Immigrants’ Rights in America: Know Them

border-immigrationBy Andrés Dae Keun Kwon and Julia Harumi Mass

Donald Trump’s campaign promises and his victory last week have created deep anxiety among immigrants and our allies in California. Within the ACLU of California, many of us feel directly and personally affected by threats to our communities. This is all too real.

But we are not alone. We have each other. And we, the ACLU, stand by you. As we have fought for the constitutional and human rights of immigrants for nearly 100 years, we will continue to fight any efforts to implement Trump’s unconstitutional immigration proposals. And we are joined by a broad community of Californians in our unwavering commitment to immigrant families and communities.

California has been a national leader at the forefront of our struggle for immigrants’ rights, having already enacted a series of protections for immigrants. In passing the TRUST Act in 2014 and the TRUTH Act earlier this year, California created protections for people who come into contact with immigration authorities through local law enforcement. In a recent joint statement, state legislative leaders affirmed: “California is—and must always be—a refuge of justice and opportunity for people of all walks, talks, ages and aspirations—regardless of how you look, where you live, what language you speak, or who you love.”

There are also important rights under the U.S. Constitution that protect all Californians—regardless of immigration status. While we wait to see how the Trump administration’s policies unfold, here are some of the most important ways you can protect your rights right now:

Educate and equip yourself, whether you are undocumented or a lawful permanent resident. Read this deportation toolkit from the ACLU of San Diego.

Create a safety plan with your loved ones in case you are detained, including how to find legal help if needed.

Avoid contact with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), one of the federal agencies responsible for deportation. If you apply for immigration benefits, you may come in contact with ICE—check with a lawyer before making any changes to your status.

Avoid contact with the criminal justice system, including by taking care of tickets and keeping your car in good repair.

Read these tips for how to behave when approached by ICE or other law enforcement, on foot or in your car. (Here is another resource, with more detailed information.)

  • If on foot, ask: “Am I free to go?” If “yes,” leave calmly. If “no,” ask to know why they are stopping you.
  • Exercise your rights to remain silent and to speak to a lawyer. To assert your rights, you must tell the officer you do not want to answer any questions and you wish to speak to a lawyer.
  • Do not answer any questions about your immigration status. Do not sign any papers that you do not understand.
  • You do not have to consent to a search. If an officer asks for permission to search your clothing, belongings, or car, say, “I do not consent to a search.”
  • Carry your “rights card” and show it. Also carry identification—it may help you avoid being arrested.

If ICE agents (who sometimes identify themselves as “police”) come to your home:

  • Do not open the door.
  • Ask the officers to identify themselves.
  • Ask to see a warrant—ask the officer to slip the warrant under the door or hold it up to the window. A valid warrant to search your home will have your address on it and be signed by a judge.
  • If officers force their way into your home, do not physically block them, but do tell them you do not consent to a search if they enter.

You have a right to take photos and video of your interactions with law enforcement in public. Download the ACLU’s mobile justice app for free.

If you believe you may be eligible for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (“DACA”) program, read this resource. Highlights:

  • If you do not currently have DACA, we recommend that you do not apply at this time.
  • If you already have DACA and are considering whether to apply to renew it, immigration authorities already have the information on your original application, so there is less risk in submitting the renewal application.

Please contact us if you believe your rights are violated, and check back with the ACLU as we learn more about what the Trump administration’s policies will mean for immigrants. Standing together we will fight for each other’s rights and resist unconstitutional and abusive actions by immigration authorities.

Andrés Dae Keun Kwon is the Equal Justice Works Emerson Fellow at the ACLU of Southern California. Julia Harumi Mass is a senior staff attorney with the ACLU of Northern California.

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64 comments

  1. “If you do not currently have DACA, we recommend that you do not apply at this time.”

