FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 13, 2016
CONTACT:
Brandon Lee
Asian Americans Advancing Justice | Chicago
773-271-0899 x200
blee@advancingjustice-chicago.org
ASIAN AMERICANS ADVANCING JUSTICE URGES ADMINISTRATION NOT TO ENGAGE IN FUTURE IMMIGRATION RAIDS
Civil rights organizations call on the Obama Administration to discontinue immigration raids targeting Central Americans, amidst an already anti-Immigrant and anti-refugee political climate
According to a Reuters article released on Thursday, May 12, 2016, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is planning raids in May and June targeting Central American immigrants, who are mostly mothers and children fleeing violence in their home countries. Asian Americans Advancing Justice released the following statement in response:
We are disturbed by reports of potential future immigration raids targeting Central American children, mothers, and families. We call on the Obama Administration to discontinue this misguided strategy of apprehending and deporting individuals and families seeking refuge in the United States. Operations like these undermine the momentum building around the U.S. vs. Texas case, that would provide relief from deportation to millions of immigrants. Amidst current anti-immigrant and anti-refugee rhetoric and hostility, federal immigration raids will only escalate an already hostile and negative environment towards all immigrants and refugees.
The following resources from the ACLU are available to those seeking information about their rights:
Spanish Version-Released January 2016
Version with English Caption-Released January 2016
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Asian Americans Advancing Justice is a national affiliation of five leading organizations advocating for the civil and human rights of Asian Americans and other underserved communities to promote a fair and equitable society for all. The affiliation’s members are: Advancing Justice-AAJC (Washington, D.C.), Advancing Justice-Asian Law Caucus (San Francisco), Advancing Justice-Atlanta, Advancing Justice | Chicago, and Advancing Justice-Los Angeles.