​The COVID-19 crisis has underscored the impact of longstanding state and local involvement in deportations--
undermining testing, treatment and contact tracing efforts in immigrant communities, and impeding access to court and police protection. State action is urgently needed to restore trust in our public institutions and ensure that everyone can seek medical care, emergency assistance, and protection without fear of deportation. The Safe Communities Act (SCA) will:

1. Ensure court and police officials do not inquire about immigration status unless required by law.
The Massachusetts State Police and many local police departments have similar policies. This practice is especially important to immigrant survivors of domestic violence and those who assist them, including
medical providers, who seek assurance that the abuse can safely be reported to the police.

2. Protect basic rights, just like a “Miranda” warning.
ICE officials regularly visit our jails and correctional facilities to identify people for deportation. The SCA requires written consent before any ICE interview can take place, and ensures that people in local custody are informed in writing of the purpose of the interview and of their right to decline it or to have their own attorney present. Without knowledge of these rights, people often jeopardize their immigration cases – up to
and including signing their own deportation orders.

3. Ensure that everyone has access to justice in our courts.
Current practice undermines our court system by encouraging ICE to take custody of people before they have their day in court, denying justice to victims and defendants alike. The SCA allows police and court officials to notify ICE of a person’s pending release from custody only at the end of a sentence of incarceration, not before. It does not otherwise restrict communications with ICE.

4. End 287(g) agreements that require local officials to do the federal government’s job, at state expense.
The SCA would prevent contracts with ICE that allow county sheriffs to act as federal immigration agents, at state taxpayers’ sole expense. Massachusetts is the only state in New England with such agreements, which damage the relationship between immigrant communities and law enforcement, encourage racial profiling, and are currently under legal challenge as a violation of state law. The MA Attorney General has recommended
 termination of one such agreement for violating detainees’ civil rights.

5. Require law enforcement training on SCA guidelines and provide state oversight.
The SCA would ensure that law enforcement agencies incorporate this guidance into their training programs and permits the filing of complaints with the relevant agencies, who must investigate and provide a summary of findings to the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security.

Questions? Contact: Amy Grunder at agrunder@miracoalition.org or tel: (617) 350-5480, x222 / cell: 617- 230-9491, or Gavi Wolfe at gwolfe@aclum.org or tel: (617) 482-3170 x340 / cell: 617-694-9177

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 15, 2020
CONTACT:
Marion Davis
MIRA Coalition
mdavis@miracoalition.org
781-654-5160 (cell)

BOSTON – Today the Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security reported out the Safe Communities Act (S.1401 and H.3573) with a recommendation that it “ought to pass.” The bill now goes to the House Ways and Means Committee.
The Safe Communities Coalition, a diverse group of immigrant community leaders, civil rights and legal advocates, faith leaders, and health and human service providers, deeply appreciates the Committee Chairs’ and members’ thoughtful consideration of this bill, and their attention to the thousands of Massachusetts residents who have called and emailed legislators, urging its passage.
“This is a matter of public health and public safety, and it means the world that the Massachusetts Legislature is recognizing it as such,” said Eva A. Millona, president and CEO of the Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition, one of the leaders of the coalition. “We hope we can count on leadership in both chambers to advocate strongly for this bill’s passage now. It’s time for everyone in our Commonwealth to feel safe seeking help when they need it.”
The Safe Communities Act would draw a clear line between public safety and civil immigration matters and protect immigrants’ basic rights. The goal is to restore community trust at a time when many people avoid calling 911, going to the hospital, or seeking police or court protection, for fear that they or a loved one will be reported to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

“We are thrilled that the Safe Communities Act will move on to the next important step toward becoming law,” said Carol Rose, executive drector of the ACLU of Massachusetts, another leader in the coalition. “In a time when not even a global pandemic has slowed down this administration’s attacks on immigrants and people of color, Massachusetts must do everything in its power to ensure that we don’t lift a finger or spend a dime of our precious state or local resources to help deport our friends and neighbors.”

