Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles

Press Kits For Media:

NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 4, 2008

CONTACT:
Anike Tourse (CHIRLA) 213.210.6735

CHIRLA releases "A Closer Look"
Demographic Profile Listing Facts and Statistics That Refute Stereotypes.

Los Angeles - The Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles (CHIRLA) has released 'A Closer Look: Portraits of Immigrants in Los Angeles County," examining the cultural make-up of Los Angeles' immigrant communities, their economic and social contributions to the county, and the influence such communities have had on the political process.

"We hope that this report counters the negative stereotyping prevalent in today's immigration discourse. And we hope that these facts will help to enlighten the debate by serving as a reference point in the future." Commented CHIRLA Executive Director Angelica Salas.

Among other important facts, the report cites that 63% of Los Angeles children belong to immigrant families (while 87% of them are U.S. citizens), that immigrants (including undocumented immigrants) make up over half of the Los Angeles service sector and make up 90% of the countys' production or manufacturing workers, and that first-generation immigrants have started at least 22 of Los Angeles' 100 fastest growing companies.

To download the following News Release, click attachment.

To download the following News Release, click here.
NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 23, 2008

CONTACT:
Anike Tourse (CHIRLA) 213.210.6735
Hee Joo Yoon (KRC) 323.937.3718

Mobilize the Immigrant Launches its Voter Campaign by Registering Thousands of New Voters Yesterday!

Los Angeles - Amidst a backdrop of red, white, and blue balloons, a waving banner, and dozens of volunteers, community leaders urged new citizens to register to vote during the "Mobilize the Immigrant Vote" Launch Press Conference yesterday. Volunteers both inside and outside of the convention center registered thousands of new citizens, distributed CHIRLA t-shirts, and offered hearty congratulations. Angelica Salas, executive director of the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles (CHIRLA), encouraged all of the new citizens to vote in upcoming elections.

"In this historic election year, important issues that directly impact our communities will be decided in June and November. We must vote in numbers, build our voice and demand respect and dignity for all immigrants and for our community," Salas remarked.

The Mobilize the Immigrant Vote (MIV) California Collaborative organizes a multi-ethnic coalition of community-based organizations working within immigrant communities and builds their capacity to register, educate, and mobilize their constituents for electoral participation. This 150+ organizational MIV Campaign includes the following Los Angeles and Orange County Non-Profits: the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles (CHIRLA), the Korean Resource Center (KRC), The California Partnership (CAP), Coalition LA, CARECEN, Khmer Girls in Action (KGA), The Korean Senior Citizens Mutual Club, the LA Coalition to End Hunger and Homelessness, and the OC Korea US Citizen League. MIV supports community values such as family, health, justice, equality, self-determination, democracy, and perhaps most of all full immigrant integration into American life which includes civic participation. KRC program director Hee Joo Yoon was pleased with the high number of new voter registrants but was certainly not surprised.

"The number of Korean American voters, along with immigrant and people of color voters, is growing every day. We must, and we will, demonstrate our political power at the ballot box, so that our issues - such as healthcare, immigration, education and civil rights are addressed."

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To download the following News Release, click here.
NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 1, 2008
Contact: Anike Tourse, Los Angeles, 213.353.1339, cell 310.622.3637, anike@chirla.org, Bethany Leal (MIWON): (323) 449-7358
Jorge-Mario Cabrera Valladares (NALAAC): (562) 243-5559

Thousands Peacefully March In Los Angeles to Call for Recognition of Worker Contributions, Denounce Raids, and Ask Congress to Move Immigration Reform Forward
National day laborer organization announces class action suit

Los Angeles, CA – A coalition of community organizations spearheaded by the Multicultural Immigrant Workers Organizing Network (MIWON), led thousands of Angelinos including community leaders, clergy, workers, students, and elected officials, marching downtown Los Angeles today in what organizers called a peaceful, joyous show of civic engagement and democracy.

