Long Island Wins: Immigrant Communities Commend Senators for Exploring Start to Reform Immigration

Thursday, April 30, 2009
Port Washington, NY - Today, Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY) will hold his first hearing as Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee’s Subcommittee on Immigration, Border Security, and Refugees. The hearing is titled “Comprehensive Immigration Reform in 2009, Can We Do It and How?” and is expected to explore the national need to reform immigration, and the feasibility for legislation this year. The following is a statement by Maryann Sinclair Slutsky, Campaign Director of Long Island Wins:

“We are encouraged by the Judiciary Subcommittee’s hearing today and commend Senator Schumer’s willingness to discuss the urgent need to reform immigration for America . The hearing follows recent comments by the White House on its commitment to reform immigration, and represents a very positive indication that immigration reform is on track and moving forward in this Congress. This is another sign that momentum is building for Congress to reform immigration this year.”
“The Subcommittee is expected to hear testimony from a wide range of panelists, including notable experts and from law enforcement, economics, faith, labor, and civil rights. These panelists will testify about the nation’s need for immigration reform. Here on Long Island, we see everyday, how reform would impact and improve the economic, spiritual, and civic life of our American communities.”
“Families and communities, immigrant and native-born alike should feel there is good reason to hope and to renew faith in a government that is willing to find practical solutions that reflect the best of our shared American values, and not succumb to the petty politics of fear and hate.”
“As many communities prepare for tomorrow’s vigils and rallies, today’s hearing explores some of the very substantive reasons why America needs reform of its immigration system. It is clear - America needs a just, fair, and humane immigration system that protects and upholds our shared American values, that protect families, workers, and the economy. We need a practical solution that works.”
“Congress needs to reform immigration so that all working families in America are protected equally. We need to reform immigration for all families and communities, and for the long-term economic recovery that America needs.”

_______________________
 Contact: Maryann Sinclair Slutsky, 516 304-5641, mslutsky@longislandwins.com



Week of April 30: click here for updates

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Democracy Now!

The independent news hour with Amy Goodman and Juan Gonzalez:
on Riverhead/Southampton/Southold/Shelter Island Channel 20:

Note: Channels 20 (public access) and 22 (government meetings) now require a digital capable TV or converter box and have been removed from the basic cable service in violation of contracts with the east end towns. Call your Town Council members to find out what they are doing about this.

Starting April 1 - new schedule for Democracy Now!

Monday 6:30 am

Tuesday 6 PM

Wednesday 8 PM

Thursday 10 PM

Friday 6:30 am

Saturday - 10 PM

Also on WUSB 90.1 FM 5 PM Mon-Friday and East Hampton LTV Ch 20

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International Women's Peace Service - West Bank Land Confiscation


IWPS House Report No. 136
Settlers form Revava illegal settlement start installing water pipes on Haris villagers land
On Friday the 17th April in the morning we received a call from a worried Haris resident who is the owner of the land close to the nearby Revava settlement.
The villager told us that a group of man, some of them armed, have arrived with the bulldozer and were working on his land.
IWPS went to investigate and found Revava settlement security staff and the workman operating a digger , as well as a dozen concerned Palestinians who came to find out what was happening. The security person said that they were planning to replace the old water pipes which were supplying water for the settlement from the well in the Haris resident's field.
The settlers could not produce any paperwork permitting the digging and the IWPS reported the incident to the Palestinian Authority who informed the Israeli army and police.
They promised to intervene and when this was conveyed to the settlers they left but said that they would return with the required permit to continue with the work.
On Monday the 20th April the settlers were back accompanied by two Israeli soldiers and have dug a wide truncheon about 50 metres long for the new larger replacement water pipe.
We contacted the Palestinian Authority and they confirmed that the settlers have been issued a permit for the work and that no further action could be taken against them.
During our visit to the field on Thursday the 23rd we established that the settlers' work extended to the land of a second Palestinian who was the owner of about the half of the land in question. He expressed his doubts to us that the settlers had a permit to carry out the digging, because they failed to produce it when he requested it.
We have referred both Palestinians to the organisations providing specialist legal support with the issues arising from the Israeli occupation, including the issues of land confiscation and usurpation by the settlers.
The affected Palestinians see the settlers' work in their fields as a violation of their property rights. In the past a large chunks of their land were taken away illegally and without their consent by the Israeli army and the settlers and some of it was used for the build of one of the tallest watch towers in the West Bank based near the entrance to Haris.

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