    I proudly confess to my status as a bleeding heart liberal. This line brought tears to my eyes. My interpretation of this line is that “those who will be assuming power in January may be so completely heartless as to bring destruction to the lives of those whose only “crime” was to have immigrant parents who did not follow all the rules. These are individuals who have done nothing more than have dreams of building, through their own determination, willpower and hard work, better lives for themselves within the only home that many of them have ever known. They have followed all of the rules of their homeland ( the US) and are now threatened with expulsion because we now will be ushering in an administration that cares more about  ethnicity than it does about individual character.

    1. Tia wrote:

      > as to bring destruction to the lives of those whose only “crime”

      > was to have immigrant parents who did not follow all the rules.

      Should we also allow the kids whose parents have stolen cars to keep them (since it would “punish” the kids forcing them to walk to school when their only “crime” was to have parents who stole cars)?

      > we now will be ushering in an administration that cares more

      > about  ethnicity than it does about individual character.

      Someone last night mentioned that when you hear someone call you a racist you know you have won the argument since they have nothing relevant to say.  I have never heard anyone in the incoming administration say that they will only target illegal immigrants of a particular “race” .

      P.S. When someone breaks the law it tells you a little about their “individual character” when they include their children when breaking the law it tells you a little more about their “individual character”…

      1. SOD

        I have never heard anyone in the incoming administration say that they will only target illegal immigrants of a particular “race” .

        And I have never heard anyone in the incoming administration say anything about building a wall between the US and Canada.

        When someone breaks the law it tells you a little about their “individual character” when they include their children when breaking the law it tells you a little more about their “individual character”…”

        And it says absolutely nothing about the “individual character” of the child who has done absolutely nothing wrong. And it says something positive about their “individual character” if their actions were to save the lives of their children as is the case for some. If someone would put another country’s  immigration law above the life of his child, then I think that says a great negative about that individual’s character. I know that without hesitation, I would break another countries immigration law if I felt that was the best way to save the life of my child….wouldn’t you ?

        1. I’m wondering if Tia thinks that people without brown skin have magic powers that will allow them to walk through a wall since she seems to think that a wall will only stop people of one race.

          P.S. Maybe Tia will tell us what race she is trying to stop with the fence on the southern side of her property.

        2. P.S. Maybe Tia will tell us what race she is trying to stop with the fence on the southern side of her property.

          What the F, SOD?  Do you get off by being anonymous and creepy?  Are you implying that Tia has a yard fence to keep the Mexican woman to her south out of her yard?  Should she not have a fence?  What do you go hang out in our neighborhood and catalog the ethnicity of the neighbors of the people who comment on the Vanguard?

      2. Don posted: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reductio_ad_absurdum

        Bonus points to Don for not calling me a racist, but maybe Don or Tia can answer the question:

        Should we also allow the kids whose parents have illegally come across a property line and moved in to their homes to stay (since it would “punish” the kids forcing them to move when their only “crime” was to have parents who tool them in to a home that they did not have the legal right to occupy)?

        P.S. If they don’t think that anyone should have the right to go anywhere they want maybe Don and Tia can explain how illegally sneaking in to a country and taking someones job is any different than sneaking in to a home and taking someones food…

        1. SOD

          If they don’t think that anyone should have the right to go anywhere they want maybe Don and Tia can explain how illegally sneaking in to a country and taking someones job is any different than sneaking in to a home and taking someones food…”

          I will be happy to try to explain my perspective.

          I find the answers to your questions in the words that you have chosen to frame them.

          First, I do not think that you have correctly framed the issue of “moving into someone’s house”. What I would see as the best response to finding someone else’s hungry child on one’s doorstep because of the parents inability to feed them, would be to feed the child. I no longer self identify as a “Christian” but I clearly remember this principle from my Methodist upbringing. We are a very rich nation. I believe that we have the resources to support these children and the moral obligation to do so. And if we support those who are the most productive, does this not send a message to all within our borders that productive activity and contribution will be rewarded ?

           taking someones job”

          Here your analogy falls completely flat for me. When food  is in one’s house, ownership is clear. Who decides what job belongs to whom ?  These immigrants are clearly not taking jobs that any American has claimed. They are taking jobs that are offered to them by Americans who are benefitting from the ability to pay these undocumented workers less than Americans are interested in making. Let’s place the blame where it belongs. Not on those who are willing to work exceedingly hard for substandard pay to improve their lives and support their children, but rather on those who take advantage of their need in order to enrich themselves to the relative harm of both the undocumented workers and those Americans who might take those jobs at what they consider a living wage.

