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There are many groups around Wisconsin and beyond that are holding webinars and meetings in preparation for January and any new policies related to immigration and deportation.
WNPJ will post these upcoming events here and give readers contact information on how to get involved. WNPJ may be distributing Immigrants Welcome BUTTONS soon to these member groups across the state. When they're available, we'll let you know! Let us know if you're interested in distributing - and how many to send you! info@wnpj.org
If you know of other groups organizing around immigration, have them send their events and announcements to info@wnpj.org.
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Check out this video from the Weaving the Web Conversation Jan. 2nd about Immigration, with WISDOM's Amanda Ali, hosted by Erika Bach! Lots of resources here! https://youtu.be/y4rqqNUpofA
There is a new series of articles coming about immigrant workers in WI with the Wisconsin Examiner!! Check out this article from 1/10/25 on immigrant workers in WI:...and watch for more in this series!
‘How in the hell will we continue to be the Dairy State?’
Nowhere would mass deportation have a bigger impact than on Wisconsin’s dairy farms, where an estimated 70% of the workforce is made up of immigrants, mostly from Mexico and Central America. Because Congress has never created a year-round visa for low-skilled farm workers, almost all of Wisconsin’s immigrant dairy workers are undocumented. Without them, experts say, the whole industry would collapse.
At a Jan. 3 press conference in the Capitol, Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers called the threat of mass deportation “illogical,” and said “we will do everything in our power to prevent it.”
“The bottom line is, in Wisconsin, 70% of our farms … 70% of the people may be part of the federal government’s idea to move them elsewhere, out of our country,” Evers said. “Think about that. How in the hell will we continue to be the Dairy State with no one to milk the cows and do the other important work?”
Read this timely article published Jan 21 in the Wisconsin Examiner "Immigrant rights advocates prepare for Wisconsin law enforcement collaboration on deportation"
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EVENT in Madison....
Thurs. Jan. 30th 1:30 pm History and Current Status of Immigration Law in the U.S. - Part of the UW Badger Talks series. Lakwood Village (6205 Mineral Point Rd.. Madison) Presented by Sara McKinnon, UW Professor of Rhetoric, Politics, and Culture and Faculty Director of Latin American, Caribbean and Iberian Studies (LACIS). She is currently working on a collaborative project to expand the legal information about US immigration and refugee programs and legal counsel available to migrants throughout Latin America as they consider safe options for movement and resettlement. More info? Visit: https://www.platomadison.org/event-5989909
Sent to WNPJ by Madison Infoshop peckjohne@gmail.com
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Mississippi communities scarred by ICE raids fear future under Trump
Story on National Public Radio today - 12/10/24
Don't miss this 7 minute story on NPR this morning
On Friday night, people queue up at Maria's Mercado to cash paychecks, transfer money, and order a hot meal. Photo credit to Andrea Morales for NPR
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Upcoming:
Jan. 20: Multicity protest event in Madison, Milwaukee, and Green Bay
May Day: Stand in solidarity with Voces de la Frontera
Voces de la Frontera Madison Organizer stephaniejsa123@gmail.com
Voces de la Frontera 20th Annual Assembly
Date: January 25th, 2025
Time: 9:00 AM Registration | 10:00 AM Program Start | 3:00 PM Program End
Where: South Division High School 1515 W Lapham Blvd, Milwaukee, WI 53204
Please complete the form below to RSVP.
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Dane Sanctuary Coalition
danesanctuary@gmail.com; Leila Pine sabinosanctuary@gmail.com
The Dane Sanctuary Coalition, working in partnership with Voces de la Frontera and Centro Hispano, is part of the New Sanctuary Movement which includes over 1100 sanctuary congregations across the nation protecting undocumented immigrant families. This chapter works with WI Faith Vices for Justice, member group of WNPJ.
We are fortunate in Dane County to have a coalition of organizations committed to protecting our residents. For obvious reasons, there is widespread fear and confusion surrounding potential changes to federal immigration policy and enforcement. Locally, there has been an outpouring of support to organizations that work with our friends and neighbors in the immigrant community. It’s heartening so many are asking what they can do to help. At this moment in time, what we need most from allies is to stay connected.
We are encouraging folks to follow Centro Dane County and Voces de la Frontera on social media (see links below). Any call to action where we need the community to respond will be centralized through these channels. Your willingness to meaningfully contribute is deeply appreciated. Please stay safe, informed, and connected as we move forward together as a united community.
In response to the recent election results, the Dane Sanctuary Coalition has initiated discussions on how we can best collaborate with local organizations and congregations to protect the rights of our immigrant brothers and sisters.
We are thankful to the leadership of The Dane County Immigration Affairs office, Centro, and Voces de la Frontera. For more detailed information on the the preparation working currently happening, please follow the Facebook pages of Dane Sanctuary Coalition, Centro, and Voices de la Frontera
Currently, 5 congregations are preparing to offer physical sanctuary while 25 additional congregations and organizations are offering to provide a supportive role.
If your congregation or organization is interested in more information regarding becoming a sanctuary congregation or a supporting congregation/organization please reach out at danesanctuary@gmail.com.
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Upcoming events! Watch for updates....
Stopping Mass Deportation through Local Sheriffs
Date: Monday, February 10 📷 Time: Starts at 6:30 PM 📷 Register: https://bit.ly/stoppingdeportations
This training will equip you with the tools to advocate for change and hold local authorities accountable. Let’s work together to build a safer, more inclusive community.
