Session Type(s): Training
Training Tag(s): Grassroots Organizing/Campaigns
Starts: Saturday, Jul. 16 10:00 AM (Eastern)
Ends: Saturday, Jul. 16 11:15 AM (Eastern)
The Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 created the pathways to the criminalization of immigrants that we know today. Since then, millions of immigrants have languished in detention facilities and jails and many face deportation and separation from their families. This training gets at the root of the problem by connecting the conversations around immigration and criminal justice reform. Using examples from the #HoustonBeyondICE/#HoustonSinMiedo campaign’s current fight against 287(g) immigration contracts in Harris County Jails, we’ll focus on how to build and strengthen coalitions between immigrant youth, black youth, and criminal justice organizers. We’ll also cover communications strategies for talking about criminal justice and immigration and show you how to build power to influence local law enforcement.
This training is best suited for those with medium expertise in immigration and criminal justice related topics.
Ambar Pinto, 22, was born in Cochabamba, Bolivia to a Mexican mother and a Bolivian father. She moved to the U.S. at the age of 12 and has lived in Northern Virginia ever since. Ambar was aware of her undocumented status and knew that things would be difficult. She enrolled in the Edu-Futuro leadership program, when Ambar was able to talk about her status for the first time. She then served this organization’s board for six years. In 2012, Ambar became a co-founder of Dreamers of Virginia (DoV) and has been working to achieve higher education for all undocumented youth in that state. DoV advocated for a partial victory in April of 2015 when the Attorney General Mark Herring declared that undocumented youth with DACA would be able to get in-state tuition rates. Ambar is passionate about defending people’s rights especially those who are victims of an unjust and racist immigration system. She joined UWD’s Deportation Defense Program in 2015, and led Dreamers of Virginia to have their first action to end the 287(g) program in Prince William County.
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