        2. Tia wrote:

          > I believe that we have the resources to support these

          > children and the moral obligation to do so.

          How many illegal alien children are you currently supporting?

          Does the construction worker that lost his job to an illegal alien who will work longer hours for less money and not ask the boss to pay for social security, medicare or workman’s comp also have a “moral obligation” to support the children of the guy that took his job?

          P.S. I think that the people who hire illegal aliens and avoid paying taxes should be put in jail.

        1. David wrote:

          > So SOD, it is your position that no one today is racist?

          As I have said many times there are lots of racists (of all races) and the percentage of racists is fortunately getting smaller as less and less people care about the the race of others each year.

          P.S.  What have I ever said or posted that caused you to ask that question.

          1. Your above commnt implied that calling someone a racist was a sign of losing which implies no one is racist.

        2. Ivanka may espouse Judaism, as the wife of  her husband, but is not “jewish” by birth, nor ethnicity… but facts don’t matter, right?

          Sammy Davis Jr. was a “jew”… by his choice…

        3. hpierce wrote:

          > Ivanka may espouse Judaism, as a wife of  her husband,

          She does not just “expouse” Judaism she has “converted” to Judaism and is raising her children in the Jewish faith.

          > but is not “jewish” by birth… but facts don’t matter, right?

          If someone becomes an American citizen and is not “American” by birth why is this “fact” relevant when calling them an American.

           

        4. Legal and moral are different concepts

          David

          You gave the answer like my one manager who asked me how to pronounce my name.  I told him . Patrick , read and try to pronounce . Than he looked at my name again and said . WTF . It was the best pronunciation of my name I ever have  heard in this country .

        5. David wrote:

          > Your above commnt implied that calling someone a racist

          > was a sign of losing which implies no one is racist.

          Calling someone a “racist” while arguing about something else is the same as calling someone “fat” or “ugly” when arguing about something else.  It does not mean that no one is fat or ugly it just means that you are losing the argument and want to change the subject…

          1. Being fat or ugly is a physical attribute, being racist is a potentially a component of the argument.

        6. Ivanka may espouse Judaism, as the wife of  her husband, but is not “jewish” by birth, nor ethnicity… but facts don’t matter, right?

          That is indeed a very odd comment, HP.  That means she’s not really Jewish, so much so Hitler would not have had her shipped off?  I believe I am offended.

    2. Tia

      It is nothing to do with color of the skin or entity . Following your liberal’s bleeding heart  it could concluded that Obama hates Latinos because  his administration deported more illegals from  the south than  any  other administration in  the history of the United States .

      I think that  for your peace of  your mind you or DV should contact the California Latino Assembly Legislative Caucus staff and ask them where the  Latino’s Caucus stand on current issues with  the Latino  immigrants in California.  Chair of Latino Causcu is  Louis Alejo who led the group of legislators  to support Janet Napolitano in her action against the Greek  emigrant Linda Katehi . Furthermore , the Assembly Majority Leader is Ian Calderon , Senate President pro Tempore is  Kevin De Leon .  Former Assembly Speaker  John Perez is UC  Regent.  They are all silent .They are all Democrats and they should be on front line and they should generate some kind resolution or declaration at least for the  moral support of these who are scare of Trump .  Accusing Trump that he  is a  racist and new Hitler will not do any  good .  What do you think about ?  This  is the  democrats fault that they allowed so many people to get into country illegally and left  them behind at God mercy and immigration law .
      Staff Contacts

