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Human Trafficking: Combating modern-day slavery on North Carolina farms

Agricultural production in North Carolina is 46 billion dollar industry which involves the fifth most farmworkers of any state (Legal Aid of NC). For tens of thousands of farmworkers, it’s an industry which remains seeped in extreme exploitation and, for some workers, modern-day slavery. The issue of human trafficking has become a point of action for the governments across the world, while here in North Carolina,(the Southern Coalition for Social Justice) is teaming up Student Action with Farmworkers Student Action with Farmworkers to build awareness about and to combat human trafficking on NC’s farms. What is Human Trafficking? Human trafficking, defined by the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 (TVPA) is any recruiting, harboring, moving, obtaining, or maintaining of a person by fraud, force, or coercion, for a commercial sex act, involuntary servitude, debt bondage, peonage, or slavery. In 2007, at a time when the US Senate was fiercely debating immigration reform, the New York Times published a story about a guest worker from Thailand, Worawut Khansamrit, which described the horrors of fraudulent recruiting and labor trafficking in North Carolina. The story is simple, proving that human trafficking could happen to anyone. Mr. Khansamrit, a former farmer in Thailand, mortgaged his family farm in Thailand for the opportunity to work in North Carolina. Mr. Khansamrit was promised to make more than thirty times what he made in Thailand, which would have allowed him the ability to afford his daughter a quality education. When Mr. Khansamrit arrived in North Carolina, the job he was promised no longer existed, which led him to working in New Orleans cleaning up debris from Hurricane Katrina, a job for which he was never paid. This story is repeated by many of the 120,000 guest workers per year allowed to get work visas. Guest workers fill a historical role in the work force in the US, a role based on paltry wages, no rights, and horrid working conditions. Faced with systematic exploitation, similar to the former plantations of yesteryear, the workers are faced with an assault on their basic human rights and little way out. What are signs of Human Trafficking? Human trafficking can be broken into two basic different forms; commercial sex trafficking, labor and service trafficking. Traffickers, including recruiters, pimps, small business owners, and criminal networks, are driven by enormous profits and huge demand for trafficked people to be exploited in labor and in sex work. Victims of human trafficking are controlled by constant threats of violence, confiscation of identification documents, threats towards the victim’s family, threats of deportation, debt bondage, isolation from one’s community and the public, and language barriers. Signs of human trafficking include involvement in commercial sex work, underpayment for work, confiscation of documents, lack of physical mobility, denial of communication, threats if a worker wants to leave, and a different work situation than promised. Trafficking does not require smuggling or forced movement, movement across borders or physical abuse. What is being done? Mr. Khansamrit and 21 other Thail workers, with the help of Legal Aid of North Carolina, filed a class action lawsuit against several labor contractors and farm owners in North Carolina for fraud, breach of contract, minimum wage violations and illegal human trafficking. Yet this is not the usual case for most people who are victims of human trafficking. The US State Department, as well as governments across the world, are working hard to combat human trafficking. This summer, the Southern Coalition for Social Justice has had the great opportunity to have an intern with Student Action with Farmworkers Into the Fields program who has been researching, compiling information, and designing popular education workshops about the trafficking of farmworkers in North Carolina. Also, we have been reaching out to farmworker camps, low-cost clinics that serve farmworkers, and partnering with Legal Aid of North Carolina's Farmworker Unit to combat human trafficking. Through these efforts, we have been building community awareness about the illegality of human trafficking and the legal remedies for trafficked farmworkers. “This means that the fear workers once had of being deported can be exchanged with the hope people now have of obtaining a Visa and social services if they have been a victim of trafficking,” said Cris Kontopidis, “Into the Fields” intern with SCSJ. “Our goal is to eventually reach all the locations where trafficking takes place in North Carolina, from the most urban to the most remote, and raise the awareness that people can have a way out, and reduce the potential for trafficking to continue happening,” said Kontopidis. For more information check out Legal Aid of NC Farmworker Unit Legal Aid of NC Farmworker Unit The Southern Coalition for Social Justice

Sludge Diet Film Screening and Discussion

As the heart of the New Hill community remains threatened by a potential sewage treatment plant, community members will meet to watch the award-winning film, “Sludge Diet.” We will discuss the negative environmental, health, and cultural impacts of a sewage treatment plant in New Hill and the steps being taken to stop the plant. Please join us!

