The News

San Francisco hands over immigrant youth; ICE avoids churches

ICE’s long avoidance of churches surfaces with renewed criticism
Conservative critics are again targeting the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency’s long-standing avoidance of churches. At a moment in which detainment and deportation are commonplace, the New Sanctuary Movement, which forges relationships between illegal immigrants and churches, has again come under fire. Experts say that since the 1970s, ICE has avoided “churches, playgrounds and schools,” while pursuing factories, restaurants and private homes with little restraint. Since then, certain churches have become the site of high-profile organizing against U.S. immigration policy. Elvira Arellano, who received national attention for her work, was only deported after leaving sanctuary to attend a Los Angeles rally. The Associated Press

Hong Kong’s anti-discrimination law falls short
Last week’s new bill, the first of its kind for a Chinese territory and the result of more than a decade of legislative debate, does little to actively curb discrimination outside the private sector. It focuses on controlling businesses, especially with housing and employment, but leaves the ever-strengthening bureaucracy untouched. As well, while the bill provides some grounds for African, Southeast Asian and South Asian immigrants to contest treatment, it fails to address a long-standing tradition of discrimination against ethnic Chinese migrants, who come from the mainland in droves, only to be denied basic public services. Time/CNN

San Francisco cooperates with ICE
After several months of intense criticism and pressure from government officials, San Francisco has started to hand over the names of “youth who may be in the U.S. illegally.” Recently, Mayor Gavin Newsom reversed the 20-year sanctuary policy, which had shielded immigrant youth from deportation and sometimes funded their trips home. Now, at least 10 youth are being held in juvenile custody, on mainly drug-related charges. San Francisco Chronicle

Posted at 7:51 AM, Jul 14, 2008 in Permalink | View Comments