America's Secret ICE Castles

The Nation has a good artilce on immigrant detention, America's Secret ICE Castles. It quotes Amnesty's Sarnata Reynolds and refers to the Jailed Without Justice Report.

Sires Cosponsors Immigrant Detention Reform

Great news! Congressman Albio Sires (NJ13) joined fellow NJ Representatives Holt, Payne and Rothman in supporting the Immigration Oversight and Fairness Act, HR1215. This legislation addresses the most serious flaws identified in Amnesty’s Jailed Without Justice Report:
• Extreme over reliance on detention without considering effective and less expensive alternatives.
• Lack of due process allowing those imprisoned to challenge the grounds of their detention.
• Inhumane prison conditions for those who are detained.

If your Congressman is not on the list above, please call his office and urge him to cosponsor this important bill.

Amnesty is also supporting two of Senator Robert Menendez’s bills that address these issues, S 1549 and S 1550. Wherever you live in NJ, please call Senator Lautenberg’s office and urge him to support these bills!

Amnesty is currently organizing a lobbying week (the week of November 11th) across the country to support this legislation. We are also going to be focusing on closing Guantanamo and supporting the ratification of a women’s rights treaty (CEDAW). Please go to http://www.amnestyusa.org/delegation/list.php to find out more!

Immigrant Detention Vigil in Elizabeth

I will be briefly speaking about Amnesty's efforts on immigrant detention at this vigil tomorrow.



Larry



SUNDAY, OCTOBER 11



Come to the IRATE & First Friends 11th annual vigil

at the Elizabeth Detention Center



March and pray in solidarity with the thousands of immigrants being held in detention throughout the country.



2 pm at the corner of Dowd Street and Evans Street, Elizabeth, NJ



You are cordially invited

to a Spaghetti Supper & Teach In after the vigil on

Sunday evening, 10/11/09,

4 pm at the St Joseph Social Service Center

118 Division Street, Elizabeth, NJ



This supper will include presentations by invited speakers:



Marisol Conde-Hernandez, Rutgers undergraduate & activist

and

Msgr. William Reilly, member NJ Blue Ribbon Committee on Immigration Policy



Donations: Adults $25, Students $15, Children under 10 free

---------------------------

Space is limited so please make your reservation NOW by e-mailing your name and the number in your party to firstfriends2@juno.com.



Then please mail your check for the donation to:



IRATE & First Friends, 321 South Broad St., Elizabeth, NJ. O7202



When you check is received, we will confirm your reservation by e-mail.



Any question? Call 908-965-0455

November Lobby Week

During the week of November 11th, Amnesty activists across the country will be meeting with their local congressional offices to urge them to take action three of our top priorities:
• Fix the broken immigrant detention system to ensure due process and treat people humanely.
• End torture and take effective measures to ensure that it does not happen again.
• Ratify the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW).

Amnesty believes that it is now a key moment where grassroots pressure could help convince Congress to move forward on all three of these issues.

You can volunteer to organize a visit to your local congressional office at http://www.amnestyusa.org/delegation/leader.php?d=013&s=NJ &ICID=G0909A01.

Or, you can look for an existing delegation to take part in at http://www.amnestyusa.org/delegation/list.php?ICID=G0909A01.

Cyber Trolls & Such

An anonymous troll has been clogging the comments with posts totally unrelated to the topic he/she has been posting under. Sadly, this "anonymous" wants to simply call me names without having the deceny to take credit for his or her actions. Furthermore, the ire is directed against my comments on Tim's El Salvador. I have finally figured out that "anonymous" has decided to try to attack me here because Tim does not allow anonymous posts. (I guess he changed that because of similar troll problems.)

I have therefore changed the settings to not allow anonymous posts. Again, "Anonymous," I am willing to respond to serious challenges on issues--but calling me names (without having the decency to reveal yours) simply reveals your lack of maturity.

By the way, he/she finally did comment on an issue--only to reveal that he/she does not think that the forced disappearance and subsequent murder of an environmental activist; death threats against jornalists investigating the case; and attacks on a priest are things that Amnesty should be working on. The decision to put out this urgent action was made by senior AI staff members--not me. Having said that, right on AI! This action makes me proud of my affiliation with Amnesty.