Affadavit for the arrest of Bedri Kulla, 7-18-2009

AFFIDAVIT I, James Panos, being duly sword depose, say and provide the following information (obtained by me unless otherwise noted): I am a Special Agent employed with the Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (Legacy U.S. Customs Service) since June, 1987 and currently assigned to the Office of Professional Responsibility. I have received extensive training in the interpretation and application of federal statutes, federal court proceedings and techniques to insure the admissibility of evidence at the time of trial. I am familiar with the information contained in this affidavit from information provided to me in the form of written and oral reports and discussions with other agents of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), computer experts, and public source information available on the Internet. This affidavit is offered in support of: 1) A criminal complaint and arrest warrant for BEDRI KULLA for violations of Title 18, United States Code, Section 242, Deprivation of Civil Rights under Color of Law, and Title 18, United States Code, Section 873, Blackmail; 2) An application for a search warrant for the person and cellular telephone (assigned telephone number 703/400-2343) of KULLA; 3) An application for a search warrant for the residence (403 Adelaide Drive, Morrisville, Durham County, North Carolina) of KULLA; 4) An application for a search warrant for the contents of the Univision.com accounts of KULLA (user names bogota9772, b9772, and bedri9772); 5) An application for a search warrant for the contents of the MyWay.com account of KULLA (user name b9772); and 6) An application for a search warrant for the contents of the Inbox.com account of KULLA (user name puravida9772). As set forth herein, there is probable cause to believe that Bedri KULLA has committed violations of Title 18, United States Code, Section 242, Deprivation of Rights under Color of Law, and Title 18, United States Code, Section 873, Blackmail, and that there is probably cause to believe that, on his person and in his cellular telephone, residence, and accounts at Univision.com, MyWay.com, and Inbox.com, there is evidence of and property designed for use, intended for use, and used in committing such violations. Relevant Legal Authority […] Background Regarding Computers, the Internet, and E-Mail […] Probable Cause For the reasons forth below, Affiant submits that there is probable cause to believe that Bedri KULLA has, under color of law, threatened and blackmailed an alien with deportation if she would not engage in a relationship with him, including spending the night at his apartment, and followed through on the threat by attempting to cause a deportation officer to take action against the alien, in violation of the above-cited statutes. Moreover, because KULLA committed these offenses by using his cellular telephone and by using a computer in his residence to send e-mails, Affiant submits that there is probable cause to believe that KULLA’s person, cellular telephone, residence, and accounts with Univision.com, MyWay.com, and Inbox.com contain evidence of and property used in committing the violations. On April 16, 2009, Senior Special Agent (SSA) Elizabeth Fernandez, Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Raleigh, North Carolina, learned that Ms. Xiomara Blanco had reported to local law enforcement officials that she was being harassed by an individual known to her only as “Bedri.” On April 22, 2009, SSA Fernandez conducted an interview with Ms. Blanco, who stated she initially began corresponding with “Bedri” via the Univision.com social networking website sometime in January 2009. During the course of this investigation, I have learned the following information about Unvisions.com: 1) […] Ms. Blanco provided SSA Fernandez printed screen copies of messages sent to her by “Bedri” through Univision.com. Affiant has reviewed those