Co-Chair George Kanuck's Interview with the Island Packet

Watch co-chair George Kanuck's interview with the Island Packet:

BEAUFORT IMMIGRATION RALLY PLANNED

The Lowcountry Immigration Coalition and its allies will hold a rally for comprehensive immigration reform on October 5, 2013, outside the office of Congressman Mark Sanford, 903 Port Republic Street, Beaufort, South Carolina, from Noon to 1:30.

The rally and vigil is in support of the National Day of Dignity and Respect which encourages the passage of immigration reform in the U.S. Congress with a path to citizenship for the estimated 11 million undocumented immigrants in the Nation.

The U.S. Senate has passed such legislation calling for increased border security and a tough but fair 13-year wait for citizenship, including over $2500 in fines, a criminal background check, and the requirement to learn English.  The U.S. House of Representatives needs to allow a vote on this critical issue.

Major business entities, virtually all National and State faith communities, law enforcement, and over 67 % of South Carolinians support comprehensive immigration reform.  Participants in this peaceful rally will wear white shirts and carry signs in solidarity with the other 200 cities demonstrating that day for Immigration Dignity and Respect.

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For additional information, contact, Eric Esquivel, La Isla Magazine, at 843-681-2393.

Q & A with AILA's Mary Carmen Madrid-Cost on the Dangers of Unauthorized Practice of Law

Click here to view a Q & A with AILA's Mary Carmen Madrid-Cost on the dangers of the unauthorized practice of law (UPL) or "notario" fraud. 

The Truth About Notarios - La Verdad Acerca de Los Notarios

The American Immigration Lawyers Association is continuing its efforts to inform the public about the dangers of "notarios," a term used to describe those who practice immigration law without a license.  While notaries have certain limited functions they may perform under state law, they are not licensed lawyers and cannot practice immigration law.  More information is available in the following languages:

English

Spanish

Chinese

Polish

See the following videos for more on this:

 

 



Know Your Rights Video From CHIRLA

Take a look at the following video from the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles (CHIRLA):

Lowcountry Immigration Coalition, et al. v. Nikki Haley

The Lowcountry Immigration Coalition is proud to be named as a plaintiff in this important lawsuit against the draconian anti-immigrant bill legislated by the state of South Carolina. This action is one step toward reversing this unconstitutional law and reaffirms the role of the federal government as responsible for immigration policy in the United States, not the States. We further believe that this lawsuit furthers the cause of justice, equality, and the protection of civil liberties of all our Hispanic citizens.

To view the complaint, click here.

SC Immigration Legislation

The Lowcountry Immigration Coalition (LIC) will hold a public meeting on Thurs., March 10 at the Hilton Head Palmetto Electric bldg., 111 Mathews Dr., starting at 6:30 pm.  Park and enter in the rear parking lot.  Guest speaker will be Victoria Middleton, Executive Director, American Civil Liberties Union of South Carolina, who will discuss the potential impact and costs of the proposed SC immigration legislation, SB 20.  LIC is a local organization seeking to educate, inform and advocate for comprehensive immigration reform and the protection of civil liberties.

For further information, contact lowcountry4U@gmail.com  or 681-4010.

Immigration State Law Forum, February 25, 2011

CANCELLED

The Lowcountry Immigration Coalition (LIC) will hold a public meeting Friday, February 25, at the Unitarian-Universalist Congregation of the Lowcountry, 110 Malphrus Road, Bluffton, 6:30 to 8.  The guest speaker will be Susan Dunn, Staff Attorney, South Carolina, ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union), who will discuss the implications and costs of the proposed State immigration legislation.   LIC is a local organization seeking to educate, inform and advocate for comprehensive immigration reform and the protection of civil liberties.  Please join us!

Spanish

La Coalición Inmigración Lowcountry (LIC por sus siglas en inglés) llevará acabo una reunión pública el viernes 25 de febrero en la Congregación Unitaria – Universalista del Lowcountry, 110 Malphrus Road, Bluffton, 6:30pm-8pm. La oradora será Susan Dunn, la abogada de Organización Americana para la Defensa de las Libertades Civiles (ACLU por sus siglas en inglés), que manifestará las implicaciones y costos del proyecto de ley estatal sobre inmigración. LIC es una organización local que busca educar, informar y  promover una reforma integral de inmigración y la protección de los derechos civiles. ¡Por favor únaselos!

CANCELADO

LIC Weekly Update

1.

Last week, Politico reported on the on-again off-again relationship between Senators Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Chuck Schumer (D-NY) on immigration. Apparently, it’s on again, with both Schumer and Graham telling reporters and contacts that they are back at the negotiating table. Lest we get too excited, we shouldn’t forget that we’ve been down this path before.

2.

This election cycle conservatives are intoxicated with immigrant bashing, particularly pregnant immigrant women and their children. Their tactic: change the U.S. Constitution to deny citizenship to babies born in this country to undocumented women.           

3.

SC Immigration Bill Would Be Tough to Enforce. Read here.

4.

ACTION ALERT: Call Senate Judiciary Members and Tell them to vote NO on SB20!

