legislation, it's more critical than ever for the administration to provide relief.

Here's what the petition is calling for:

Jose Antonio Vargas' 'Documented' premieres Sunday on CNN

Documentary chronicles award-winning journalist's experience as a undocumented immigrant



In June 2011, Pulitzer Prize-winning Filipino America journalist Jose Antonio Vargas publicly revealed his status as undocumented immigrant in a New York Times Magazine essay, "My Life as an Undocumented Immigrant" -- which thrust him into the national conversation on immigration reform.

Jose's documentary Documented chronicles his experience as an undocumented immigrant and an activist for immigration reform. If you missed its short theatrical run in New York and Los Angeles, Documented makes its national television broadcast premiere CNN on Sunday, June 29 at 9:00pm and 11:00pm ET, and will air again on Saturday, July 5. Make plans, set your DVRs.

Here's the trailer:

Fast for Families: Call to Action on Immigration Reform

Wednesday Fast and day of social media action, April 2



This past Tuesday, March 25, Congresswoman Judy Chu and leaders of the Fast for Families campaign participated in a Google Hangout to urge the Asian American and Pacific Islander community to take action and get involved with the immigration reform movement.

Fast for Families is a coalition of faith, labor, and civil rights leaders working with impacted communities to stand with families by calling attention to the moral crisis of family separation due to our immigration system. Our broken immigration system.

The campaign has been actively working on numerous activities to stand with families and move immigration reform forward, including calling community members to pledge to participate in a Wednesday Fast, as well as a Call to Action this Wednesday, April 2.

Here are some more details:

Jose Antonio Vargas' 'Documented' to get theatrical release

Immigration documentary to open in New York and Los Angeles before CNN broadcast



Mark your calendars. The feature documentary Documented, written, directed and produced by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Jose Antonio Vargas, will be released in select theaters in New York and Los Angeles this spring before its national television broadcast on CNN.

Immigration Doc 'Documented' Will Get Theatrical Release Prior to CNN Airing

The film, which chronicles Jose's experience as an undocumented immigrant and an activist for immigration reform, will be released theatrically and digitally, opening at the Village East Cinema in New York on May 2 and the Landmark Regent in Los Angeles on May 9. It will then air on CNN on June 29.

Watch the trailer:

AAPIs join national solidarity fast for immigration reform

Three core fasters break their fast on Day 22 of "Fast for Families"



This week, hundreds of Asian American and Pacific Islanders across the country are participating in "Fast for Families" to illustrate the united support of AAPI communities for a humane and inclusive immigration process, and to compel Congress to act on comprehensive immigration reform: 500+ AAPIs Join "Fast for Families"

The 24-hour fast is a show of solidarity for individual advocates who have fasted much longer for immigration reform. Three core "Fast for Families" fasters -- National Korean American Service and Education Consortium (NAKASEC) Executive Director Dae Joong Yoon; Eliseo Medina of the Service Employees International Union and DREAMer and Mi Familia Vota's Cristian Avila - abstained from all food since November 12.

This morning in Washington DC -- Day 22 -- they broke their fast, passing it on to new fasters. That's DJ Yoon in the photo above, breaking his fast in a ceremony with bread given by Father Jacek Ozechowski.

Meanwhile, At least 180 advocates from 33 AAPI groups have committed to take part in 24-hour solidarity fasts over the next two weeks, including several of our friends at Advancing Justice-LA:

President Obama delivers remarks on immigration reform in San Francisco's Chinatown

Protestors call on the President to halt all deportations.



President Obama was in San Francisco this morning, delivering remarks at the Betty Ong Recreation Center in Chinatown, where he called on Congress to pass commonsense immigration reform. His speech included a shout out to Batkid, an acknowledgement of some of the city's earliest Asian immigrants by way of Angel Island, and a challenge to House Republicans to pass comprehensive immigration reform.

Obama's Speech Disrupted by Undocumented Student Calling to Halt Deportations

But President Obama's visit to the city by the Bay would not be complete with some spirited protests, including an exchange with an outspoken audience member -- identified as undocumented student Ju Hong -- who disrupted his speech and called on the President to halt all deportations. When security attempted to escort Hong out, the president stopped them, saying he wanted Hong to stay.

Here's a clip of Hong's exchange with Obama:

AAPI leaders fasting for immigration reform

Our communities want inclusive and humane immigration reform now.



Asian American and Pacific Islander leaders, including representatives from the National Korean American Service & Education Consortium, are currently engaged in a daily fast with immigrant rights, faith and labor leaders to send a message to elected officials: our communities want inclusive and humane immigration reform now. They're fasting right now, sitting in a tent in Washington DC.

Fast for Families: A Call for Immigration Reform and Leadership is intended to put pressure on congressional leaders and to get them to bring legislation that would improve our nation's broken immigration system to the House of Representatives floor.

One of the main fasters, NAKASEC Executive Director Dae Joong Yoon, is in his tenth day of the fast and has lost more than ten pounds in the last week. Here's a video of Dae Joong talking about why he's fasting for immigration reform:

Asian American youth speak out for immigration reform

Elevating the voices of Asian American youth in the immigration debate



Asian American youth! You have a stake in immigration reform. Chicago's Fighting Youth Shouting Out for Humanity (FYSH) -- a social justice-oriented youth leadership council of the Korean American Resource and Cultural Center -- collected over 1,000 signatures from young people all over the country in support of Comprehensive Immigration Reform. Featuring spoken word performances from local youth, this video campaign aims to elevate the voices of Asian American youth in the immigration debate:

AAPI Voters Overwhelmingly Support Immigration Reform

Tell Congress to strengthen family reunification in comprehensive immigration reform.



Haven't our families waited long enough? Just sharing this infographic, created by Asian Americans Advancing Justice, in support of commonsense and compassionate immigration reform that reunites families and creates a path to citizenship. For further information, and to learn how you can get involved in the fight for immigration reform, join the Reuniting Families Campaign. #AAPIS4CIR