messages, which all contain an embedded photograph of a male (later identified as KULLA) above the words “Sterling, VA / Raleigh, NC,” the user name “b9772”, and the date and time of the message. In addition, Ms. Blanco permitted agents to examine the contents of her cellular telephone, which examination confirmed information Ms. Blanco provided about text message sent to her by “Bedri.” On January 16, 2009, “Bedri” sent Ms. Blanco a message via Univision.com with the message “please send me your foto to my email puravida9772@inbox.com did you see my profile and my fotos I wait Bedri”. On January 29, 2009, “Bedri” sent Ms. Blanco an e-mail message viaUnivision.com providing his cellular telephone number, 703/400-2343, and requesting that they meet for coffee. Ms. Blanco responded that she would call and indicated she spoke little English. Between January 30, 2009, and February 21, 2009, “Bedri” sent Ms. Blanco seven additional e-mail messages via Univision.com requesting that she call him and asking why she had not called. On or about Wednesday, March 4, 200, Ms. Blanco met “Bedri” for the first time face to face at the Streets at Southpointe Mall in Durham, North Carolina. According to Ms. Blanco, when they met, “Bedri” displayed a wallet containing a badge and told her he worked for “Immigration.” Ms. Blanco advised SSA Fernandez that “Bedri” stated he knew people like her wanted to get married to obtain papers (commonly understood to mean documents authorizing one to remain in the United States) and told her words to the effect that he had worked in Virginia deporting people. He asked her to write her full name on a piece of paper, which she did, and advised that he was going to look her up in the computer. He also asked her if she had papers to be in the United States. During this meeting, “Bedri” advised Ms. Blanco that he was looking for serious relationship and wanted her to be his girlfriend. She replied she would have to get to know him first, but he claimed that was not the way relationships worked in the United States. The next day, “Bedri” arrived with flowers at Ms. Blanco’s place of employment, a restaurant in Durham, North Carolina. “Bedri” was aware she worked at the restaurant because she had provided that information to him during their initial online Univision.com e-mail messages. Ms. Blanco reported that “Bedri” showed her pieces of paper which had her name and other identifying information regarding her and her family and references to deportation on it. He also stated they would see each other again the upcoming Sunday. Afterwards, “Bedri” sent Ms. Blanco a text message asking if she would spend Sunday night at his apartment and then go to work from there on Monday. After Ms. Blanco advised “Bedri” she was not going to his apartment, he began sending her harassing text messages to her telephone and e-mail messages through the Unvision.com website. On March 30, 2009, at 10:57 A.M., “Bedri” sent Ms. Blanco an e-mail message via Univision.com stating “You need talk with me, why are like this with me? What do you want. You know you have a deportation order you do not have much choice, so talk with me? Bedri”. On April 2, 2009, at 11:49 P.M., “Bedri” sent Ms. Blanco an e-mail message via Univision.com with the subject line “you need talk to me you have deportation (sic) order do n” and stating in the body of the message “call me and set up a meeting with me. You have deportation (sic) order and you should not avoid talking with me? Think smart Bedri”. On April 3, 2009, at 9:56 P.M., “Bedri” sent Ms. Blanco an e-mail message via Univision.com with the subject line “contact me or I will send immigration to your work” with only the name “Bedri” in the body of the message. On April 6, 2009, at 12:25 A.M., “Bedri” sent Ms. Blanco an e-mail message via Univision.com with the subject line “okay you no contact me then I send ICE for you at” with only the name “Bedri” in the body of the message. ICE is