      Assembly Member Luis Alejo (Chair)California State Capitol, Room 2117Sacramento, CA 95814Phone: (916) 319-2030
      Principal Consultant – Cesar AndaCesar.Anda@asm.ca.gov (link sends e-mail)
      Chief of Staff – Oracio GonzalezOracio.Gonzalez@asm.ca.gov (link sends e-mail)
      Senator Ben Hueso (Vice Chair)Legislative Office Building1020 N St, Room 511Sacramento, CA 95814Phone: (916) 651-1535
      Principal Consultant – Willie GuerreroWillie.Guerrero@sen.ca.gov(link sends e-mail)
      Consultant – Armando ChavezArmando.Chavez@sen.ca.gov

      In the  my last 20 pages letter  to U.Senator Dianne Feinstein I wrote : (just prior Trump was elected )

      When I listen to the election campaign and your party propaganda about immigrants—how you will protect them, and how Republican candidate Donald Trump hates immigrants—I wish that you would look at what your fellow Democrats and friends Janet Napolitano and Melinda Haag (most likely with involvement of Darrel Steinberg) did to fellow Democrat Leland Yee, who endorsed President Barak Obama and who never broke the law in this country. He immigrated from China when he was three years old, and look at what your husband along with Napolitano and Haag did to him at the age of 67, not to mention what they did to me.
      Is this is what immigrants can expect from a Hillary Clinton administration if she wins? Prisons and witch hunts against immigrants to cover up corruption and crimes in our own political establishment?
      Your husband, with other perpetrators employing Napolitano and Haag and with your full knowledge, hunted down Senator Yee and myself like animals. These actions do not look like behavior one would expect from the Democratic Party. They look like actions taken in the Stalin’s era by the People’s Commissariat for Internal Affairs (NKWD).

      I don’t know if you believe in God or if you are atheist, but from what I see, you surely have forgotten what you have learned in the Catholic School you attended when you were young.
      Maybe at the end of your career, you should do something good and merciful. Please ask your Democratic President to pardon Leland Yee before President Obama will leave his office. I think it would be the best thing you have ever done in your life if you make this happen, and it will allow Senator Leland Yee to join his family, especially his ill wife, who needs a lot of care. I believe that President Obama will listen you  and will  sign the executive order to release Senator Yee from Fort Worth Federal Correctional Institution. Senator Leland Yee is a political prisoner and his unlawful incarceration is not the way to cover up  the white collar  crimes some of regents  including and not limited to Richard Blum are listed  in my specific  September 25, 2015 inquiries I sent to you.

       

      1. Why does David give this off topic, professional malcontent free range to libel  and mock other posters? Has he threatened the Vanguard with some nuisance law suit? I think there is more here than meets the eye.

        1. Biddlin

          Why does David give this off topic, professional malcontent free range to libel  and mock other posters?”

          I do not speak for David, but I will now speak not only for myself but as a member of the Vanguard editorial board. Within the confines of the Vanguard guidelines for posters, I support the right of anyone to have their say. I am not intimidated by personal attacks. My comments are most often not even directed at the poster themselves, but at the ideas, or lack thereof that they are expressing. My intended audience is not those who make ad hominem attacks, but those who may not have ever considered the issue at hand from my point of view. My purpose is not to gain agreement ( although that would be nice), but rather to encourage people to think outside their own framework.

          This is another reason that I do not promote any form of censorship on the Vanguard. I find it valuable at times for hearing voices that do not agree with me, even if I am not swayed by their arguments, I am at least obliged to consider them, assuming I do not hit the “ignore” button which I have never done and will not consider doing. I consider my own eyes and mind to be an adequate “ignore” feature.

        2. Perhaps because he is a ‘professional malcontent’, who apparently never tried to master English grammar (that would be ‘exclusive’), who is a “worker”, maltreated by his public employer (where he only made ~70k/yr… obvious discrimination), and the “rigged system” has not compensated him anywhere near enough for the indignities heaped upon him, given his “honest” efforts to ‘whistle-blow’.

          http://transparentcalifornia.com/salaries/2012/university-of-california/waszczuk-jaroslaw-j/

          The cite is purely fact.  Not “personal” attack.

