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Pathway to the American Dream: 90th Anniversary Lunch, April 6, 2011 at the RI Convention Center. More infomation
Free Tax preparation for qualified low income community members on Saturdays 9 am - noon and Wednesdays 5 - 8:30 om pm at IIRI.
Education and Training Graduation Ceremony and Celebration, June 2, 6:30 om at CCRI, Liston Campus.
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Institute of Rhode Island's mission is to enable all area residents, especially
immigrants and refugees, to become self-reliant, invested participants in
our communities, while fostering respect and understanding among all people. Read more
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March 21, 2011
RI STATE HOUSE ACTION ALERT:
8 Immigration-Related Bills Proposed
The Senate Judiciary Committee is hearing eight immigration-related bills -- the good, the bad and the ugly -- TOMORROW, March 22nd, at the rise of the Senate (4:30 PM) in Room 313 at the Statehouse.
We need to make reason and passion central in the immigration debate. There are many Americans who welcome migrants and their desire to join our communities and contribute to our nation, but there are individuals who are swayed by fear and hate-speech circulated through our mainstream media and the Internet. In recent years anti-immigrant groups have successful tapped into the public imagination, exploiting society’s fears, and shaping the immigration debate. Daily inflammatory rhetoric in the media, public frustration with the broken immigration system, and federal inaction has led the issue to become hyper-charged.
As a nation we seem to have moved past stereotyping, yet some of our neighbors still fear and demonize those who are different. From experience we know that when a society begins to dehumanize a group as less deserving of rights, less equal, and less worthy, discrimination and hate will follow. For many immigrants and refugees in our communities, this has unfortunately become their reality.
While immigrants in the United States come from many places, they are united in the pursuit of the ideals of liberty and opportunity our nation was founded upon, ideals which we often take for granted in our everyday lives. Our humanitarian traditions compel us to “remember that we were once strangers in a strange land.” As human beings, the ties that bind us are far greater than the lines that divide us.
The outcome of our debate over immigration and the fate of the 12% of Rhode Island’s population that is foreign-born will speak volumes about our character and ideals. As advocates, we hope that Rhode Island will hold itself to a higher standard, one that embraces migrants with welcoming arms.
Leaving your homeland and taking the first steps on a new journey require a great deal of courage and strength. It also takes strength and courage to do what we believe is right and to defend our foreign-born neighbors, who are not always able to advocate for themselves.
Join us tomorrow at the Statehouse to help our elected officials do the right thing. Click on the names of members of the Senate Judiciary committee list to the right and send them a message.
For more information contact Michelle DePlante, Community Outreach Coordinator at mdeplante@iiri.org or (401) 784-8644.
Below are the bills that will be heard in the Senate Judiciary.
Senate Bill No. 0214 - SUPPORT
BY Metts, Pichardo
ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO PROPERTY -- IMMIGRATION STATUS {LC748} (would prohibit a landlord from asking the immigration status of a prospective tenant)
Senate Bill No. 0220 - SUPPORT
BY Metts
ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES -- REGULATION OF SALES {LC773} (would create requirements for identification and residency documents used to obtain a driver's license wherein a person must provide a document with the applicant's signature and 2 documents providing proof of residency in RI)
Senate Bill No. 0337 - OPPOSE
BY Maher, Cote, Kettle, Sheehan, Moura
ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- CONTROL OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION {LC865} (would codify into law the provisions of then-governor Carcieri's Executive Order 2008-01 dated March 27, 2008, entitled "Illegal Immigration Control Order")
Senate Bill No. 0343 - SUPPORT
BY Pichardo, Goodwin, Metts, Jabour
ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO LABOR AND LABOR RELATIONS -- FAIR EMPLOYMENT PRACTICES {LC1389} (would protect an employer from an alleged unlawful employment practice suit by requiring an employee to provide documents required by a federal employment verification system law)
Senate Bill No. 0345 - OPPOSE
BY Cote, Bates, Felag, O`Neill E, Maher
ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO LABOR AND LABOR RELATIONS {LC166} (would establish the E-Verify compliance chapter. It would also require all non-governmental employers within the state with three (3) or more employees to apply to participate in the E-Verify program and to participate if accepted)
Senate Bill No. 0347 – SUPPORT
BY Pichardo, Goodwin, Jabour, Metts, Miller
ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO CRIMINAL PROCEDURE - IMMIGRANT ASSISTANCE IN CRIME FIGHTING {LC1388} (would establish the "Immigrant Assistance in Crime Fighting Act" to promote the safety and health of all residents by making it more likely that immigrants would report violations of state and local law)
Senate Bill No. 0632 – OPPOSE
BY Moura, Shibley, Maher, Cote, Picard
ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES - SECURE COMMUNITIES PROGRAM {LC1979} (would require the participation by all cities and towns in the secure communities program)
Senate Bill No. 0671 – OPPOSE
BY Maher, Kettle, Pinga
ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO CRIMINAL PROCEDURE - IDENTIFICATION AND APPREHENSION OF CRIMINALS {LC1715} (act would require the division of sheriffs to verify the immigration status of each incarcerated person presented to the court for any hearing)
WE NEED YOUR HELP!
Contact the members of the Senate Judiciary committee to do the right thing:
sen-mccaffrey@rilin.state.ri.us
sen-nesselbush@rilin.state.ri.us
Contact your own State Senator to let them know how you feel. Find your Senator here.