At MacArthur Park, speakers, including Los Angeles Councilman Ed Reyes, motivated the crowd with the musical accompaniment of the Jornaleros del Norte, a day laborer band that has become an artistic staple at such gatherings. Organizer Marco Amador, a member of the National Day Laborer Organizing Network (NDLN), announced the filing of a class action lawsuit on behalf of hundreds of day laborers recently exploited for work with no pay. Milling through the crowd, vendors delivered hot dogs and cold water bottles while organizers handed out business-card-sized Know Your Rights Cards and MIWON t-shirts to participants. Hundreds of LAPD officers were at hand cooperatively assisting the marchers, protecting and serving the community as they committed to do.

The protestors progressed from three different points within the city until they reached a unity rally on First Street and Broadway, facing the modern City Hall building. Some of the speakers included, California Assembly Speaker Fabian Núñez and American Apparel CEO Dov Charney alongside his entire 4,000 person factory team. As marchers made their way through the city, many carried hand-made signs that featured such messages as “Citizenship Yes! Deportation No!” and banners reading “First 100 Days!” As the ralliers waved to onlookers, they raised hundreds of American flags and invited their neighbors to join the march. Those unable to join the marchers, cheered the crowd on from their windows and rooftops; waving, clapping, and chanting.

“Obama?” Angelica Salas, CHIRLA Executive Director, shouted from the stage, “Legalization Now!” the crowd chanted back. “Clinton?” “Legalization Now!” “McCain?” “Legalization Now!” “What do we want from our President,” continued the cheering Salas, “Legalization Now!” the crowd roared back. “We deserve it and we deserve it right now!” the throng chanted together followed by thunderous applause.

Bethany Leal, MIWON Director, commented: “Workers today showed America that in addition to positively contributing to this country’s progress, they also know how to honor International Workers Day making it one of the most peaceful and multicultural mass demonstrations of all time”.

The march was coordinated by the MIWON and March 25 Coalitions and endorsed by CHIRLA, IDEPSCA, KIWA, PWC, ACLU-SC, APALA, BRU, CBE, COCO, NALACC

To download the following Press Statement, click here.
PRESS STATEMENTOverwhelming Majority!
The Los Angeles City Council Resoundingly Votes for a Resolution Against the SAVE Act.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 26, 2008
Contact: Anike Tourse, Los Angeles, 213.353.1339, cell 310.622.3637, anike@chirla.org,
Los Angeles – The City Council voted on a resolution opposing the Save America through Verification and Enforcement (SAVE) Act (HR 4088) sponsored by Representatives Shuler (D-NC) and Tancredo (R-CO). Executive Director of the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles (CHIRLA), issued the following statement in response:
“The Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles is both proud and pleased to stand with such community organizations as AJC, MALDEF, ADL, Progressive Jewish Alliance, Catholic Charities, NAKASEC, ACLU, Southern California and Hermandad Mexicana Latin-Americana in applauding the LA City Council’s resounding opposition to the SAVE Act. Passage of the SAVE Act would continue to waste millions of tax payer dollars on enforcement and detention and deportation programs that have been tried for the last twenty years and failed to end undocumented immigration.

The city council recognizes that enactment of this legislation would likely lead to chaotic and uneven implementation and expand raids in immigrant communities. As a result of ICE’s raids and deportations, all across America U.S citizen children are being left in fear of having their parents taken away from them. Immigrant workers who are the backbone of many sectors of the U.S. economy, including Los Angeles, are being hunted down for the act of working to feed their families. Employers have been forced to divert their attentions from increasing productivity and competing commercially, to hap-hazard contingency plans of what they will do should their business fall apart because of an ICE worksite raid or other employment verification scheme. Thank goodness that Los Angeles council members understand that the SAVE Act attempts to massively expand a broken, faulty, computer employment verification system to fix our broken immigration laws and that it just won’t work. The SAVE Act will single-handedly devastate businesses, workers, and families.

We remember that in 2006, Rep. Sensenbrenner and others tried to pass this type of legislation and they failed! Now in 2008 Representative Schuler and Bilbray are trying again, and they will fail as well. Thank you to the Los Angeles city council for knowing better and for moving decisively to stop this attack on immigrant families and our fragile economy.”

To download the following Media Advisory, click here.
MEDIA ADVISORYFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 21, 2008
Contact: Xiomara Corpeno, Los Angeles, 213.210.4450,xcorpeno@chirla.org,
Crossing Arizona Film Screening
Film screening expected to draw a big crowd and big support for the work of the
Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles (CHIRLA)

What:
Screening of “Crossing Arizona,” nominated “Best Documentary” at 2006 Sundance Festival, followed by discussion with director/producer Dan DeVivo.
When:
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Doors open 5 p.m.; movie begins 5:30 p.m.