And thank you, anonymous, for clearly displaying your true colors with your comment on the Marcelo Rivera case!

Please send letters to the editor on immigrants' rights

There is a lot of coverage of immigrants’ rights rallies in today’s NJ papers. Please write letters to the editor in response to articles such as

http://www.nj.com/morristown/jamieduffy/index.ssf/2009/09/pastors_and_people_call_for_an.html

http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/news/press/cumberland/article_722821a4-1bca-5a28-b914-ea3a3e2eb8db.html

http://www.mycentraljersey.com/article/20090915/NEWS/909150366

http://www.nj.com/hudson/index.ssf/2009/09/jersey_city_vigil_held_today_f.html

Be sure to mention Amnesty’s Jailed Without Justice Report (http://www.amnestyusa.org/uploads/JailedWithoutJustice.pdf) and call on Congress to support HR 1215, The Immigration Oversight and Fairness Act. (You can thank Holt, Rothman, and Payne for their support.)

AI Urgent Action on El Salvador

This is not a legislative action. As many of you know, however, I have a long history of human rights work on El Salvador, including my doctoral dissertation/book.


URGENT ACTION
death threats for activists demanding justice
Those seeking justice for a murdered environmental activist in Cabañas department, El Salvador, are at risk. Another anti-mining activist has also been shot, and five men and one boy have received threats and warnings in an effort to stop the campaign for justice for the murdered environmentalist, Gustavo Marcelo Rivera.
The body of Gustavo Marcelo Rivera, who opposed mining in the area, was found in Cabañas on 30 June, bound and showing signs of torture. According to local human rights organizations, the authorities have charged at least two men with his abduction and killing. However, as Gustavo Marcelo Rivera campaigned against what he considered “deadly [mining] projects” that could have a negative impact on the people and the environment in the department, Amnesty International is concerned that local authorities are not investigating the motives for his killing.
Ramiro Rivera, a male community leader who has also campaigned against gold mining in the area, was shot eight times outside his home in Cabañas on 7 August. Police have arrested the man named by Ramiro Rivera as his attacker. Ramiro Rivera is receiving treatment for his injuries.
Three broadcasters on a radio station in Cabañas, José Alexander Beltrán Castillo, aged 19, Ludwin Franklin Iraheta, aged 20, and 16-year-old Vladimir Abarca Ayala, have received death threats after reporting on Gustavo Marcelo Rivera's killing. The threats were sent in anonymous letters and SMS messages on 24 July. One of the SMS messages said: “You are also on the list…you saw what happened to [Marcelo] the next one is you” On 27 July, Father Luis Quintanilla, a Catholic priest in Cabañas, was driving home after appearing on the same radio station to call for justice for Gustavo Marcelo Rivera, when another vehicle forced him off the road. Four hooded gunmen travelling in the vehicle surrounded his car but Father Luis Quintanilla was able to escape unhurt. Community leader Héctor Antonio Garcia Berríos was warned on 4 August by a man he knew that if he and Gustavo Marcelo Rivera's brother, Miguel Rivera continued campaigning for justice for the murder, their lives would be at risk.
PLEASE WRITE IMMEDIATELY in Spanish or your own language, urging the Salavdoran authorities to:
n Ensure that they provide José Alexander Beltrán Castillo, Ludwin Franklin Iraheta, Vladimir Abarca Ayala, Luis Quintanilla, Ramiro Rivera, Miguel Rivera and Héctor Berríos with all necessary protection according to their wishes;
n Urgently carry out an independent investigation into recent threats and attacks against anti-mining and environmental activists, journalists, community and religious leaders in the department of Cabañas;
n Thoroughly and promptly investigate the abduction, torture and killing of Gustavo Marcelo Rivera, with the results made public and those responsible, including those who may have ordered the killing to be brought to justice.

