Welcome, we are the Hudson Valley Community Coalition

We are a coalition of concerned individuals and groups working together to achieve immigration solutions that include and work for everyone. We are expanding the conversation about our diverse community and the value it brings to the people of the Hudson Valley.

We are part of the

New York Immigration Coalition

and partners with the

New York State Interfaith Network for Immigration Reform.

Join Us

La Campaña de Reforma Migratoria PRO America

(Del website http://www.reformamigratoriaproamerica.org/)

Si apoyas la reforma migratoria, únete a este esfuerzo. Queremos atraer a quienes deseen una solución con sentido común para nuestro dañado sistema de inmigración, que refuerce la igualdad de oportunidades y el estado de derecho, que trate con respeto y dignidad a las familias inmigrantes trabajadoras, y que permita que todas las comunidades y familias en Estados Unidos avancen juntas. Si está de acuerdo, únase hoy mismo.

CAMPAÑA REFORMA MIGRATORIA PRO-AMERICA

¿En qué consiste la Campaña Reforma Pro-Migratoria Pro-America?

Se trata de una iniciativa nacional que combina los esfuerzos de individuos y organizaciones comunitarias para luchar por una reforma migratoria integral viable. Esta campaña es, en parte, un proyecto del Tides Advocacy Fund.

Así, la campaña pretende crear una red de personas de todo el país que estén listas para trabajar y obtener los 279 votos requeridos para aprobar una reforma migratoria integral justa y humanitaria: 218 votos en la Cámara de Representantes, 60 en el Senado, y la firma del Presidente.

Trabajaremos particularmente con activistas, líderes religiosos, sindicales, empresariales, laborales, grupos comunitarios de derechos civiles, de derechos humanos y de ayuda a los inmigrantes.

Nuestra visión de la reforma incluiría a inmigrantes y a ciudadanos estadounidenses trabajando hombro con hombro para lograr mejores salarios, mejores condiciones y mayores protecciones laborales que garanticen que todos se apeguen a las mismas reglas, así como dificultar que los empleadores inescrupulosos se aprovechen de los inmigrantes. Necesitamos confiar en nuestro sistema de inmigración para que las personas respeten el proceso, y el proceso también respete a la gente. Esa es nuestra visión de un Estados Unidos más fuerte.

(Del website http://www.reformamigratoriaproamerica.org/)

Toma Accion

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The HVCC Blog

Immigration-related happenings and issues affecting the Hudson Valley

To post a comment, click on the "Read comments" link after that post.

February 05

Schumer Meeting With Immigration Reform Advocates

Senator Schumer will be meeting this afternoon with a number of immigration reform advocates. Here is a little about what we hope to find out.

Like you, we are all concerned that the window for introducing immigration reform legislation is closing fast. Many of the people in the room with Schumer will be marking their tenth year of advocacy for Comprehensive Immigration Reform. They are worried that the Obama administration may be allowing the best chance for passage slip away.

So, one of the central questions today, and I don't know if we'll get a clear answer, is whether getting a reform proposal to a vote is even possible.

Second, we'll press the Senator on problems with some of the enforcement-based appraoches that are rumored to be in his draft reform bill. Now, none of us have seen this bill so we don't knwo what is in it, so right now we are dealing with whispers in the hallways of Congress and not solid information.

If I find out anything, I'll let you know next Friday.

Patrick Young, Esq.

Supervising Attorney

Westchester Hispanic Coalition

7:24 AM GMT | Read comments(1)

January 29

Please Call Chuck Schumer For Immigration Reform

We need you to call Senator Chuck Schumer over the next week to move comprehensive immigration reform forward.

Senator Schumer has been working closely with immigration reform advocates to write a comprehesive immigration reform bill. We need you to call his office between now and Feb. 6 and thank him for his hard work on the issue, but also to ask him to introduce the bill as soon as possible. We believe that if the bill is not introduced before the beginning of March, it will be difficult to pass it this year.

Call Sen. Schumer's office at 202-224-6542. Tell him how proud we are that our senator has taken up this issue. But be firm, and insist that delays in introducing the bill will doom it.

Patrick Young

Supervising Attorney

Westchester Hispanic Coalition

9:01 AM GMT | Read comments(1)

January 22

Temporary Protected Status Helps Thousands Of Haitians In Hudson Valley

The granting of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) to Haitians will help thousands of our neighbors in the Hudson Valley.

TPS was created to protect refugees fleeing from the civil war in El Salvador in 1990. Since then it has been used to protect hundreds of thousands of people from countries devastated by natural disasters and military conflict.

TPS is a relatively simple process which grants the protected person an identification card authorizing him or her to live and work in the United States legally until the TPS period expires in 18 months. It is not a "first step towards citizenship" nor does it allow a person to travel outside the United States and re-enter, unless the person first gets special permission to do so from the U.S. government.

Westchester alone has 1,000 to 2,000 Haitians eligible for TPS and there are large numbers of Haitians living elsewhere in the Hudson Valley, including the thriving Haitian community centered in Spring Valley.

This humanitarian program will allow Haitians a respite from the fear of imminent deportation and allow them to work to help their families in Haiti recover.

-Patrick Young, Esq.

Supervising Attorney

Westchester Hispanic Coalition

7:06 AM GMT | Read comments(0)

January 08

Immigration Reform Bill Likely In Senate Within A Month

Senator Schumer is getting close to introducing his comprehensive immigration reform bill. This will be the centerpiece of the debate over reform this year, and it is likely to include many elements that immigrant advocates will find objectionable.

Schumer has long been an advocate of a national ID card, with high-tech biometrics built in. So expect to see that in his proposal. This won't be a big deal for immigrants, who already carry a national ID, but it may trouble civil libertarians.

Whatever is in the final bill, those supporting reform must understand that failure to pass reform this year will likely take immigration reform off the legislative agenda until 2013. So, when the bill is introduced, it is important to look at it closely, and weigh its advantages and disadvantages, and not simply use a litmus test to reject it. Believe me, there will be disadvantages in the bill. The question will be-Are the problems we have with it enough to kill reform until after the next presidential election?

See what you can do to get ready for the Fight for Comprehensive Immigration Reform.

-Patrick Young, Esq.

Supervising Attorney

Westchester Hispanic Coalition

7:18 AM GMT | Read comments(1)

December 18

Hate Crimes: There's a new sheriff in town

The eight years of the Bush administration saw a surprising trend. Even as the number of hate crimes increased, Federal hate crime prosecutions fell. With the Obama administration, we are seeing a reversal of this neglect.

That point was made most effectively this week in Shenadoah, Pa. this week where four cops, including the chief of police, were arrested following an investigation growing out of the killing of Mexican immigrant Luis Ramirez by a group of white teens. Three of the cops were charged with obstructing the investigation of the killing.

How common is this obstruction of justice?

Well, nearby Suffolk County on Long Island is under investigation by the Feds for failing to investigate racial attacks on immigrants which culminated in the death of an Ecuadoran immigrant, Marcelo Lucero.

Many counties in the region brag that there have been no anti-Latino attacks in their jurisdictions, while immigrants in those communities say otherwise.

The threat of Federal prosecution for police denying immigrants their most basic civil right, protection from violent abuse, will wake up many suburban police departments. Even if they don't want to extend their mandate to serve and protect to Hispanics, they will want to avoid doing jail time.

7:19 AM GMT | Read comments(0)