Immigrant Rights Activity Highlights - First Half of 2007
ORAnGE (KRC's Youth Group), Access to Public Education, National Asian Pacific American Mobilization for Humane and Just Immigration Reform, Publication Education on Immigrant Rights and Immigration Reform (Night of 1,000 Conversations, Dreams Across America Tour)
ORAnGE
ORAnGE members retreated near Big Bear Lake on December 27th through 29th to re-energize the DREAm Campaign, reinforce their theoretical background as organizers and activists, and strengthen links among members. On this occasion, ORAnGE members strategized for its year 2007 DREAM Campaign and prepared a series of actions from phone calling to sending postcards.
ORAnGE launched a nationally coordinated action with YKASEC’s MIST and FYSH in Chicago through a press conference welcoming the introduction of the DREAM Act and urging its prompt passage. In Los Angeles, ORAnGE held a joint press conference with CHIRLA and WiseUp!, catching the attention of Korean American media. ORAnGE designed a series of DREAM Postcards and together with KRC, collected 1,700 signatures for the DREAM Act and humane immigration reform. These signatures are being written to postcards and delivered to congress members in KRC & NAKASEC’s legislative visits.
ORAnGE's representative Jessica Lee also participated in the June 18th Mock Graduation urging passage of the DREAM Act; ORAnGE also contributed to the planning of the Summer Youth Empowerment through their ideas and suggestions.
ORAnGE meets weekly every Wednesday at 5:30 pm at KRC. Those interested should join the weekly meeting or contact Yongho Kim at yongho [at] krcla.org or 323-937-3718
Access to Public Education
Young people have the right to attend public schools and colleges regardless of their immigration status. The right to attend K-12 education was guaranteed in the 1982 Plyer vs Doe ruling. There is no affirmative nor negative statement regarding the right of students to attend college. Undocumented students undergo many financial and administrative difficulties in attending college, but in California, AB540 law (California Education Code §68130.5) allows those meeting certain requirements to pay in-state tuition. Some college administrators are unaware of AB540 or purposefully prevent undocumented students from attending college or pay in-state tuition. KRC and NAKASEC processed approximately 200 AB540 cases in 2007 and provided basic education on AB540 and informed colleges of their obligation to provide the AB540 exemption. KRC & NAKASEC, in cooperation with other organizations such as ACLU, NILC & LAFLA, succeeded in having the Riverside Unified School District and Beverly Hills Unified School District admit undocumented high school students and had UCSD revert its AB540 denial decision.
Building America's Future Together
National Asian Pacific American Mobilization for Humane and Just Immigration Reform
At this critical time in the immigration reform debate Asian Pacific Americans (APAs) from 27 states gathered in Washington , DC on April 30 – May 1, 2007 to raise their voices for just and humane immigration reform. Organized by NAKASEC, the Korean Resource Center of Los Angeles, the Korean American Resource and Cultural Center of Chicago, and YKASEC-Empowering the Korean American Community of New York and other APA organizations, this historic event brought close to four hundred APAs together to build solidarity and community and to shape the debate for immigration reform.
The event kicked off with a youth-led Youth Mobilizing Session to discuss student legalization issues and bring student leaders to the same table. Monday also featured Community Dialogues where participants received an update on the current debate, how we can impact the discussions, and our collective history as APAs. Three highly-acclaimed documentaries featuring were also screened during the evening. The films highlighted deportation, civil rights and civil liberties violations, and student legalization issues.
On Tuesday following a press conference, approximately 1,000 people attended a rally in celebration of APA Heritage Month and supporting just and humane immigration reform at Taft Memorial Park. With the Capitol Building in the background, participants were energized by the powerful Korean drumming performance and were moved by the words of Representatives Jan Schwakosky (D-IL), Luis Gutierrez (D-IL), Mike Honda (D-CA), and NAACP Director, Hilary Shelton who stood in solidarity with immigrant communities. The rally also featured community testimonies of people hurt by the country's broken immigration system. Throughout the day, participants made their voices heard with about 60 Congressional offices to advocate for comprehensive immigration reform and the DREAM Act.
