FORUMS & CALL TO ACTION ON ICE CRISES WNC, USA

United Religious Initiative URI Partners (and others)

Two members of the URI Circle of Trustees are representatives to the Justice Initiative which you can read about below. Our Trustee representatives are Gary Prichard and Pannavati. The Justice Initiative has come up with the press release about the harrassment of undocumented residents which is printed below.

FORUMS SEPTEMBER 15 AND OCTOBER 22 IN HENDERSONVILLE
In addition to this information and call for action, we have learned that the League of Women Voters of Henderson County is sponsoring two forums open to the public to raise awareness of the League's official policy on the immigration dilemma and invite dialogue. Those forums are scheduled for September 15 at 7:00 PM at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship and on October 22 at 7:00 pm at the Library. You can view the position of the League by going to the League of Women Voters US (LWVUS) and go to report on immigration

The Henderson County Citizens for Change will offer information about the immigration issue on September 22 at 7:00 PM at the Library.

May Peace Prevail on Earth


PRESS RELEASE Contacts: Gary Prichard, 828-693-1985
Carolina McCready, 828-693-1981


JUSTICE INITIATIVE: CEASE HARRASSMENT OF UNDOCUMENTED RESIDENTS

The Justice Initiative, a local grassroots coalition of concerned citizens has issued a statement calling for urgent action by Congressman Shuler and Senators Burke and Dole to intervene on behalf of undocumented workers arrested in a recent raid on Mills Mfg. Corp in Asheville.

According to information provided by the North Carolina Council of Churches, on Aug. 12, the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) conducted a raid on the Mills Manufacturing Corp. in Asheville. Fifty-seven workers were arrested on charges related to immigration violations. All arrested workers were transferred to the Henderson County Sheriff's Office for immigration processing. All were placed into "removal proceedings" for being in violation of U.S. immigration law. There have been no criminal charges against any workers.

From Hendersonville, 28 workers were transferred to the Mecklenburg County Detention Center near Charlotte and are being held as part of their "removal proceedings." Twenty-nine workers, mostly mothers and children, were released by the end of the work day on "humanitarian release." These workers are still in "removal proceedings." They are under order to appear before a federal judge. All of the workers are likely to be deported, according to their attorneys.

Carolina McCready, co-director of the Latino Advocacy Coalition in Hendersonville, said "families of arrested workers are devastated and traumatized. About 40 children have parents who were arrested and face deportation. Many of these children are US citizens. They face potential family separation, economic hardship, and psychological trauma."

Gary Prichard, co-chair of the Justice Initiative, said, "as people of faith, we deplore this tragic abuse of federal authority. Those arrested are not criminals. They are not indigent. They pose no security threat to the US. They are working men and women doing their best to provide a caring and healthy environment for themselves and their families. At a time when we are told by law enforcement authorities that illegal drug activities are a major concern in WNC, we find it hard to understand the use of significant law enforcement resources to arrest and deport working men and women."

Prichard said, "the Justice Initiative calls on Congressman Shuler, Senator Burke and Senator Dole to intervene on behalf of these families on humanitarian grounds. We urge all our elected representatives to work on legislation to create a pathway to citizenship for those undocumented workers who reside in the US. We urge all Americans to recognize that security is a border problem that is not resolved by deporting working men and women. And, as people of faith, we remember that prophets of all religions have directed their followers to welcome the stranger among us."

McCready said that the recent "crackdown" on undocumented workers and their families has created an environment of fear in the Hispanic community "Last week a sick infant nearly died because the parents were afraid to drive to the health center to receive medical assistance," she said. "There has been a significant decline in Latino patients in local health clinics because people are afraid they will be asked to produce a driver's license," Ms McCready continued.


"Our community is facing a humanitarian crisis, workers and their families need our help" said McCready. "A community network coordinated by Nuestro Centro, a local Latino center in Asheville, is organizing support for the workers and their families. There is a need for money to help the families. All contributions will go directly to those affected for basic needs (food, housing, utilities) and, depending on how much we raise, to help with legal expenses. Donations are tax-deductible."

Please send checks or money orders to Nuestro Centro, and write "Mills Manufacturing" in the memo. Mail to Nuestro Centro, PO Box 9238, Asheville, NC 28815.

The Justice Initiative is a grassroots coalition of various local groups including representatives of the United Religions Initiative, the Interfaith Ministerial Association, the Human Relations Council, and the Latino Advocacy Coalition as well as various local religious groups.