Where:
Holy Rosary Church
7800 Vineland Ave
Sun Valley, CA 91352

Who:
- Director/Producer Dan DeVivo
- The Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles (CHIRLA)
- Youth community organizers, students

Why:
Documentaries such as Crossing Arizona have become eerily prophetic as politicians compete with toughening border enforcement rhetoric while the consequent humanitarian crisis sees no end in sight. Every day, nearly 4,500 undocumented people risk their lives attempting to cross the Sonoran Desert. As the U.S. steps up border control in California and Texas, these migrants are squeezed into the Arizona border region, where the death toll continues to mount. Crossing Arizona takes an honest look at the border drama from the viewpoints of all involved, from the migrants to the Minutemen, and ultimately points to the urgency of immigration reform. The screening is a fundraiser to support CHIRLA’s work that includes helping immigrant families, organizing, and advocacy.

Visuals:
Movie posters & CHIRLA banners

To download the following Press Release, click here.
NEWS RELEASEFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 14, 2008
Contact: Anike Tourse, Los Angeles, 213.422.2830, cell 310.622.3637, anike@chirla.org, Paulina Gonzalez, UNITED HERE, (323) 485-3055; Jorge-Mario Cabrera, NALACC (562) 243-5559
Community Vigil Calls for Moratorium on ICE Raids
Community Organizations and Supporters Pray and Proceed With Families
Demanding an End to Terror.
In response to last weeks’ Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raid at Microsolutions, a Van Nuys’ printer cartridge factory, the detained workers’ families, advocates, supporters, and attorneys held a Broken-Heart Valentine’s Day vigil and press conference starting at the Los Angeles Federal Building and concluding at the Our Lady Queen of Angels, in downtown Los Angeles this evening. Until a legislative solution can be worked out in Congress, the protesters demanded a moratorium on the inhumane ICE raids that are tearing families apart.
“In light of the national debate surrounding immigration policy, the persistence and sheer inhumanity of the ICE raids is astounding. The American people have repeatedly expressed that it is against American values to deport twelve million people. Now is the time that communities must rally together and support these families torn apart by the raids in any way they can, including offering monetary support,” remarked Angelica Salas, executive director of the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles. Maria Elena Durazo of the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO and an actual worker from the factory echoed the numerous civil rights violations that were executed during the raid.

Over one hundred workers were detained at Micro Solutions Enterprises on February 7, 2008 by ICE officers. Immigrant and civil rights groups have been working around the clock to connect detainees with appropriate legal support. Consistent with other ICE raids, there have been serious, ongoing concerns regarding blockages to legal access, the unethical treatment the detainees have received during and as a result of the raids, and the debilitating impact on their families.

"The rule of law is an empty vessel if it's not guided by justice,” said Angela Sanbrano, the president of the National Alliance of Latin American and Caribbean Communities (NALACC). “We cannot in good conscience uphold these immigration laws which have been shown to be broken, immoral, and inadequate. America needs to stand up for our constitutional promise that speaks to justice, liberty, and happiness for all.”

This message of solidarity was echoed by the final vigil speaker, Amanda Figueroa, of the SEIU Healthcare, United Long-Term Care Workers’ Union, who urged all to unite with the workers struggling to keep their families intact. She pointed to the Urban Institute’s 2007 study that found that ongoing raids put nearly five million children with undocumented parents at risk for serious economic, psychological, and physical hardship.

The vigil closed with a community procession in white, peppered with banners and posters marked by pleas to end the injustice and tragedy of immigration raids.

The general public is encouraged to make a donation of any size that may support the workers and families victimized by the Van Nuys Raids. Checks and money orders may be made out to CHIRLA, with “Van Nuys Worker Fund” in the memo notation and sent to CHIRLA, 2533 West 3rd Street, Ste 101 Los Angeles, CA 90057. Small denominations will be accepted.