PLEASE SEND APPEALS BEFORE 08 OCTOBER 2009 TO:
Acting Attorney General
Lic. Ástor Escalante Saravia
Fiscal General en Funciones
Fiscalía General de la República
Final 4ª Calle Oriente y 19ª Avenida Sur, Residencial Primavera,
Santa Tecla, La Libertad, San Salvador El Salvador
Fax: +503 2523-7402/7170
Email: astor.escalante@fgr.gov.sv
Salutation: Dear Attorney General
Director of the National Civil Police
Comisionado Carlos Ascencio Girón
Director de la Policía Nacional Civil
Policía Nacional Civil
6ta. Calle Oriente entre 8va y 10ma Ave. Sur, # 42 Barrio La Vega
San Salvador, El Salvador
Email: carlosascencio@pnc.gob.sv
Salutation: Dear Commissioner

And copies to:
Human Rights Organization
La Fundación de Estudios para la Aplicación de Derecho
25 Calle Poniente No. 1332,
Col Layco
San Salvador, El Salvador
Fax: +503 2236-1833Email: fespadinfo@vip.telesal.net

Also send copies to diplomatic representatives accredited to your country. Please check with your section office if sending appeals after the above date.
URGENT ACTION

attacks continue after activst murdered
ADditional Information
Community, development and environmental organizations in the Cabañas department have been campaigning against reported electoral fraud following local elections in January and against mining exploration due to the potential environmental impact and impact on the health of the local population. Threats, attacks and intimidation against activists reportedly began at least as early as May 2008 when campaigning against mining exploration in the area began and have intensified since January this year when activists denounced electoral irregularities following the elections.
Gustavo Marcelo Rivera Moreno, was Director of the House of Culture (Casa de Cultura), linked to the Ministry of Education in the municipality of San Isidro Cabañas department and together with his brother Miguel Rivera, co-founder and director of the community organization Association of Friends of San Isidro, Cabañas (Asociación Amigos de San Isidro Cabañas, ASIC). He had a long history of activism including human rights education, denouncing electoral fraud and concern for the environment.
Radio Victoria is a community radio station, committed to social and human rights reporting. Broadcasters at Radio Victoria have reported on anti-mining campaigns and have called for those responsible for the abduction and killing of Gustavo Marcelo Rivera to be brought to justice. On 25 July, the human rights ombudsman in San Salvador called on the Attorney General and the Director of the National Civil Police to provide security and protection measures for the three threatened broadcasters, to carry out a thorough investigation into the threats and for those responsible to be brought to justice. Following the threats all three broadcasters left Cabañas in fear for their safety. Ludwin Iraheta has since returned to work on Radio Victoria and is receiving protection from police from outside the area. At the time of writing, Jose Beltrán, who has reportedly refused protection, and Vladimir Abarca, have not yet returned to work in fear for their safety.
Leaders of other community-based organizations campaigning against mining in the area have also received death threats. On 29 July, Antonio Pacheco, Director of the Social and Economic Development Association of Santa (Asociación de Desarrollo Económico y Social Santa Marta, ADES) received death threats. ADES has been campaigning against the negative consequences of gold mining in Cabañas department and calling for justice in the killing of Gustavo Marcelo Rivera.

UA: 223/09 Index: AMR 29/001/2009 Issue Date: 27 August 2009

Urge Lautenberg and Menendez to Stand Up for the Constitution!

The Senate may vote this week to officially allow indefinite detention without charges, “legalizing” a Bush-era practice that violates both the U.S. Constitution and international human rights law! Amnesty International is also concerned that the Senate may approve revisions to the Military Commission Act this week instead of overturning it. Amnesty has consistently argued that the US federal court system is the correct place to try those accused of terrorism and make sure that justice is done.

Please call the offices of Senator Lautenberg (202- 224-3224) and Senator Menendez (202-224-4744) and urge them to:
Overturn rather than rework the Bush-era Military Commissions. The U.S. federal court system is the correct place to find justice.
Oppose any efforts to legalize indefinite detention, an egregious violation of the right to due process.

Call Congress to Support Immigrant Detention Reform!