        3. With the ignore button you never have to read a word he posts again.

          P.S. To anyone planning to write a 20 page letter to an elected official I want to let you know that: 1. they won’t read it, and  2. their staffers will add you to the crazy person list…

        4. Who apparently never tried to master English grammar (that would be ‘exclusive’)

          hpierce

          Why you care about?  Did I ask you ever for support, money ,food  than  you are so concern about my wages , grammar or my  well being?   What is your point.?  I don’t know you , I never met you than what is your motivation for this attack ?  For your information I did not blow whistle on my employer when I was employed by University.   I found almost three years after why I spent over one year on  administrative  leave and my  employment was terminated in  December 2012  and I  was attacked since January 2007 .  I have the  written settlement -contract signed with Regents in February 2009  which regents breached. I am running two cases in the Court of Appeal myself and recently the Court of Appeal rejected the  UC Regents Respondent Brief because UC Regents out of record briefing . I am not sure if you would be happy if your employment would be terminated at age of 61 and  you did not know why you was terminated  and  your unemployment benefits  would denied and you are not eligible for Social Security because your  age and you have written contract with your employer which became a worthless piece a paper .

        5. Biddlin August 9, 2016 at 8:59 am
          An “ignore” feature would make that much easier, for all. no?

          Biddlin June 2, 2016 at 9:55 am
          PM David and Don. Ignoring, in this case, could be bliss!

          Biddlin September 20, 2016 at 12:12 pm
          Yes, I have proposed an “ignore” function but so far to no avail. Perhaps David would consider a poll to see how many readers would employ such a system, were it available.

          So what’s with this guy?  He asked for the ignore button then complains about other’s comments.
          Ignore them if you don’t like their posts.

  2. Avoid contact with the criminal justice system, including by taking care of tickets and keeping your car in good repair.

    Excellent advice for everyone.  I would add the advice to be a law abiding citizen.

  3. A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF PADILLA V KENTUCKY AND IMMIGRATION CONSEQUENCES FOR CRIMINAL ACTIVITY
    The recent Supreme Court decision Padilla v. Kentucky greatly impacts those who practice in the criminal realm. The Court in Padilla declared that the threat of deportation is such a major component of criminal plea agreements that a defendant’s advice regarding such deportation is protected by the sixth amendment. 

    https://www.avvo.com/legal-guides/ugc/a-brief-overview-of-padilla-v-kentucky-and-immigration-consequences-for-criminal-activity

     

  4. “Someone last night mentioned that when you hear someone call you a racist you know you have won the argument since they have nothing relevant to say.”

    Or it could be that they are right.

  5. SOD

    Maybe Tia will tell us what race she is trying to stop with the fence on the southern side of her property.”

    Absolutely no one. The fences around my property were in existence when I moved in. I personally prefer the Village Homes model of an open living space connecting all homes. Does that give you a sense of what I would actually prefer ?

    1. Tia wrote:

      > The fences around my property were in existence when I moved in.

      > I personally prefer the Village Homes model of an open living space

      > connecting all homes.

      If you “personally prefer” homes without fences why did you buy a home with a fence around it?

      1. SOD

        If you “personally prefer” homes without fences why did you buy a home with a fence around it?”

        Easy. I had an over riding consideration. My bungalow is within walking distance of downtown. Upon my retirement, I am hoping to adopt an almost car less lifestyle. I also forgot to mention that our neighbor’s on one side’s response was to build an “arch” between our two front yards as an invitation to neighborliness and two years later we collaborated on the design for a gate between our two back yards.

        Does that help to explain my perspective ?

         

      1. hpierce

        but the fact you did not choose a property in VH is in some ways a contradiction to your ‘preference’.”

        Not at all for two reasons. There were no small properties for sale in VH at the appropriate time ( I actually looked and considered at the time). And my first priority was a spot where I could realistically go car less upon retirement. I do not ride a bike after a fall with with a broken bone. Yes, I know it would have been braver to just get back on, but I did not succeed, so my feet it is.

         

         

      2. Tia wrote:

        > I do not ride a bike after a fall with with a broken bone. Yes,

        > I know it would have been braver to just get back on, but I

        > did not succeed, so my feet it is.