an acronym for Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the part of the United States Department of Homeland Security, which is tasked with enforcing immigration laws and regulations. On April 7, 2009, at 6:55 A.A., “Bedri” sent Ms. Blanco an e-mail message via Univision.com with the subject line “XIOMARA contact me i give you till Friday for call” and stating the body of the message “or I will send ICE to your work, you need contact me as your situation is serious. Do not ignore my message and contact me. If you no want ICE come to your work contact me soon by Friday.” On April 11, 2009, at 10:00 A.M., “Bedri” sent Ms. Blanco an e-mail message via Univision.com with the subject line “Read Careful” and stating in the body of the message that they will come today but one day they will come and you will be send (sic) back to your country deported. Take this serious and call me if you do not want that this happens to you. Think serious as I am not lying to you but it is the truth. You have my number call”. Between April 11, 2009, and April 17, 2009, “Bedri” sent three more e-mail messages via Univision.com indicating that Ms. Blanco should take his messages seriously. On April 17, 2009 at 12:05 A.M., “Bedri” sent Ms. Blanco an email message via Univision.com with the subject line “I gave you chance Xiomara now its too late” and stating in the body of the message “enjoy your trip to your country”. On April 22, 2009, at the direction of SSA Fernandez, Ms. Blanco responded via Unvision.com to “Bedri”’s April 17, 2009 message indicating she had not responded to his prior messages because she had been ill and in the hospital. She referred to his statement regarding her deportation and asked what he wanted. “Bedri” responded via Unvision.com that he was in Dallas, Texas, and for Ms. Blanco to plan on meeting with him Sunday, May 10, 2009, when he returned. Ms. Blanco responded via Univision.com asking again what he wanted; “Bedri” replied he wanted to see her and talk with her. Ms. Blanco responded via Univision.com and again asked what he wanted. “Bedri” replied and reiterated that they would meet face to face and talk. “Bedri” stated “See you Sunday May 10, if you want everything good then you will see me. Bedri”. Department of Homeland Security database systems revealed that Ms. Blanco is a 23-year-old citizen of El Salvador. She was ordered removed from the United Sates by an Immigration Judge on December 1, 2005, but has not been removed. On July 2, 2008, she was placed on an Order of Supervision, which makes her eligible for employment authorization. No other criminal history records exist for Ms. Blanco. Investigation, including a review of records of the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (CIS), the part of the United States Department of Homeland Security that assists foreign national seeking lawful status and/or citizenship in the United States, revealed that Bedri KULLA is employed with said agency as an Immigration Services Officer (ISO) based in Durham, North Carolina. CIS records confirm that, in 2008, KULLA was administratively discipline because while performing his official duties, he provided his cellular telephone number (703/400-2343) on a stick note to a female foreign nation who was involved in immigration proceedings. CIS records list KULLA’s date of birth as October 29, 1960, and his current mailing address as 403 Adelaide Circle, Morrisville, North Carolina 27560. This address has been confirmed as being located in Durham County, North Carolina. Database checks conducted by SSA Fernandez indicate that KULLA previously resided in Sterling Virginia, until September, 2008. Investigation also has confirmed that “9772” are the last four digits of KULLA’s Social Security number. SSA Fernandez obtained a copy of KULLA’s Univision.com home page, which listed his user names as “bogota9772” and “b9772” and included an “About Me” section in which KULLA stated that he was born