Immigration: Obama's new deportation policy, Rep. Luis Gutierrez briefing

jayman · 08-29-2011, 01:17 PM

Immigration: Obama's new deportation policy, Rep. Luis Gutierrez briefing
By Lynn Sweet on August 29, 2011 10:20 AM | No Comments

below, release....

Gutierrez Announces Plan To Inform
Chicago Immigrants and Families About
Obama's New Deportation Policies

Kick-off of broader effort to publicize, inform, and caution immigrants nationwide about scope of new Obama policy

(Washington) - On Tuesday, August 30 at 10 a.m. (CT), Rep. Luis V. Gutierrez (D-IL) will hold a press conference with key Chicago leaders, pro-immigrant advocates, and immigrant families to follow-up on new deportation guidelines announced by the Obama Administration on August 18 and to warn immigrant communities about attempts to exploit or mislead them. The Congressman is the nation's leading advocate for changes to Obama's immigration enforcement policies, meeting with the President, fighting for reform legislation, traveling the country for rallies and hearing the stories of families being split apart. Now he wants to ensure that immigrants in Chicago and nationwide know the scope of the new policy and what it means for them and their loved ones.

WHEN: 10 a.m. CT, Tuesday, August 30, 2011

WHERE: Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights
55 E. Jackson Blvd, Suite 2075, Chicago, IL 60604

WHO: Rep. Gutierrez will be joined by representatives of a broad coalition of elected officials, clergy, labor and community leaders, pro-immigrant advocates, legal service providers, and families could be affected by the new policy.

WHY: On Aug. 18, the Department of Homeland Security announced new policies to prioritize the deportation of serious criminals and de-prioritize the deportation of certain immigrants with deep roots in the U.S. Despite claims by Republicans, this does not amount to a broad "amnesty" or any form of a legalization program. Yet some scam artists will capitalize on confusion about the announcement to "sign-up" immigrants for services that do not exist.

Therefore, the Congressman will announce he is leading a local and national effort to provide accurate information to advocates, service providers, and immigrant families themselves that will help them utilize the new policies to spare certain individuals temporarily from deportation.

Specifically, the Congressman will announce:

· A Community Forum on Immigration in Chicago on September 10 (10 a.m. at Benito Juarez High School) to inform the community about what the policies mean in practical terms for immigrants and their families;
· The Sept. 10 Community Forum on Immigration in Chicago will follow Congressional briefings with senior ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) officials to discuss how the new policy will work for Congressional offices that work with constituents whose families are facing deportation;
· A nationwide communications campaign to warn immigrants and citizens about scam artists who are preying on public confusion about what the policies mean -- and don't mean -- for immigrants seeking residency or fighting deportation.