This week, activists across the United States are meeting with their local congressional offices to support HR 1215, the Immigration Oversight and Fairness Act. Even if you aren’t taking part in a meeting, you can still help out by calling your Congressman’s Washington, DC office and urging him to support this important legislation to:

1. Imprison accused illegal aliens only when he or she is shown to be a flight risk or a danger to the community. By relying on effective alternative procedures, we can humanely assure that the accused show up for their hearings while reducing costs and strain on the overburdened prison system.
2. Ensure that each and every person who is detained has the opportunity to challenge the grounds of his or her detention. This is necessary because legal residents and even U.S. citizens have had to spend months in prison while waiting for their deportation hearings.
3. Create enforceable standards of humane treatment for those who are detained, whether in federal, state, local, or private facilities.

NJ Congressmen Rush Holt, Donald Payne, and Steve Rothman have already agreed to cosponsor this important bill! If you live in one of their districts, please call to say “thank you.”

If you live in another district, please call your Congressman and urge him to support HR 1215.

You can find out the name and contact for your representative by entering your zip code at www.house.gov.

Rothman Supports Immigrant Detention Reform

Congressman Steve Rothman's office has informed me that he has agreed to support HR 1215, the Immigration Oversight and Fairness Act!

As you may know, Amensty activists around the country are currently organizing a lobby week in support of this legislation, which address the three main problems identified in Amnesty's Jailed Without Justice report.

House votes to establish Office for Global Women’s Issues

Last night, the House of Representatives approved legislation that would implement an important component of the International Violence Against Women Act (IVAWA) by creating a new permanent position on women’s issues in the State Department. Nine of New Jersey’s thirteen representatives voted in favor, and the remaining four voted against.

The next step is to get this legislation passed in the Senate. There will then be a conference committee to reconcile the House and Senate versions, followed by another round of voting in each chamber. We also need to continue pushing for passage of IVAWA in both chambers.

In favor of the creation of the Office for Global Women's Issues at the Department of State to help coordinate efforts to fight violence against women:

Robert E. Andrews ( D - NJ - 01 )
John Adler ( D - NJ - 03 )
Frank Pallone ( D - NJ - 06 )
Leonard Lance ( R - NJ - 07 )
Bill Pascrell ( D - NJ - 08 )
Steve Rothman ( D - NJ - 09 )
Donald Payne ( D - NJ - 10 )
Rush D. Holt ( D - NJ - 12 )
Albio Sires ( D - NJ - 13 )

Against:

Frank LoBiondo ( R - NJ - 02 )
Christopher H. Smith ( R - NJ - 04 )
Scott Garrett ( R - NJ - 05 )
Rodney P. Frelinghuysen ( R - NJ - 11 )

Urge Congress to Reform Immigrant Detention!

One of our nation’s greatest strengths is the wide diversity of its population, built on the arrival of immigrants of all social classes from every part of the globe. Those of us living in New Jersey can be especially proud of the wide array of cultures that have contributed to the development of our communities.

Unfortunately, this asset is undermined by a judicial system that places of the burden of proof on those accused of being illegal immigrants rather than on those accusing them. As Amnesty’s Jailed Without Justice report documents, legal residents and even U.S. citizens can be arrested and jailed on charges of immigration violations WITHOUT having the opportunity to go before a court and say, “on what grounds am I being held?” Furthermore, those arrested are almost always subject to mandatory detention, regardless of factors such as flight risk or danger to the community. This winds up costing taxpayers $95 per detainee per day! Since 1996, the number of individuals in immigrant detention has tripled! This problem is compounded by the inhumane treatment that many detainees receive, such as being housed with violent offenders and denied adequate medical care.

Congressmen Rush Holt and Donald Payne are already cosponsors of the Immigration Oversight and Fairness Act (HR 1215), a bill that would correct this horrible situation. Please help convince the rest of our state’s representatives and our senators to join them. Activists across the country will be meeting their elected officials’ offices on this issue during the week of June 29th to July 5th. You can volunteer to organize a meeting or look for an existing meeting to join at http://www.amnestyusa.org/immigrant-detention/join-a-delegation/page.do?id=1011618.

