Pre-Hearing Training Session Date: Thursday, Jan. 31 Location: SEIU Hall @ 4001 Ross Ave. Dallas, TX 75204 Dear supporters of immigrants' and civil rights:
The ACLU is concerned about this hearing because even though the Constitution is clear that, with some exceptions, immigration enforcement is a federal responsibility, some state and local officials and agencies are capitalizing on the current anti-immigrant public sentiment to expand their powers and deny due process to detained individuals. Because Latinos, including US citizens and legal residents, are being targeted, profiled, and harassed, our goal at this hearing is to advocate for the equal and fair treatment of ALL Texans.
Below you will find a description of the issues to be addressed at the hearing, some background information, and what you can do to help prevent further criminalization of immigrants in Texas.Who: Advocates, immigrants, and Texans who support equality, diversity, and civil rights for all Texans
Advocates, immigrants, and Texans who support equality, diversity, and civil rights for all TexansWhat: Attend a public legislative hearing on immigration enforcement by state and local officials
Where: University of Texas at Dallas (800 West Campbell Rd., Richardson, Texas, 75080) Conference Center at UTD.
When: Friday, February 1, 2007, 10:30am - 4:00pm
Why: To prevent further criminalization of immigrants in Texas
The HearingThe Texas House Committees on Corrections and County Affairs will hold a joint public hearing at the University of Texas at Dallas in Richardson, Texas from 10:30am to 4:00pm on Friday, February 1, 2007, on issues surrounding the role of criminal justice personnel in enforcing federal immigration law and the impact of "illegal immigration" on the criminal justice system in Texas.
The purpose of the hearing is two-fold: The first is fact-finding, i.e. for legislators to determine how jails, prisons, and probation departments currently identify and process undocumented immigrants. (See bottom of this message for the text of the charge.) The second purpose is for legislators to hear public input on these issues.Background
The hearing takes place against the backdrop of primary election season and the recent bitter experiences of two nearby Dallas suburbs - Farmers Branch, where the city council continues its efforts to prohibit landlords from renting to undocumented immigrants, and Irving, where Latinos have been targeted for detention, arrest, and deportation through the city's "24/7 Criminal Alien Program". If testimony at the hearing is disproportionately anti-immigrant, it will provide political momentum for anti-immigrant legislation next session (which begins in January 2009).Significant numbers of anti-immigrant advocates are planning to attend the hearing in hopes of swaying committee members to enact harsher laws against immigrants. Though we don't know what issues these advocates will focus on, it is likely that they will push for expanded roles for state and local agencies in immigration enforcement, such as the "24/7 CAP" program used in Irving, Texas.
It is crucial that the testimony and makeup of the audience at the hearing reflect the fact that many Texans support immigrants' rights, want to preserve the diversity and economic vitality of our communities, and do not support the further criminalization of immigrants in Texas. In the current political environment, elected officials are under tremendous pressure to support pernicious and mean-spirited measures that threaten our fundamental rights and the fabric of our society.What you can do
1. Attend the hearing in support of immigrants - Even if you do not wish to speak at the hearing, a strong and diverse presence in support of immigrants and immigrants' rights is crucial to convey our message to policy makers. The auditorium only seats 300 people, so getting there early will help ensure a place to sit.2. Speak as a member of the public - After invited testimony concludes, committee members will hear testimony from members of the public who would like to share their experiences or views on the subject. This is a great opportunity to make your voice heard. Since testimony will be cut off at 4:00pm and witnesses will be placed on a list on a first come-first serve basis, those wishing to speak should plan on arriving at the hearing before 10:30am. There will be a sign-up sheet for those wishing to speak.
Legislative hearings are unique forums for public input. If you would like to consider speaking at the hearing, and have not done so before, below are some tips for effective speaking at legislative hearings:* Be Brief - You should keep your comments under 3 minutes. If there are lots of people signed up to speak, the Chairman may limit all comments to 3 or 5 minutes and cut you off if you go beyond the limit. You will be most effective if you make your points succinctly and stay within the allotted time.
* Stay On Topic - Keep your comments within the topic of the hearing - enforcement of immigration law by city and county law enforcement agencies, in state prisons, and by probation officers, including cooperation between these entities and ICE. Personal experiences, i.e. stories, are especially effective and encouraged.Examples of relevant subjects:
* Having been racially profiled (such as having been detained by a police officer for no apparent reason and asked for a social security number or document related to immigration status)* Having a family member arrested and deported
* The effects of the 24/7 Criminal Alien Program in Irving, Texas* The effects of such policies on your business or local economy
* The effects of such policies on public saftey, immigrants' willingness to report crime, or community policing effortsExamples of not relevant subjects:
* The need for comprehensive federal immigration reform* The ordinances in Farmers Branch
* Police brutality or other abuses, in generalAttached are a press release by the House Corrections Committee announcing the hearing and a news article about the interim charge.
For logistical questions about the hearing, please contact the Corrections Committee Clerk, Raenetta Nance at (512) 463-0796 or raenetta.nance@house.state.tx.us <mailto:raenetta.nance@house.state.tx.us> . For other questions, including assistance with talking points on issues related to state and local involvement in enforcing immigration law, feel free to contact me at the numbers listed below.Thank you for your efforts in this crucial time for our state.
Craig AdairVolunteer Immigration Policy Analyst
American Civil Liberties Union of Texas512 478 7300 (wk)
512 707 0972 (hm)Interim Charge #7: "Study policies and procedures related to illegal immigration and border security of the TDCJ, county probation departments, and local county jail facilities, and make recommendations to improve coordination with international, federal, state, and local authorities."
