Hundreds of immigrants, Jews, and allies respond to ongoing state terror and family separation and prepare for a disruptive action to demand President Biden and DHS Secretary Mayorkas immediately end 287(g) police-ICE contracts.
(Washington D.C.) – During his presidential campaign, President Biden promised to end the 287(g) program, a discriminatory federal program that turns local law enforcement into immigration agents with the power to investigate immigration status and separate immigrant families (read more below). However, since taking office he has refused to take action, and immigrants and allies are done waiting. On Monday, July 25th, hundreds will headed to Washington D.C. for a national day of action to demand the immediate termination of 287(g). They will escalate national public pressure and attention to ensure that Biden and DHS Secretary Mayorakas will no longer ignore their demands. This action follows Never Again Action’s visit to Mayorkas’ house last September, when the group covered the facade with a 30 foot emergency blanket and engaged with Tanya Mayorkas.
WHAT: An in-person press conference, rally, and direct action to demand President Biden and DHS Secretary Mayorkas immediately end 287(g) police – ICE contracts.
There will be livestreams available on the Voces Facebook page, as well as and live updates on Twitter from Voces de la Frontera Action and Never Again Action pages. There will also be a virtual press kit available here with links to photos and high resolution videos and testimonials.
WHEN: & WHERE – Monday, July 25th, 2022, 7:00am EDT at Montrose Park in Georgetown, DC. After 7:30 am EDT, live location available day of, by phone (please contact Rachel Buff at 414-801-8991).
WHO – Organizers and activists affiliated with Never Again is Now and Voces de la Frontera. Speakers and participants will include immigrant essential workers and their families who come from communities impacted by the 287(g) program and allies.
Never Again Is Now is a Jewish-led mobilization against the persecution, detention, and deportation of immigrants in the United States. Voces de la Frontera is Wisconsin’s leading immigrant rights organization whose mission is to protect and expand civil rights and workers’ rights through leadership development, community organizing and empowerment.
Visuals – Hundred of supporting participants, large banners that read “Biden, Mayorkas: End 287g Now!” along with other variations, colorful posters that read “Saftey, Not Police – ICE Terror” along with other variations.
Background – Under the Trump Administration, 287(g) was expanded to be used to facilitate Trump’s mass deportation machine and terrorize immigrant communities and communities of color. Together, President Biden and DHS Secretary Mayorkas, who is the first Latino and immigrant confirmed to serve as Secretary of Homeland Security, are on track to continue and even worsen this legacy, and must take immediate action to reverse course. According to the latest ACLU research report, License to Abuse: How ICE’s 287(g) Program Empowers Racist Sheriffs and Civil Rights Violations, “for the Biden administration, the continuation of these partnerships is not only irrational and counterproductive to its goals, it is an embarrassment.”
Voces de la Frontera members who will be traveling to D.C. issued the following statements:
Christine Neumann Ortiz, Executive Director of Voces de la Frontera said,
“President Joe Biden and US Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas must end the racist and xenophobic 287(g) program immediately. President Biden made ending the discriminatory 287(g) a promise on the campaign trail which motivated many Latinxs and immigrants to turn out to vote in 2020.
President Biden holds in his hands the power to end this program through executive action. How can the President go overseas and say we are a democracy when his administration continues to uphold a discredited program that legalizes racial profiling, promotes xenophobia, undermines public safety and separates families? Given the failure of Democrats to deliver on immigration reform in Congress in 2021 and the recent federal court decision by a right-wing judge that makes all 11 million immigrants a priority for deportation, ending 287(g) must be an urgent priority for President Biden and Secretary Mayorkas.
Inaction is unacceptable. Voces de la Frontera is proud to co-sponsor with Never Again Is Now a national day of action on July 25 in Washington DC to put pressure on the Biden Administration to provide protections from far right extremism and dismantle the shameful 287g program that has a long record of civil rights and human rights abuses.”
Hiram Rabadan, an immigrant essential worker and small business owner in Fond Du Lac, Wisconsin, resident of a 287(g) impacted community said,
“Unfortunately, 287 (g) is implemented in many counties in our state. Initially, 287(g) was created to identify and deport criminals. Now, this law has been extended to minor offenses, inviting racial discrimination, and that is where it affects our immigrant community most, and it is unfair and wrong. It is because of this injustice to the immigrant community that I and my family are traveling to Washington D.C. to demand the end of 287(g). It is time to recognize immigrants as part of the solution and not part of the problem, 287(g) must end.”
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Contact:
Never Again Action: Hallie Berkson-Gold, hallie@neveragainaction.com, 914-255-7377
Voces de la Frontera: Jessica Schmidt, Jessica@vdlf.org, 414-469-9206
Day of Action Press Contact: Rachel Buff, 414-801-8991