Payne Becomes 2nd NJ Rep to Cosponsor Immigrant Detention Reform

Earlier this week, Congressman Donald Payne joined fellow NJ Representative Rush Holt in supporting HR 1215, the Immigration Oversight and Fairness Act. This important legislation addresses the problems identified in Amnesty’s recent report, Jailed Without Justice.

As you know, the state of New Jersey is home to many immigrants and there families. All members of our congressional delegation should therefore join Holt and Payne in supporting legislation that will guarantee due process, ensure that detention is used only when necessary, and improve inhumane prison conditions!

Report from DC Lobbying!

Last weekend was the annual meeting for Legislative Coordinators at AI’s DC office. On Monday, I met with staff members from the offices of
· Rep. Chris Smith
· Rep. Rush Holt
· Rep. Albio Sires
· Rep. Leonard Lance
· Rep. Steve Rothman
· Rep. Bill Pascrell
· Rep. Donald Payne
· Sen. Frank Lautenberg
· Sen. Robert Menendez

One of the main issues I raised was the horrible state of immigrant detention documented in Amnesty’s Jailed without Justice report. We asked House members to support HR 1215, the Immigration Oversight and Fairness Act to:
· Ensure that detainees can challenge the grounds for their detention (They may be legal residents or even citizens, for example.)
· Consider alternatives to detention before sending accused illegal immigrants to prison.
· Create enforceable standards to ensure the humane treatment of detainees, regardless of whether they are in federal, state, or local facilities.

I am happy to report that Congressman Holt had already cosponsored this important piece of legislation! Amnesty hopes that similar legislation will soon be introduced in the Senate.

I also followed up on the national in-district lobbying campaign to establish accountability on torture. I urged members of both chambers to:
· Support and independent commission to investigate the policies that led to torture and produce recommendations to prevent it from happening again.
· Call upon Attorney General Eric Holder to launch criminal investigations of torture and prosecutions and where there is sufficient evidence.
· Write to the President calling for an end to the abuse of “state secrets” arguments to refuse Freedom of Information requests. (We are particularly interested in the CIA Inspector General’s 2004 Report.)

Naturally, it would be great if you could follow up with a call to your Congressman, as well as Senator Lautenberg and Senator Menendez!

Star-Ledger Letter on Current Accountability Campaign

The Star-Ledger published my letter (below) on Amnesty's current push for Congress to investigate human rights violations by the previous administration. Please call your Congressman and both Senators if you have not done so already!

I'll be meeting with Congressman Albio Sires on Tuesday!

----------

Thank you for printing the op-ed piece by Leonard Pitts Jr. criticizing the previous administration's willingness to sacrifice the honor of the nation's Constitution for the "fool's gold" of false security ("We sacrificed our honor for what?" April 5).

Pitts' comparison of the Bush administration's anti-terrorist policies to Major Frank Burns' witch hunts on the television program "M*A*S*H" was very apt. I would like to suggest another show on which to model our future: "Law & Order." Every episode involves a thorough investigation of the crime and the prosecution of those found responsible.

Amnesty International is calling upon Congress to support the creation of an independent commission to investigate abuses committed in the "war on terror." Given that Attorney General Eric Holder has stated that some of the alleged abuses during the previous administration amounted to torture, Congress should also call upon his office to investigate and punish those responsible.

-- Larry Ladutke, Weehawken

Urge Congress to Investigate Torture and Establish Accountability

This week and next week, activists across the country are meeting with their Senators and Representatives to urge them to investigate torture and human rights abuses committed during the “war on terror” and to hold those responsible accountable for their actions. This is the only way that we can find out the full extent of the crimes that were committed and prevent them from happening again.

Even if you are not taking part in one of these meetings, however, you can help by calling the office of your Congressman and both of our state’s Senators. Please tell them that you would like them to:

1) Establish a non-partisan commission of distinguished Americans to examine, and provide a comprehensive report on, policies and actions related to the detention, treatment, and transfer of detainees after 9/11 and the consequences of those actions, and to make recommendations for future policy in this area.

2) Call on Attorney General Eric Holder to launch a criminal investigation that U.S. engaged in torturing detainees and to hold those responsible for such conduct accountable.