“I thank the leadership for listening to our voices and for putting the lives of our immigrant community before any other agenda,” said Damaris Velasquez, director of programs and co-founder of Agencia ALPHA and a member of the coalition Steering Committee. “This is a step forward to make Massachusetts a more humane state. This victory should inspire us to continue the work until our laws reflect our human values.”
The bill is backed by about 200 endorsing organizations. Health care providers have been particularly vocal, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, as they have seen immigrants avoid testing, care and contact-tracing for fear of being turned over to immigration agents. On Monday, the committee chairs and legislative leaders received an endorsement letter from the Massachusetts Medical Society, the Massachusetts Chapter of the American College of Physicians, MGH Chelsea HealthCare Center, and the François-Xavier Bagnoud Center for Health and Human Rights at Harvard University; on Tuesday, it was followed by a letter from the Massachusetts General Hospital Executive Committee on Community Health.
“Public health efforts to contain the COVID-19 epidemic cannot succeed until the state signals to all members of our most vulnerable and marginalized communities that it cares more about their well-being than their legal status,” the second letter concluded. “Uncoupling the work of state agencies from immigration enforcement is a necessary first step to conveying that crucial message. With another wave of COVID-19 infections likely imminent, time is of the essence.”

Some of the most impassioned advocacy for the Safe Communities Act has been led by survivors of domestic and sexual violence, who have stressed that fear of deportation keeps many immigrants from reporting abuse or going to court, with potentially deadly consequences.

“On behalf of our 57 member programs and the thousands of immigrant survivors of sexual and domestic violence who seek support and services each year, we celebrate this step towards ensuring safety and stability for immigrant communities across Massachusetts,” said Hema Sarang-Sieminski, policy director of Jane Doe Inc. “This bill sends a message to immigrant survivors that they can seek safety, health care and support without fear in Massachusetts.”
​
Rev. Dieufort Fleurissant, of Haitian Americans United and the True Alliance Center, a member of the coalition Steering Committee, has spoken often of the pervasive fear among mixed-status Haitian families, and how it has hindered access to health care and basic food assistance in the COVID-19 crisis.
“Today’s news is very hopeful and worth celebrating, knowing how fearful immigrant families are in this climate,” Fleurissaint said. “Now this is the time for the full Legislature to pass the Safe Communities Act and ease the anxiety, worries and trauma of all who have long suffered silently. Families deserve to tend to their children and seek protection from abuse without being afraid.”

Download a summary of the Safe Communities Act, including a list of statewide endorsing organizations. Use this link for a full list of endorsers as of June 2020.

                                                                  FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:  FANM Communications, communications@fanm.org, 305-756-8050
WHAT: Community Leaders Urge The US Government To Halt The Deportation of Emmanuel “Toto” Constant and COVID-19 Positive Detainees to Haiti on May 26th 
WHO: Community Leaders 
WHEN: Monday, May 25th at 10:00 am ET
WHERE: Via Zoom, https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87872949899
Meeting ID: 878 7294 9899

FANM Urges ICE To Halt the Deportation Of Mass Murderer Emmanuel “Toto” Constant And COVID-19 Positive Detainees To Haiti On Tuesday, May 26th 2020.  

Miami, FL---The flight manifest for ICE’s Tuesday, May 26th deportation flight from Brownsville, Texas to Haiti includes 78 names, among them notorious former death squad leader and U.S. criminal Emmanuel “Toto” Constant.  Emmanuel “Toto” Constant has been linked to the murders of at least 3,000 people in Haiti. He has not served his full 37 year sentence in the United States and his presence in Haiti now would be highly destabilizing.

In addition, at least nine of the 78 scheduled deportees recently tested positive for coronavirus. Their presence risks turning the flight into a vector for coronavirus transmission among the other passengers, crew, and in Haiti itself. Haiti is unprepared and ill-equipped to handle a potential outbreak of this magnitude. On May 10th, the Haitian scientific governmental panel on COVID-19 requested a moratorium on all U.S. deportations during the pandemic. 

Marleine Bastien, Executive Director of Family Action Network Movement (FANM), stated, “The deportation of Emmanuel “Toto” Constant to Haiti endangers the entire country. Constant is a renowned human rights violator and his return during this time of crisis would cause even more political upheaval and chaos in Haiti. Deporting him and the nine sick detainees sets a dangerous precedent and the repercussions are irreparable.”
​
Steve Forester, Immigration Policy Coordinator for the Institute for Justice & Democracy in Haiti, stated, “The United States is disrespecting and endangering Haiti and its people by intending to deport known coronavirus-positive persons. Haitian President Moise should follow the advice of his scientific advisors by halting deportations from the United States during the pandemic, which threatens to devastate an ill-prepared Haiti.” 

Family Action Network Movement (FANM) formerly known as Fanm Ayisyen Nan Miyami, Inc)/ Haitian Women of Miami is a  not-for-profit organization dedicated to the social, economic, financial and political empowerment of low to moderate-income families to give them the tools to transform their communities.
 
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fanm
Family Action Network Movement
Tel: 305.756.8050
Address: 100 NE 84th St, Miami, FL 33138