Media Advisory for Massachusetts Not One More Deportation!

MEDIA ADVISORY

For:  Friday, June 21, 2013

Contact: Conrado Santos, Student Immigrant Movement 617-767-6935
                Edwin Argueta, Mass. Jobs with Justice 617-335-9501

Week of Action to Protest Immigrant Detentions and Deportations in New England

Activities planned in Boston, Springfield, Burlington with undocumented workers and supporters

Immigrant and workers’ rights organizations will lead a “Not One More Deportation” Week of Action from June 24- June 28 to call on the Obama Administration to halt the detention and deportation of undocumented workers who would be eligible for the path to citizenship through passage of the proposed immigration reform legislation. Additionally, they are demanding Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) drop the cases and provide relief for undocumented workers who are leaders in the community, including victims of the New Bedford Bianco raid of 2006 who have been in legal limbo for 7 years.

The week of action will include prayer, fasting, vigils and community events throughout Massachusetts and extending to New Hampshire, Vermont, Rhode Island and Connecticut. A hundred immigrants and allies will join in a caravan across Massachusetts and New England to break their fast and hold a vigil outside the regional ICE office in Burlington, MA. 

 “The Administration and ICE have stated repeatedly that their priority is detention and deportation of serious criminals, but according to the 2012 statistics, 45% of those who were deported had no criminal convictions at all,” said Conrado Santos, organizer with the Student Immigrant Movement. “Many more had been convicted only of minor crimes, like driving without a license.”

The schedule of events includes:

Monday, June 24 - BOSTON - Press conference with undocumented workers and their family members facing deportation. They will begin our fast and share their stories. Faith leader and union president will fast in solidarity and speak. 15 New Sudbury St. Boston from 11 to noon.

Monday, June 24 - BOSTON  - Arts and music protest at Suffolk Detention Center. A coordinated action with detained immigrants—immigrants inside and friends & families outside share messages of hope. Jules Joseph, a legal permanent resident who was detained at Suffolk and recently won his case to stay in the US, will speak of his experience. Melania Bruno, friend of Livio Arias Torres, 70 year old detained at Suffolk, will share a song. 20 Bradston St. Boston from 5 to 6 pm. 

Wednesday, June 26 - BOSTON - Teach-in on How to Stop Deportations with SIM (Student Immigrant Movement). Undocumented students teach family and friends how to stop deportations and win with public action and street theatre. City Hall Plaza, Boston from Noon to 1PM. 

Wednesday, June 26 - PLYMOUTH  - Prayer Vigil at the Plymouth Detention Center with the Unitarian Universalist Brewster Church. Faith leaders & members hold first ever vigil at Plymouth Detention Center to call on President Obama to halt unjust detentions and deportations. 26 Long Pond Road, Plymouth, 2-3PM. 

Wednesday, June 26 - NEW BEDFORD - Community Forum on Immigrant Workers. Stories and discussion with undocumented workers. Vida Abudante Church, 230 Union St., New Bedford from 5-7PM.

Thursday, June 27 - BURLINGTON - Historic Vigil at Burlington Detention Center. Mass caravan from across Massachusetts and New England to regional ICE office in Burlington. Undocumented workers will protest their own imminent deportations and faith leaders will share prayer.

For information on the national campaign, visit www.notonemoredeportation.com. For information on the Massachusetts and New England week of action, please see: www.facebook.com/notonemoredeportation-Massachusetts.

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