By: Catherine Han Montoya

Senior Field Program Manager
The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights

The Leadership Conference Education Fund

1629 K Street NW

, 10th Floor
Washington, D.C. 20006
202.466.1847 - Phone

Tuesday February 8th SB20 finally was heard in the Senate Judiciary Committee. The coalition has done a great job so far combating the bill and the lobby day was a great success but we need you all to make phone calls to Senate Judiciary Committee Members! All SC Senate Judiciary Members need to hear from us but especially republicans. 

Judiciary Com. (101 Gressette Bldg.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(803)212-6610

McConnell, Glenn F., Chairman	Ford, Robert (D) (803) 212-6124	Martin, Larry A.  (R) (803) 212-6340
Rankin, Luke A. (R) (803)212-6132	Hutto, C. Bradley (D) (803) 212-6140	Knotts, John M. "Jake", Jr.  (R) (803) 212-6350
Malloy, Gerald (D) (803)212-6148	Sheheen, Vincent A.  (D)(803) 212-6124	Campsen, George E. "Chip", III  (R) (803) 212-6016
Cleary, Raymond E., III (R) (803)212-6100	Lourie, Joel  (D) (803) 212-6116	Williams, Kent M.  (D)  (803) 212-6008
Campbell, Paul G., Jr. (R)   (803)212-6016	Massey, A. Shane (R) (803) 212-6000	Bright, Lee (R) (803) 212-6108
Coleman, Creighton B. (D)(803) 212-6180	Davis, Tom (R) (803) 212-6008	Martin, Shane R. (R)(803) 212-6100
Nicholson, Floyd (D)(803) 212-6040	Rose, Michael T. (R) (803) 212-6056	Scott, John L., Jr. (D)(803) 212-6048
Shoopman, Phillip W. (R)(803) 212-6032

Some Talking Points

·         South Carolina’s current FY2011 budget deficit is $1.3Billion and the cost of SB20 could be in the hundreds of millions of dollars.  We can’t afford SB20.  We need to focus on saving our education, healthcare and social service system NOT adding to the defict.

·         Such a law will not address any of the serious challenges that our state faces right now.  It won’t balance our budget, create more jobs, provide quality health care, retain or recruit professionals and workers to our state, educate our children, or protect our environment.  It will make our problems worse by diverting resources and sowing fear and division into communities that need to work together.

·         State and local jurisdictions that have attempted to take over immigration enforcement from the federal government have typically paid large legal bills in a losing effort to defend their laws.  The U.S. Department of Justice  has sued Arizona, resulting in a court ruling that blocked major parts of the law and a cost of $1 million in legal fees to defend the law—and that’s only through July 2010.  South Carolina can scarcely afford to invite costly litigation over a law that is of questionable constitutionality and could take years to settle.

Tips:

1.  Start by telling the legislator or their staff that you’re calling to ask the senator to OPPOSE SB20

2.  Pick a talking point to focus on

3.  If you have time, tell a personal story

4.  End by reiterating your opposition to the SB20 and ask where the senator stands on the issue if they say they will vote no thank them. If they say they will vote yes tell them to reconsider. 

5.  Afterwords, let us know where the senator stands.

Andre Segura on Arizona-style Immigration Laws

Click here to see Andre Segura's insightful article on Arizona-style immigration laws at the The Huffington Post.  Lowcountry Immigration Coalition members recently met with the author of this piece.

Mexican Consul General Speaks to The State

Carlos Flores Vizcarra, consul general of the Carolinas, recently spoke with The State regarding the current immigration situation in South Carolina.  Click here for the article.

Perceptions of the Hispanic Community

Click here for Warren Bolton's editorial in The State on current perceptions in South Carolina of Hispanics, among others.

Some Rational Thinking on Immigration

We clearly have a problem in this Nation with illegal immigration.  People have always entered this country for a better life for themselves and their families.  The latest influx comes primarily because people can literally walk into the U.S., in spite of the difficulties in crossing the border, including capture or even death. A vast majority of undocumented workers in our Nation keep to themselves, do menial jobs, and try to provide for their families, including their children (who, if born here, by Federal law, are American citizens).  Most of these people work hard, aren’t involved in criminal behavior, and push their children to learn English.


Previous efforts to resolve this problem were largely thwarted by those whose only answer is “round them, up and send them back”.  Picture this scenario:  the U.S. government hires thousands of new Federal agents to sweep the country for a year or more, identify men, women, and children, forcibly take them from their homes and workplaces, and assembles a fleet of 240,000 buses across the country, all for the purpose of sending them “back”.  Such actions, as suggested by many in this country, would make the United States a pariah to the civilized world. This will not happen!!


The answer, of course, is for the country to enact Federal immigration reform.  If those who seek to deport these workers will instead agree on comprehensive legislation, we may yet resolve this problem without losing our moral principles? 

George Kanuck
Bluffton, SC

Announcing the Lowcountry Immigration Coalition

This announces the formation of the Lowcountry Immigration Coalition.  The purpose of the Coalition is to support comprehensive immigration reform in the community, State and Nation.  The vision of the Coalition is to educate, inform, and advocate in support of fair immigration policies including the protection of immigration rights and liberties, prevention of discrimination, support of cultural awareness, and advancement of a human rights agenda.  Activities will involve meetings, public functions, and media, and will be inclusive of individuals, business, labor, local and State office holders, enforcement officials, faith communities, and members of the legal profession.  Future public meetings are planned.  For those interested in joining the Coalition, please contact us at lowcountry4U@gmail.com.