Forty-seven percent of deportations went through sheriffs at the end of the last Trump Administration. The new Trump Administration is looking to expand the role of sheriffs in their plans for mass deportations. Sheriffs can detain people on behalf of immigration authorities, they can sign agreements that empower their deputies to act as immigration agents and they can rent out jail beds for immigrant detention. The question is, how are you going to stop deportations in your community? Stay tuned for more information on this upcoming training.
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Amanda Ali
Digital Organizer at WISDOM
A valuable resource from WISDOM:
KYR Free Cards for registered nonprofits:
https://ilrc.my.salesforce-sites.com/formrc/apex/b3f__formcomplete?id=a1N2E000006rIwLUAU&Red_Card_Request__cId=%5BXXXXX%5D
WISDOM Monthly Organizing Call on Immigration
Monday, February 10th...
06:30 pm - 07:30 pm
Milwaukee, WI, USA
WISDOM coordinates an immigration task force meetings the second Monday of every month from 6:30-7:30 p.m. via Zoom.
WNPJ Board member Judy Miner was on the December zoom call and has these observations:
Following an excellent review of immigration policies and procedures - there were reports and discussions from 4 committees. and what we could do.
-Find out about your local sheriff's department and if they will cooperate with ICE if they come into your community. We learned about the 'End 287(g) in Wisconsin' Project. Watch for a WISDOM Call to Action on this issue.
-See if you know any lawyers interested in pro bono work with immigration concerns. People should have a power of attorney to protect families, in case they are caught up in a raid.
-There will be a WI bill introduced in January concerning Safe Roads and drivers licenses. It's good for the economy and public safety! They are looking for legislators to co-sponsor this bill. If you want to get involved: Next meeting : Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024, 4:30 pm.
-WISDOM is preparing cards in English and Spanish about "Know Your RIghts". Schools, churches, motels will be contacted, too, to know their rights to protect their workers.
-Help is needed contacting 100 dairy farmers in NE WI about their 1,500 workers who could be affected by ICE raids.
For more information and to reserve a spot on this call, contact the coordinator of this call: aliamanda06@gmail.com
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Invitation to participate in the WAGE THEFT Campaign:
Join workers and members as we go door knocking and present wage theft trainings throughout the community of Madison. Email socorro@workerjustice.org or call 608-572-0715 to get involved.
For more information, contact robert@workerjustice.org.
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Family Farm Defenders
KNOW YOUR RIGHTS sheet and cards from FFD!
See this attached pdf Fact sheet to learn more!
John Peck sent this information to WNPJ from a group called Mijente. Learn more below...
When Trump takes office in January 2025, his administration will immediately begin enacting the campaign pledges – especially those he and his followers have made on immigration. While there are many theories, we don’t know the exact forms and sequence, which has added to fears and uncertainties in many of our families and neighborhoods. But here’s what we do know: Over the last several years of experienced raids, border militarization, anti-immigrant legislation and many deportations, we’ve held up steady, powerful, and heartfelt fights against them. During this time, we’ve learned more than a few things about deportations and protecting our communities.Deportation defense has been a critical way of fighting back and learning how to slow the deportation machine down. It also is a very clear and direct way to be in solidarity with immigrant communities. That’s why we’re hosting the Deportation Defense Series: Skill Up + Crew Up, a 3-part virtual series on deportation defense on December 10th, 13th, and 16th. Register here. |
Over the next weeks and months we’ll be offering in person and virtual trainings and support to folks who are picking this up for the first time or want to expand on existing practice. This first round will be in three sessions over Zoom and you will learn from organizers and advocates who have done this work both at the local and federal level. We’ll be sharing more information on the specific topics we’ll cover over the next couple weeks, as well as opportunities for upcoming in person trainings. The news cycle can feel overwhelming with so many plans and people looking to implement many of the policies noted in documents such as Project 2025. We know that it’s going to be a long haul fight, with victories and disappointments in between. Mijente is committing to taking it day by day, one step at a time, and we hope you’ll join us. Right now, expanding our skills, coming together in community and staying connected are important next steps.Nos vemos, Marisa Franco National Director, Mijente hola@mijente.net |
Click here to learn more about A Working-Class History of Fighting Deportations.....
A farmer in New York just sent this history article to John Peck of Family Farm Defenders:
Check out additional resources from this site: Friends Committee on National Legislation
Immigration: Know Your Rights and Deportation Defense
Partner resources so you can know your rights as an immigrant and defend your community against mass deportation threats.
Sent to WNPJ by our member grou Madison Friends Meeting
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Here is WNPJ's STATEMENT, post-election:
STATEMENT post-election from the WNPJ Board:
The Board of WNPJ stands in solidarity with all of our member organizations and those who represent any and all marginalized people in our communities.
We will not be intimidated, nor will we shy away from hard conversations that need to happen in order for us to move forward collectively.
We stand with our friends and allies: Black, Latino, Indigenous, Muslim, Palestinian, Asian, Jewish, LGBTQ+ and others; and we will not be silent as our challenges become augmented in these difficult times.
We will work with you to amplify our voices for a peaceful and sustainable world, and continue to work toward Environmental Justice. We can no longer cut the branch we are sitting on. The earth is our home and we are one family, the human family.
Let us carry on in the spirit of love and solidarity for all that we know that is Good and Just.
With you, and by working together, we can keep hope alive for a better day ahead!
WNPJ Board of Directors
Nov 23, 2024
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Sent to WNPJ by Bryan Pfeifer bgpfeifer@gmail.com
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