and raised in Canada, his parents are Albanian, he is 48 years old and resides in Sterling, Virginia, and Raleigh, North Carolina. The home page also indicates he registered the account on January 1, 2008. SSA Fernandez presented a photographic lineup containing KULLA’s photograph to Ms. Blanco who positively identified KULLA as “Bedri,” who she recognized from their meeting. Subscriber information […] On April 16, 2009, SSA Fernandez issued a summons to Univision.com for account information on “b9772”. SSA Fernandez also submitted a written request to Unvision.com to preserve the account, so that upon obtaining a search warrant, agents could retrieve data stored for this account. Univision.com responded with the following information: […] On April 17, 2009, SSA Fernandez received a report from ICE Supervisory Detention and Deportation Officer Sean Connelly, who advised that, on April 13, 2009, KULLA had contacted ICE Deportation Officer Ronald Dorman to report that, during the performance of KULLA’s official duties with CIS, KULLA had encountered a woman named “Xiomara” and learned that she had a final order of deportation. KULLA stated that he only had a telephone number for “Xiomara” and suggested that Dorman conduct database checks to identify the subject. Dorman asked KULLA to forward an e-mail with the information. KULLA then sent an e-mail to Dorman containing the name “Xiomara” (Ms. Blanco’s name), as well as Ms. Blanco’s Cellular telephone number. SSA Fernandez later confirmed this information with Dorman. Connelly also reported that KULLA had made a similar, unusual referral to deportation officers as to another young female from Latin America. SSA Fernandez confirmed that this second individual also was of record with the Department of Homeland Security. Attempts to make contact with this individual have not succeeded to date. On May 5, 2009, SSA Fernandez issued a summons to Inbox.com (an e-mail account provider with data storage characteristics like that of Univision.com) for information related to e-mail address puravida9972@inbox.com (which was identified as an e-mail account used by KULLA through messages sent to Ms. Blanco. SSA Fernandez also submitted a written request to Inbox.com to preserve the account, so that upon obtaining a search warrant, agents could retrieve data stored for this account. Inbox.com responded to the summons and provided the following information: […] On May 28, 2009, a controlled undercover meeting was conducted between Ms. Blanco and KULLA at the Caribou Coffee shop, located at 8201 Brier Creek Parkway, Raleigh, North Carolina. Ms. Blanco maintained a digital recording device on her person during the meeting, which was monitored and observed by ICE Special Agents. Photographs were taken of KULLA as came to and departed from the meeting. During the meeting, Ms. Blanco asked: “Why you, you send a message tell me you send immigration to my work?” KULLA replied: “Because I think you’re playing games with me.” During June 2009, Ms. Blanco received several e-mails from KULLA’s puravida9772@inbox.com e-mail address, in which he asked her to respond to his text messages and e-mails. In addition, during the month of June 2009, Ms. Blanco continued to receive text messages from KULLA’s cellular telephone. During these communications, KULLA advised that he had created a new Univision.com account of “bedri9772”. Conclusion For all the foregoing reasons, Affiant respectfully submits that there is probably cause to believe that Bedri KULLA has committed violations of Title 18, United States Code, Section 242, Deprivation of Rights under Color of Law, and Title 18, United States Code, Section 873, Blackmail, and that there is probable cause to believe that, on his person and in his cellular telephone, residence, and accounts at Univision.com, MyWay.com, and Inbox.com, there is evidence of and property designed for use, intended for use, and used in committing said violations.