        My great aunt never learned to drive a car and after my great uncle died she got an adult “trike” like this and rode it to the grocery store in to her 80’s.

        http://adulttricyclespro.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Schwinn-Meridian-Single-Speed-Adult-Tricycle.jpg

         

        1. SOD

          Yep. I have seen them, but had not considered it at the time I was ready to downsize. It remains a possibility. The idea of carlessness is aspirational as I still anticipate needing a car occasionally to go to public health meetings in Woodland.

  6. An article in the SF Chronicle gives statistics that nearly the same number of undocumented people are coming from China as Mexico, roughly 22,000 undocumented people are making over $200,000, often are owners of businesses with employees, pay taxes, etc.  Many have family members who are citizens.  What we need is immigration reform, not mass deportation and disruption.

    1. ryankelly

      You are right mass deportation   but what  is in your mind   by  stating:;’ What we need is  immigration reform”

      Are you talking about  open Borders , no visas , restriction on immigration from certain countries , amnesty for 11,000,000 illegals.?

      1. Tia

        How  do you see the political solution which could be different that  the Trump administration solution . I believe that the mass deportation will never happen with exception to the  people with criminal record . The American immigration law is not the liberal law even for permanent residents  who  got themselves  into trouble with the law . You could be stripped even from the  citizenship if you committed serious crime and you  have no money for lawyers. This why I am very  concerned about the  California Senator Leland Yee  who is in federal prison prison now. If this guy  would be not in prison , he would be raising hell about the  deportation Trump’s plan  taking into consideration his very liberal political view background .

         

  7. SOD

    Does the construction worker that lost his job to an illegal alien who will work longer hours for less money and not ask the boss to pay for social security, medicare or workman’s comp also have a “moral obligation” to support the children of the guy that took his job?”

    Again, this is neither the fault of the American construction worker nor the undocumented worker who will work for less. It is the fault of those who would enrich themselves regardless of the harm to either of these workers. And yes, I believe that it is the moral obligation of all of us to support the children in our communities regardless of their parents ability to feed them. This applies to the children of the displaced American worker as much as it does to the children of the undocumented worker.

    1. Tia wrote:

      > Again, this is neither the fault of the American construction worker

      > nor the undocumented worker who will work for less. It is the fault

      > of those who would enrich themselves regardless of the harm to either

      > of these workers.

      I agree with Tia that people who break the law and hire undocumented workers are criminals who should be punished for tax evasion (as well as breaking many other laws) but so should the people (documented and undocumented) who break the law and work illegally without paying taxes (and break other laws).  If a guy is breaking the law and selling stolen jewelry he is just as guilty as the guy that buys it knowing it is stolen.

      P.S. I have not met or heard of a Caucasian drywall guy for at least 20 years and many white guys were laid off from these fairly high paying jobs not because others would work for less, but because they did not speak Spanish and “fit it” with the rest of the crew …

  8. I am  wondering how the immigration  law will be interpreted in regards to the  undocumented immigrants who obtained the California Driver licenses . California DL  is the  official state document which  by issuance to the  undocumented immigrant basically legalized   residence in the State of California especially if illegal has car , paying for  licencee and registration and insurance . What the California law makers saying about providing undocumented residents the legal documents to stay . Furthermore by  doing this so the  DMV data base provides information where these ‘illegal ”  folks with DL’s lives.  If the  Trump’s  administration will  carry the treats of deportation than these folks with DL’s are screwed right away .

  9. I have not met or heard of a Caucasian drywall guy for at least 20 years and many white guys were laid off from these fairly high paying jobs not because others would work for less, but because they did not speak Spanish and “fit it” with the rest of the crew …”

    Again, this is the fault of the employers and those who utilize those who hire undocumented workers, not that of the workers themselves. And again, regardless of whom you choose to blame, these are all adults. The children remain guiltless and yet will be the ones penalized for the actions of their parents. Not acceptable within my moral framework.