Public Education on Immigrant Rights and Immigration Reform
Korean Americans Go To D.C.
Dreams Across America Tour
On June 13th, the first group of Dreamers left California boarding a train heading east, picking up more Dreamers in Tucson, San Antonio, Chicago, and Toledo. A few days later, three more trains from Richmond, Miami and Boston picked up additional dreamers, stopping in New York and Philadelphia. The Dreamers represent the diversity and strength of America --- from new immigrants, children of immigrants, Native Americans, working mothers, white entrepreneurs and African Americans --- some have migrated across states and others across nations in search of a better life. Of the 105 Dreamers, 11 were Asian Pacific Americans, including 5 Korean Americans who who conveyed empowering stories of immigrant contributions & experiences.
On June 18th, the Dreamers arrived in Washington, DC for three days of events that began with a Welcoming Event at Union Station and then a Graduation Ceremony organized by the United We DREAM Coalition in which National Korean American Services & Education Consortium (NAKASEC) is a key member. Immigrant students and their US-born peers from 14 states came together on Capitol Hill for the "Don't Just DREAM, Act!" to say that their lives can't be put on hold. Eight Korean American youth from NAKASEC and its affiliate youth groups joined with other students to urge Congress to pass the DREAM Act (S. 774 and HR 1275), a federal legislation that would give immigrant students in the US a chance at college and a way to contribute fully to this nation. 65 students participate in the graduation ceremony to represent the 65,000 talented students who graduate every year in need of the DREAM Act. Representative Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) was present to hand out diplomas to these students. Also in attendance were Representatives John Sarbanes (D-MD), Illeana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), and bill champion Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA) who gave inspirational words of hope to the students. Other speakers represented a broad range of support from other sectors including DREAM students, Reggie Weaver, President of the National Education Association and Maria Elena Durazo Executive Secretary / Treasurer of the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor.
The following day on June 19th, the Dreamers joined the Children's March organized by the Fair Immigration Reform Movement (FIRM). Despite the hot weather, the more than 2000 participants were cheerful and energetic, chanting and singing continuously on the way to the White House.
On June 20th, the last day of the Tour, the Dreamers participated in 67 legislative visits and a closing press conference was held on the steps of the Cannon House Office Building. Representatives Joe Baca (Chair, Congressional Hispanic Caucus), and Mike Honda (Chair, Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus) joined the dreamers on behalf of their respective Caucuses at the final press conference, in a demonstration of their Caucus' endorsement of the Tour. Dreamers met directly with several key members of congress including Rep. Neil Abercrombie (D-HI), Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-NE), Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-MA) and Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-CA).
During the course of the Tour, over 500 media hits were recorded from diverse national media outlets. The website ( http://www.dreamsacrossamericaonline.org) received thousands of hits and blog entries. The Tour was the just the first part of a larger campaign to counter anti-immigrant rhetoric that leads to non-solutions, while working to uplift and empower all communities.
Night of 1,000 Conversations for Due Process and Civil Liberties
Ensuring the rights and liberties of all Americans is a fundamental part of immigration reform that has not yet come to the forefront of the immigration debates. On April 5, in homes, community centers, places of workshop, and schools 1000 conversations took place across the nation to increase awareness of due process, civil liberties and civil rights that all Americans are afforded. More than of these 30 conversations took place in the Korean American community came together through convened by NAKASEC and its affiliates through the Liberty and Justice for All Campaign.
Immigration Reform Education at Van Nuys Senior Center
KRC and NAKASEC visited the Van Nuys Senior Center on June 18th and 26th and presented on comprehensive immigration reform to Korean American and Pilipino Seniors through the Dreamers' video stories. Many signed on the CIR principles so that KRC could send postcards on their behalf. On July 28th, we conducted an education session on raids, deportations and basic rights for undocumented students and parents.
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