Deportation program is tweaked

From Complaints process is widened, but check of immigration status in jails is little changed Complaints process is widened, but check of immigration status in…

Immigrants blackmailed for sex

From Eyewitness News has learned a federal government employee allegedly blackmailed women into having sex with him Eyewitness News has learned a federal government employee…

Why the 2010 Census Matters: Federal Funding and Voting Rights for Underrepresented Communities

The Constitution of the United States requires a count of every person and household in the US while recording certain information about each person, including questions about ethnicity, race, relation to other household occupants, and gender every ten years. The 2010 Census will be one of the largest civil projects in the history of the US, employing hundreds of thousands of census workers, all in attempt to make sure that everyone is counted. WHY THE CENSUS MATTERS Census counts are directly tied to the federal dollars communities receive for important services such as education funding, affordable housing support, job training, social services, roads, bridges, and other community development opportunities. Census counts also directly impact a community’s political voice because the numbers inform voting districts and determine how communities are represented. The 2010 Census will trigger a new round of revisions in elected districts across the country. States in the Northeast and Midwest, such as New York and Ohio, stand to lose Congressional Districts and therefore representation. Growing states in the South and Southwest stand to gain seats, while state and local governments throughout the country will be using Census data to shape and reshape districts for partisan political gain. These revisions will have a direct impact on the reservation of and the expansion of underrepresented peoples electoral opportunities and representation for the next decade. Careful studies of past census counts demonstrate that certain communities are at higher risk of not being counted accurately. These communities include • Communities and People of Color, • People and families that live in rental property • Transient communities, such as the homeless and migrant workers • Native Americans and poor, rural communities • Immigrants (census counts are for everyone, regardless of citizenship status) • The elderly and people who live in group housing COUNTING EVERYONE The Southern Coalition for Social Justice has been working for the past months to give Census Outreach Mini-Grants to community organizations in Virginia, North Carolina, Georgia, Florida, and Louisiana that are a trusted voice in their communities. The mini-grants are given to organizations for projects which raise awareness of the importance of the census in underrepresented and undercounted communities. Project examples include giving out water bottles with census information in Spanish to migrant farmworkers or performing a bilingual play about the importance of the census at a local community center. PLANNING A COMMUNITY CENSUS AND REDISTRICTING INSTITUTE The Southern Coalition for Social Justice, in consultation with the Center for the Study of Race, Ethnicity, and Gender in the Social Sciences (REGSS) at Duke University’s Social Science Research Institute, has begun the process of creating a Community Census and Redistricting Institute in preparation for the redistricting of local, state, and national electoral districts. For fair redistricting, underrepresented communities need expert assistance, especially those groups who are protected by the Voting Rights Act, including African Americans, Latin@s, Native Americans, Native Alaskans, and Asian Americans. During the redistricting process, it will be crucial for expert analysts and witnesses to enforce these voting rights provisions and protect and create fair voting districts. As we saw with the historic election of Barack Obama and the large racial differences in voting in the Southeast, where voting rights protections are the strongest, that there is a great need to protect underrepresented population’s voting rights. The work of the Community Census and Redistricting Institute will be to connect these experts and community organizations to stand up and defend minority voting rights. SCSJ has spearheaded the development of the Community Census and Redistricting Institute. The first meeting, on June 24th in Durham, NC, saw community organizations, geographers, civil rights attorneys, and other leaders in Census work in the Southeast convene and begin this monumental process. Participants studied the importance of a correct census count of those displace by Hurricane Katrina, those who have been displaced by home foreclosure, and how many of these related questions will impact devastated communities. On July 20th, in Atlanta, GA, this gathering of academics, legal experts, community organizations, researchers, and elected officials will continue the development of the Institute. A fair Census count and redistricting is crucial for political, legal, social, and economic change in the Southeast. As the Southeast has seen a great growth in the Latin@ and African American populations, the Community Census and Redistricting Institute is an important effort towards providing underrepresented voters with the capacity to elect representatives who are responsive to their concerns. Southern Coalition for Social Justice Census Bureau

HEALTHCARE STORIES- Why We Need a Public Option

HEALTHCARE STORIES- Why we need a Public Option http://www.youtube.com/nchcan

The Southern Coalition for Social Justice has been teaming up with Durham Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN) as a part of the national Health Care for America Now (HCAN) Campaign to win quality, affordable health care for all. On June 25th, 2009, tens of thousands of people marched on the capital to demand a public healthcare insurance option. While Congress has discussed many options, it is clear that we need a public option for health insurance to challenge the private, for profit insurers who leave millions uninsured. It has become clear that the time for comprehensive healthcare reform is now, and that we have a right to quality health coverage. According to Article 25 of the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights, passed on December 10, 1948, “Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of herself and of her family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services, and the right to security in the event of unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood, old age or other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond her control.” It is a well know fact that the United States is the wealthiest country in which its citizen’s right to health coverage is not covered. The human impact of millions of leaving without health insurance is immeasurable and undeniable. We need to remind our politicians, like the thousands who marched on Washington two weeks ago, that quality health insurance is a human right! As a part of the push towards positive healthcare reform, the Southern Coalition for Social Justice has recorded individual’s stories from North Carolina in an attempt to project the stories of people in North Carolina who need access to proper healthcare for their children, their loved ones, their businesses, and their livelihoods. Check them out!