    1. Tia wrote:

      > The children remain guiltless and yet will be the

      > ones penalized for the actions of their parents. 

      I bet most kids would not say they were “penalized” if they moved from a crappy apartment in West Sacramento to a country with beaches that look like this:

      http://kupdates.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/iStock_000017883988_Small_Caribbean_beach_Tulum.jpg

      P.S. My kids cry every time we leave Mexico and come back to Davis…

      1. SOD

        Surely you are not so naive as to believe that because you live in a country with beaches that look like that means that you have the ability to access them, have enough to eat, and are not being terrorized by gangs or are effectively caught in war zones. After visiting Haiti, I became acutely aware that having a beach nearby does not mean that everyone gets to go there. For one family we stayed with, we were their kids ticket to a trip to the beach which some of them had never gone to since the trip there could not be afforded. As compensation for hosting us, we payed for a semester for the youngest daughter just to go to school since they could not afford that either.

      2. I do too….cry I mean…but fortunately I do not have to leave as much anymore..

        As a refuge before the age of two, with refuge grandparents on both sides, and having waited our turn in SA…five years long in the 50s, as heck, my parents and I were born in an asian country and must be asian right, and were lumped in that group..

        and I met some of those deported by BO, and guess what …the families are way happier, they all have jobs, they enjoy decent work environment, affordable housing… and have more time with their families….

        Too bad he didn’t deport the elder abuser criminals I met last year….and heck they were white and not from any country on the do not import list…oh well.

         

         

  10. The Space Traders” is a science fiction short story by Derrick Bell.
    Published in 1992, its subject is the arrival of apparently benevolent and powerful extraterrestrials that offer the United States a wide range of benefits such as gold, clean nuclear power and other technological advances, in exchange for one thing: handing over all black people in the U.S. to the aliens. The story posits that the people and political establishment of the U.S. are willing to make this deal, passing a referendum to enable it.

    As I recall, I watched this movie on HBO and I was  shocked. National referendum to deport or not to deport .       .

  11. WHO SHOULD BE BLAMED ?
    But the new number is hardly reassuring. To put that in perspective, 2.5 million people were deported during the first six years of President Obama’s tenure — far more than were deported by any other president and almost more than all previous presidents combined.
    “For many of us, Trump’s America was already here,” Marisa Franco, an Arizona-based community organizer and director of the #Not1More anti-deportation campaign, told a gathering of activists shortly after Trump’s victory.
    “Obama built a horrible machine already,” said Danny Cendejas, an organizer with Detention Watch Network, a group that fights immigration detention and deportations nationwide. “Trump will just take it, and take it to a much more horrifying level.” 
    In fact, what Trump is proposing is not very different from what has already been happening under the Obama administration, which has prioritized the deportation of undocumented immigrants with criminal convictions.
    https://theintercept.com/2016/11/18/donald-trumps-mass-deportations-would-cost-billions-and-take-years-to-process/

    1. Then why did you cry for the ignore feature?  I know why, if you put others on ignore it makes it harder for you to troll.
      Biddlin August 9, 2016 at 8:59 am
      An “ignore” feature would make that much easier, for all. no?
      Biddlin June 2, 2016 at 9:55 am
      PM David and Don. Ignoring, in this case, could be bliss!
      Biddlin September 20, 2016 at 12:12 pm
      Yes, I have proposed an “ignore” function but so far to no avail. Perhaps David would consider a poll to see how many readers would employ such a system, were it available.

      BTW, it’s so enjoyable watching your spiteful comments go up in smoke.

      1. I never cried for anything. I never claimed I’d use it. I proposed it out of my tender feelings for the prating clodpoles whole can’t face written words without traumatic injury to their egos.

        1. I never claimed I’d use it.

          Really? But you did claim to use it.

          Biddlin November 15, 2016 at 12:25 pm

          “When I force myself to read Marina’s postings, I find myself alternatively offended and amused”
          And now, with a click, the irritants are gone!
          I was able to get a long and odoriferous comment section on the “Progressives…” thread down to about a half dozen readable comments.
           

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