Legalization for All (L4A) Statement on President Obama’s Deferred Action

Fight Back News Service is circulating this Nov. 20 statement by the Legalization for All (L4A) network.

Tucson, AZ – El día de los muertos es una conmemoración anual en donde se les rinde tributo y honor a los familiares queridos que han fallecido. Aquí en Tucson existe ya una larga tradición que busca darle voz, visibilidad y presencia eterna a aquellos valientes seres humanos que han fallecido intentando cruzar el arduo desierto en busca de una mejor vida. Este año se celebró la XIV Peregrinación del Día de los Muertos. En una caminata de 8.5 millas desde la Iglesia St. Johns hasta la histórica Iglesia San Xavier, el digno pueblo de Tucson demostró una vez más el espíritu de amor, unidad, solidaridad y resistencia que posee, y de forma simbólica llena de espiritualidad, le dio voz y cuerpo a aquellos que han muerto en silenciosa soledad.

Minneapolis, MN – 50 students and community members gathered for a vigil Nov. 11 in solidarity with the 43 disappeared – and likely murdered – Mexican student activists in Ayotzinapa. The vigil was in front of Coffman Student Union at the University of Minnesota (UMN). Students held signs with the names and pictures of each of the 43 missing students, along with a banner that read, “Say no to repression!” in several languages.

Fight Back News Service is circulating the following statement from the Legalization for All (L4A) Network. Normalista refers students at a “normal school” or teaching college. Solidarity from the North with the Normalista, rural teachers and students

Tampa, FL – Dozens of immigrant rights supporters gathered here to protest against President Obama's continued delays on stopping deportations. His administration has deported a record number of more than two million people; Obama has also backtracked for the second time after issuing Deferred Action for All Childhood Arrivals saying that he won’t take action on immigration until after the election. While Obama has accused the Republicans of playing politics with the immigration issue, this latest action shows that he is also willing to sacrifice the hopes and dreams of tens of thousands of immigrants for political gain.

Milwaukee, WI – On Oct. 28, three community members, who support DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) for undocumented immigrants, interrupted President Obama’s speech during a Democratic Party campaign event supporting Mary Burke. Burke is running against Governor Scott Walker in this election.

Immigrant rights activists protest

Saint Paul, MN – Immigrant rights activists protested outside Senator Franken's campaign office Sept. 11, to send the message, “No more deportations, no more delays, no more excuses.” After demonstrating outside, they marched into the office and presented their demands to three Franken campaign staff members. Several community members spoke passionately to the Franken representatives. They said Franken should make a public statement reversing himself and calling for Obama to take executive action now to stop deportations. The Franken staff members said they would pass what people said on to the senator.

Tampa, FL – After months of attempting to meet and speak with the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, Raíces en Tampa decided to organize two actions demanding the sheriffs “Stop ICE Holds” of immigrants. Only two days after Raíces en Tampa called for action, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office quietly changed their policy. According to their letters to the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Department of Homeland Security, the County Sherriff’s Office will only detain immigrants if there is a judge’s order.

Los Angeles, CA –More than 30 people gathered at the Salesian Family and Youth Center, located inthe Boyle Heights neighborhood in the heart of East Los Angeles, Aug. 23, to discuss the battle for the Legalization for All campaign and to help build for the 44-year anniversary of the Chicano Moratorium.

Tucson, AZ – On Aug. 10, Tucson Police (TPD) pulled over Norlan Flores Prado, a day laborer from Nicaragua, for allegedly making an improper right turn. Tucson Police then did exactly what they claim not to: they contacted the Border Patrol. Immediately, nearly 50 activists mobilized into action and flooded the scene. Two women threw themselves under the unmarked government SUV in which Flores was detained. Amid chants of “La Migra, policia, la misma porqueria!” the police and Border Patrol were forced to extract the two activists from underneath the vehicle in order to proceed with the bogus arrest.