HEALTHCARE STORIES- Why we need a Public Option http://www.youtube.com/nchcan

The time is now for a change. Healthcare for all now! TAKE ACTION FOR HEALTH CARE FOR ALL SOUTHERN COALITION FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE

Checkpoint Monitoring: Challenging Racial Profiling

Over the past week the Southern Coalition for Social Justice has been ramping up its efforts to train checkpoint monitors, with public training sessions in Guilford Co, Alamance Co, and Durham, NC . Hundreds of community members, students, and immigrant’s rights allies have been trained in how to respond to police license checkpoints, in response to the growing number of checkpoints which lead to the deportation of thousands of undocumented immigrants which have devastated immigrant communities in the past few years. Jillian Johnson and Elena Everett, from the Southern Coalition for Social Justice, led the trainings and explained the implications of ICE ACCESS, the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agreements of Cooperation in Communities to Enhance Safety and Security programs including 287(g), “Secure Communities,” and the Criminal Alien Program (CAP). The trainings also explained the infrastructure of the Checkpoint Monitoring program, as well as an interactive Checkpoint Monitoring training and a Know-Your-Rights briefing. Checkpoint monitoring has been an important response to the growth of license checkpoints due to 287g agreements. Section 287g of the Immigration and Nationality Act, the most notorious ICE ACCESS program, allows agreements between ICE and the state and local law enforcement agencies which enable local police officers to enforce national immigration law. Eight jurisdictions in North Carolina have 287g agreements with ICE, including Alamance, Cabarrus, Cumberland, Gaston, Henderson, Mecklenburg, and Wake Counties and Durham Police Department. ICE claims that 287g is intended to capture and deport “dangerous felons,” while in fact it is used to criminalize undocumented workers and deport thousands of workers for traffic offenses such as DWI or driving without a license. THE EFFECTS OF ICE ACCESS Southern Coalition for Social Justice’s Checkpoint Monitoring Training program allows communities to have an active role in checking ICE ACCESS programs, which is crucial because: All ICE ACCESS Programs, whether it’s the so-called “Secure Communities” or 287g, enable and encourage racial profiling by local law enforcement. In many jurisdictions we have seen dramatic rises in arrests of Latino-appearing individuals. Police set up regular checkpoints in Latino neighborhoods and near churches, stores and other locations where Latino people frequent. ICE ACCESS Programs create a climate of fear in immigrant communities. Fear of deportation encourages immigrants to avoid contact with the police, even when they are the victims of horrendous crimes. This allows for immigrants to become targets of criminals. ICE ACCESS Programs operate without oversight or accountability. 287g officers are not adequately supervised by ICE, allowing sheriffs to implement their own agendas, which can often be symptoms of racial discrimination. Once an undocumented immigrant is arrested, no matter how false or trumped up the charges are, they can still be deported after the charges are dropped. This allows police to use any excuse to arrest suspected undocumented immigrants. There is no requirement by the state to provide an attorney in the immigration courts if a detainee can not afford one, thus many people are denied appropriate counsel. ICE ACCESS programs cost taxpayers millions, while budgets for education and human services are being cut to the bone. The average cost of one county’s agreement is $17 million per year, paid by the federal government. WHY CHECKPOINT MONITORING? Checkpoint monitoring is an effective strategy to provide citizen oversight of police activity and prevent illegal profiling by police. Collecting data at these checkpoints can allow advocacy organizations to show whether ICE ACCESS programs enable racial profiling. Checkpoint monitoring allows community members to being involved in police oversight and the immigrant’s rights movement, while also causing law enforcement agencies and officers to moderate their behavior by knowing they are being watched and recorded. If your community or organization is interested in co-hosting a Checkpoint Monitoring Training, contact Elena Everett at Elena@southerncoalition.org For More information check out Migrant Solidarity Project NC ACLU

Remembering Bop City

Listen to the full podcast at: http://thestory.org/archive/the_story_803_Thinking_Big.mp3/view Billy Freeman's segment begins at 34 minutes into the program. Near Wilmington, N.C., a legal conundrum is pending over who owns a particular piece of beach. The case goes back 150 years in history, and it involves land that was originally purchased by a former slave. The property was passed down through the Freeman family, without a clear paper trail. Now there's a development company that claims it has bought up some of the interests. Billy Freeman joins Dick to talk about the history of the beach, and how they plan to sort out the ownership issues.