3) Introduce or support a Dear Colleague letter calling on the administration to immediately produce and publish all the relevant policy memos which argued for and established the basis for coercive interrogation, detainee treatment and policy in the last administration.

You can reach Senator Lautenberg’s office at (202) 224-3224. The number for Senator Menendez’s office is (202) 224-4744.

You can find out the name and contact information for your Representative by entering the zip code where you are registered to vote at www.house.gov.

Urge Congress to Investigate “War on Terror” Abuses!

I hope you have all had a chance to call Senator Lautenberg and Senator Menendez in support of the Tribal Law and Order Act. If not, please do so soon!

The next thing on Amnesty International’s legislative agenda is encouraging Congress to investigate the abuses that took place during the previous administration. From April 6th to the 17th, activists across the country will meet with the offices of their Senators and Representatives to once again encourage them to do their job—performing oversight of the Executive Branch and thus ensuring that our constitutional system of checks and balances works!

We have planned this action to coincide with a congressional recess, a time in which Members of Congress are likely to be back in their home districts. That means that there is a good chance that you can meet with your Senator and/or Representative in person without having to travel to Washington!

You can sign up to lead a delegation . If you are approved, Amnesty will provide materials, online training, and a conference call to help you prepare yourself and train other members of your delegation.

You can also look for an existing delegation to join .

We don’t expect governments in countries like China and Iran to seriously investigate themselves and determine who is responsible for human rights violations. In democracy such as the United States, however, we should accept nothing less.

International Women’s Day/Protect Native American Women

As you probably know, today, March 8th, is International Women’s Day. Amnesty is marking this event with a week of phone calls to the Senate supporting to protect Native American women from violence.

In its 2007 Maze of Injustice report, Amnesty International found that Native American and Native Alaskan women were TWO AND A HALF TIMES MORE LIKELY to be raped or sexually assaulted than other women in the United States. It found that factors such as confusing and overlapping layers of bureaucracy and legislation; inadequate funding for law enforcement in the areas where they live; and lack of standards for the treatment of victims have left these women vulnerable and allowed their attackers to often remain unpunished.

The Tribal Law and Order Act of 2009 would directly address these factors and thus offer Native American women the same level of protection that most of us take for granted. Please contact the offices of Senator Frank Lautenberg (202-224-3224) and Senator Robert Menendez (202-224-4744) and urge them to support this important legislation. Everyone in our nation deserves to be protected by the law! No one should live in fear, especially not because of her gender or ethic background!

You can find more information, including a sample script, at http://www.amnestyusa.org/svawlobby/tloa.php?st=NJ You can even use this website to let us know that you called and tell us how the offices responded!

Urge the Senate to Investigate Abuses Under the Previous Administration

As you know, a lot has already been accomplished during the 100 Days of Action to urge the new administration to undue the damage to human rights, the U.S. Constitution, and the rule of law in the name of the “war on terror.” President Obama has ordered Guantanamo closed, banned torture, and ended the “extraordinary rendition” of prisoners to nations where they face abuse.

Our government must do more, however, and that means that WE must do more. This week, February 17-20, activists across the country are calling to urge the Senate to support the creation of a nonpartisan commission to investigate the torture and other forms of inhumane treatment prisoners that took during the previous administration. Yes, President Obama has taken some very important steps. We can not be sure, however, that these things will not happen again unless we have a full accounting of what actually happened.

The Bush Administration resisted every effort by Amnesty International and its allies to investigate these abuses through the Freedom of Information Act. Unfortunately, this is one area where the Obama Administration has not taken decisive action to restore our nation’s credibility and help prevent a repeat of these horrible mistakes.

Please call Senator Lautenberg and Senator Menendez and urge them to support the creation of a nonpartisan commission to investigate the abuses committed in the “war on terror.” Amnesty will even connect you to their offices if you enter your phone number at http://www.amnestyusa.org/stoptorture/test.php?st=NJ. You may also contact Senator Lautenberg’s office directly at (202) 224-3224 and Senator Menendez’s office at (202) 224-4744.