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Immigration News Briefs is a weekly supplement to Weekly News Update on the Americas, published by Nicaragua Solidarity Network, 339 Lafayette St, New York, NY 10012; tel 212-674-9499; fax 212-674-9139; wnu@igc.org. INB is also distributed free via email (see below).

On July 25, US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) added new charges of deportability against Palestinians Khader Musa Hamide and Michel Ibrahim Shehadeh, longtime US lawful permanent residents the government has been seeking to deport for 18 years. The new charges--brought under the REAL ID Act, approved on May 11 of this year [see INB 5/14/05]--allege that Hamide and Shehadeh are deportable for having been members of the leftist Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP). As with "material support" charges filed against them in September 2003 under the 2001 USA PATRIOT Act, this deportable offense didn't exist at the time Hamide and Shehadeh were organizing fundraising events for humanitarian organizations in the Middle East. The new charges followed a July 7 order from Los Angeles immigration judge Bruce Einhorn postponing indefinitely a hearing scheduled for July 13.

Hamide and Shehadeh are part of the "LA 8," a group of seven Palestinians and one Kenyan arrested early in 1987 and initially ordered deported under a provision of the 1952 McCarran-Walter Act which barred advocating "the doctrines of world communism." Congress ultimately repealed the McCarran-Walter Act in 1990; the US government has adjusted its deportability charges against Hamide and Shehadeh at least five times, while pursuing minor visa violations against the other six--several of whom later won permanent residency. In February 1999, the Supreme Court ruled in the LA 8 case that "[a]n alien unlawfully in this country has no constitutional right to assert selective enforcement as a defense against his deportation," and that federal courts have no jurisdiction to hear such claims [see INB 2/99]. [Committee for Justice (www.committee4justice.com) 6/29/05, 7/9/05, 7/12/05, 8/3/05; Los Angeles Times 6/30/05, 7/14/05]

Contributions toward Immigration News Briefs are gladly accepted: they should be made payable and sent to Nicaragua Solidarity Network, 339 Lafayette St, New York, NY 10012. (Tax-deductible contributions of $50 or more may be made payable to the A.J. Muste Memorial Institute and earmarked for "NSN".)

Posted by Konrad at 09:50 AM | Permalink

Saturday, August 20
Center City
Co-hosted by Community Youth Organizing Committee
8:30 pm @Jamaican Jerk Hut
1436 South Street
Philadelphia, PA

Short videos involving Communities Against Anti-Asian Violence, Desis Rising UP and Moving, and FIERCE.

Chinatown is Not For Sale!
by Youth Organizers of the Chinatown Justice
A project of CAAAV Organizing Asian Communities
(43 min)
A new video about Manhattan's Chinatown community struggle against gentrification and displacement. This video examines the impact of racist real estate practices in Chinatown and how low income Chinese tenants are displaced to "make room" for young white professionals. The film also includes footage of CJP's efforts to combat this displacement.

Rising Up: The Alams
directed by Konrad Aderer
part of the Third World Newsreel / Call for Change series, with the participation of Desis Rising Up and Moving
(11 min 40 sec)
In April 2003 Mohammed Alam, husband and father to two U.S.-born girls, endured the discriminatory and degrading process of Special Registration. Along with 80,000 immigrants from predominantly Muslim countries, he was confined for hours in a cell, searched, fingerprinted, and subjected to anti-Muslim slurs.

Now Mohammed faces deportation to his native Bangladesh, where he could face arrest and torture. But the Alams are not just victims; learn Mohammed and his wife Moni fight back as members of South Asian community organization DRUM -- Desis Rising Up and Moving.

Fenced Out
by Paper Tiger Television, Fierce! and The New Neutral Zone
(20 min)
A short documentary about the fight for the Christopher St. pier - one of the only places in New York City where youth of color, low income, homeless and l/g/b/t/q youth could once hang out. To further explore their connection to the piers, the producers interviewed older l/g/b/t/q activists about the history of the location and its connection to the gay liberation movement of the 1960's.

Posted by Konrad at 08:30 PM | Permalink

All,

In addition to today, August 9th, 2005 marking the  the 60th
anniversary of the US bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945 (a somber
and tragic anniversary), today also marks the would be 58th birthday of our
friend, brother and comrade in struggle, Farouk Abdel-Muhti, our stateless
Palestinian brother whose flame continues to burn in our hearts eternally.

