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Derribemos Las Fronteras

by Aisling, Project Collective (projectcollective [at] riseup.net)
Page 3 of The Project
March, 2006

Borders work to divide human kind. The United States government has encouraged this division by building three tangible barriers in the form of fences over the last decade. H.R.4337 will only criminalizes immigrants but it also takes away their human rights. The DREAM Act will allow respite from HR 4437 as a reward for military service.
Derribemos Las Fronteras
By: Aisling, The Project Collective

Borders work to divide human kind. The United States government has encouraged this division by building three tangible barriers in the form of fences over the last decade. 1994 marked the beginning of this militarization of our border. During that year, Operation Gatekeeper expanded the fence that separates the United States from Mexico and the many border patrol units that keep our country “safe”. Because of this fence, 3,200 people have died trying to cross into a country where they see opportunities unavailable to them at home--opportunities to provide for their families. The border has always been a space surrounded by fear and ignorance but since 9/11 there has been a resurgence in xenophobic legislation to secure our borders from “terrorists”. Consequently, this past year has produced some of the worst anti-immigration legislation seen in a long time. The REAL ID Act, passed in 2005, allows the waiving of laws to build borders and highways and the creation of a National ID. It also permits the building of a third fence in an effort to encourage division and continue the construction of borders, both physically and ideologically.

Think that it can’t get worse? It has. Bill H.R. 4437 coming at ya’! Its official title is “To Amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to Strengthen Enforcement of the Immigration Laws, to Enhance Border Security, and for Other Purposes”. H.R. 4437 was recently voted on in the House of Representatives and passed (239 aye, 189 no) and is now moving on to the Senate where prospects look pretty grim, at least for anyone that cares at all about human rights.

This bill will provide our government with unlimited tools in criminalizing anyone they find to be here “illegally”. There is a long list of the injustices that this bill is trying to put into action which include:

* Building a 700-mile fence in areas with high levels of drug smuggling and immigration (say hello to the third wall).

* Spending more money on creating a greater number of border patrol units. (the help of the minutemen just ain’t enough).

*Making all misdemeanors committed by immigrants in the United States aggravated felonies, a charge that is generally only used in cases of rape or murder. This means that anyone found here without “proper documentation” will be considered a felon.

* Creating mandatory minimums for prison sentences for anyone found to be reentering the United States after being removed.

* Criminalizing the people and organizations that try to help immigrants coming into this country—including family members—and charging them with prison time and/or fines.

H.R.4337 not only criminalizes immigrants but it also takes away their human rights. If this bill passes then any person found in the United States and termed illegal must be detained and held until their court cases are final and will only be released once it is determined that they are not a security risk and provide a specified bond. Since there are already problems with overcrowding in detention centers the bill thoughtfully allows contracting with local jails and prisons to hold the immigrants. There is also the scary fact that the bill will allow ‘local authority to investigate, identify, apprehend, arrest, detain and transfer to Federal custody immigrants they find in the United States”. This means that the pigs—uh, I mean police—will now legally be able to harass, detain, and falsify immigrants’ cases and will be reimbursed for it.

What are we to do when it feels like we are under a government that doesn’t seem to give a shit about human beings because of the color of their skin? Well... fight back. We cannot allow this bill to pass. This is just one of the many steps being taken to continue the infringement of people’s human rights. One more attempt to solidify the police state we live in. What is it going to take to make us stand up and fight back? When they are allowed to detain people with no just cause and hold them without a trial in sight? Wait! They’ve been doing that for years. When they make abortion illegal? Oh shit! That just happened, too. We cannot ignore the continuing government control on our lives and dehumanization of immigrants in this country. Do something. Go to meetings. Tear down the wall that only works to oppress human beings on both sides. Create a world without borders and make your momma proud! M

For more info, check out these sites:
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-030606abortion_lat,0,5558244.story?coll=la-story-footer
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d109:HR04437:@@@D&summ2=m&
http://www.ilrc.org/HR4437.html
http://www.govtrack.us/congress/vote.xpd?vote=h2005-661
http://deletetheborder.org/node/242

Coalition H.R. 4437 has formed in opposition to this racist legislation. If you want to work to fight this bill and gain equal rights for immigrants meetings are held on Fridays, 5 pm above the Baytree Bookstore in Conference Room B.

There is an upcoming march from City Hall to the Beach Flats on March 17th. For more information you can go to the meetings or look for fliers.

The DREAM Act:
Creating War at Home to Fuel War Abroad
Kate Flanagan, Project Collective

There is a constant stream of bad news coming out of Iraq and it’s getting harder and harder to convince kids to join the military. Recruiters have been using all sorts of nasty tactics to meet recruitment goals. The government is quickly exhausting the supply of willing US citizens. They know that reviving the draft could inflame the anti-war movement 1969-style. But there are places to go and markets to conquer! So, using their American ingenuity, Congress has come up with a new scheme to blackmail youth into the military.

The new piece of legislation is called the Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors or the DREAM Act. Inspired? Well don’t be. This bill would allow undocumented immigrants to get a green card as a reward for two years of college or military service. Without documents, immigrants are ineligible for financial aid. So guess where the majority of folks affected by this bill will end up. HR 4437 and the DREAM Act are set up to work together to force Latino youth into the military.
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