To download the following Press Release, click here.
MEDIA ADVISORYFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 8, 2008 Contact: Anike Tourse, Los Angeles, 213.422.2830
Contact: 310.622.3637 cell, anike@chirla.org
Civil Rights Organizations, Religious Leaders and Labor Unions Stand with Raid Victims’ Family Members to Denounce Raid and Demand Rights for Detainees

What:
A press conference to demand that ICE refrain from coercing detainees to sign voluntary departure orders or any other kind or removal orders until after having met with available counsel.
When:
February 8, 2007, 2 pm
Where:
Federal Building (B18 Entrance, side entrance on Aliso Street)
300 Los Angeles Street
Los Angeles, CA 90012
Who:
* Speakers will include Maria Elena Durazo, Executive Secretary Treasurer Los Angeles County Federation of Labor Ahilan Arulanantham, Director of Programs National Immigration Law Center, Blanca (Raid Detainee), Antonio Bernabe, CHIRLA Organizer

Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles CHIRLA, UNITE HERE, Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, American Civil Liberties Union, Southern California (ACLU), National Immigration Law Center (NILC), National Day Laborer Organizing Network (NDLON), Instituto Educación Popular Del Sur De California (IDEPSCA), Korean Immigrant Workers Alliance (KIWA), Multiethnic Workers Organizing Network (MIWON), Iglesia de la Placita Olvera, Philipino Workers Center (PWC), Consejo de Federaciones Mexicanas (COFEM), NAKASEC, NALACC

Why:
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement conducted a raid at Microsolutions Enterprises, 8201 Woodley Avenue in Van Nuys, California last night targeted at undocumented workers. We call on ICE to inform detaines that FREE legal assistance is available to all of those detained from the raids as well as to refrain from asking people to sign stipulated orders, voluntary departure orders or any other kinds of removal orders until given counsel. We also wish to alert family members that detainees have a right to remain silent and not to sign any documents. Detainees are also entitled to request a bond.

Finally we want to inform the general public that anyone who wishes to assist the detainees with legal support may write checks written out to CHIRLA, with “Van Nuys Worker Fund” written in the memo line. Checks may be mailed or delivered to the CHIRLA office at 2533 West 3rd Stree, LA, CA 90057

Visuals:
Banners, posters, and marchers

To download the following Press Release, click here.
PRESS STATEMENTFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 7, 2008 Contact: Anike Tourse, Los Angeles, 213.422.2830
Contact: 310.622.3637 cell, anike@chirla.org

CHIRLA Sends an Urgent Message to the Community about the ICE Raid at Microsolutions, Van Nuys

Los Angeles - The Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles (CHIRLA) has information that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is conducting a raid at Microsolutions Enterprises, 8201 Woodley Avenue in Van Nuys, CA targeting undocumented workers.

CHIRLA is very concerned that every detained immigrant be informed of his or her rights, including the right to seek representation by counsel, and the right to accurate information concerning the availability of any possible relief from removal. CHIRLA also believes that families of detained immigrants must be properly informed of the whereabouts of their loved ones.

Attorneys will evaluate all cases of all those detained free of charge. If family members of detained immigrants need assistance, they should call Nora Preciado at the American Civil Liberties Union, Southern California (ACLU) at (213) 977-5223.

CHIRLA Manda el Mensaje Urgente a la Comunida de
la Redada de Inmigración en Microsolutions, Van Nuys

Los Angeles — La Coalición Pro Derechos Humanos del Inmigrante tiene información de que el Servicio de Aduanas e Inmigración esta conduciendo una redada con el fin de encontrar trabajadores indocumentados en Microsolutions Enterprises, 8201 Woodley Avenue in Van Nuys, CA .

CHIRLA quiere asegurarse de que cada trabajador detenido sea informado de sus derechos, incluyendo el derecho de ser representado por un abogado, y el derecho a recibir información exacta acerca de sus posibilidades de no ser deportado. CHIRLA tambien cree que las familias de los detenidos deben ser informados apropiadamente de donde están localizados sus seres queridos.

Abogados evaluaran todos los casos de trabajadores detenidos gratuitamente. Si las familias de los trabajadores detenidos están interesados en contactarnos acerca de esta redada, por favor llamen Nora Preciado de ACLU al (213) 977-5223.

http://chirla.org/files/News_Release_May_1_2008.pdf