As most of you know, we lost Farouk tragically on July 21st of last year to
a fatal heart attack, just three months after his release from the gulags of
the US immigration services (BICE) under the direction of this corrupt and
criminal administration headed by Bush, Cheney and then Attorney General,
John Ashcroft.

Although we do not have an event planned to commemorate this anniversary, we
can all honor Farouk's cherished memory by continuing to fight the just
fight for human rights and social equity all around the world, especially on
behalf of the Palestinian people, workers, and all those who face oppression
in their daily social, political, civil and economic lives.

Let's not forget the example Farouk and others of his stature have set for
us, and continue to carry on this noble work, in their names and in their
honor.

Let's also not forget the incredible sacrifices of those still with us
inside and outside of prison, particularly, human rights Attorney Lynne
Stewart, who has been a pillar in this community and has made immeasurable
contributions to the struggle for justice, and is now being made to pay
dearly for her commitment to human rights and social justice.

We also must never forget all those who are unjustly imprisoned and singled
out because of their political beliefs or their ethnic origin, and must
continue to fight on their behalf on the side of justice, no matter what the
cost.

May the struggle continue and may justice and light prevail over the
darkness that now surrounds us.

Venceremos!
Long Live the People of Palestine!
Long Live Farouk!

With love, sincerity and fraternity,

Sharin Chiorazzo and Tarek Abdel-Muhti

Posted by Konrad at 11:02 AM | Permalink

For those of you not familiar with the recent case of two teenage girls being detained and interrogated on unsubstantiated allegations of terrorism, read this entry.

Next Friday I'll have the privilege of speaking on a panel about how artists and activists are responding to these kinds of abuses, at a fundraiser for the two girls and their families.

-- Konrad

AMERICA'S CIVIL LIBERTIES CRISIS : Respond with Music and Solidarity!
DISAPPEARED IN AMERICA Exhibition

FUNDRAISER FOR TWO TEENAGERS UNJUSTLY DETAINED
& accused of being a threat to national security
Tashnuba Hyder (Bangladesh): detained and deported with family
Adama Bah (Guinea): detained and eventually released, all charges dropped

5 PM: DISAPPEARED IN AMERICA exhibition (VISIBLE Collective)
7 PM: PANEL DISCUSSION on Arts & Activism in Age of Crisis
8 PM: FUNDRAISER with performances
Performers :
*Bengali musicians
*Guinean musicians
*Spoken word artists

5-7 PM: Opening of DISAPPEARED IN AMERICA exhibit @ Brecht Forum

Brief remarks by members of VISIBLE Collective

7-8 PM: Panel Discussion: Artists & Activists respond to the Civil Liberties crisis

Moderator: Naeem Mohaiemen, VISIBLE Collective

Panelists:
Avideh Moussavian, New York Immigrant Coalition
Aziz Huq, NYU Brennan Center
Fariba Alam (BANGLA EAST SIDE)
Konrad Aderer (RISING UP: THE ALAMS, FAROUK ABDEL-MUHTI: POLITICAL PRISONER)
Film Clips:
RISING UP: THE ALAMS, BANGLA EAST SIDE, DISAPPEARED
8-11PM: Fundraiser for Tashnuba Hyder and Adama Bah
*Family and friends of Tashnuba & Adama talk about the case

Followed by a Multicultural Extravaganza
Performers including:
*Bengali musicians—Bangladeshi Institute of performing Arts
*Guinean musicians—Ahmadou Bah& Others
Classical Musicians: Including pianist tomoya kano
Classical Indian Dance: Samita of KAASH
*Spoken word artists, *Others TBA; *Film Clips
__________________________________________________

DIRECTIONS:
A, C, E or L to 14th Street & 8th Ave, walk down 8th Ave. to Bethune, turn right, walk west to the River, turn left

1, 2, 3 or 9 to 14th Street & 7th Ave, get off at south end of station, walk west on 12th Street to 8th Ave. left to Bethune, turn right, walk west to the River, turn left.

PATH Train to Christopher Street north on Greenwich St to Bank Street, left to the river.

#11 or #20 Bus to Abingdon Square, west on Bethune

#14A or #14D Bus to 8th Ave & 14th Street, walk down 8th Ave. and west on Bethune to the river

#8 Bus to 10th & West Streets for more info email this email address! Or 917 602 4450 ; all proceeds will be divided by the two families!

Donations are tax exempt:
Emergency Families Fund / CAIR
c/o 9-11 relief program / Adem Carroll
166-26 89th Avenue
Jamaica, NY, 11432
www.cair-ny.org

Posted by Konrad at 06:00 PM | Permalink