Kansas City, MO – 600 students and youth attended the United We Dream National Congress here, the weekend of Nov. 30. These young leaders gathered to decide the direction that the immigrant youth movement will take in the wake of the 2012 U.S. elections. United We Dream (UND) is the largest national network of immigrant youth organizations, with 47 affiliates and thousands of members across the country.

The general consensus was loud and clear – now is the time to fight for a total overhaul of the U.S. immigration system.

Undocumented youth spoke passionately about the separation of their families as a result of deportation, the denial of a college education because they cannot receive in-state tuition or financial aid, the super-exploitation their parents face as undocumented workers, and the constant fear of being arrested for driving without a license or of running into a Border Patrol checkpoint.

On Dec. 2, in a truly democratic process, the affiliates of UWD unanimously passed a six-point platform that the immigrant youth movement is going to fight for in the upcoming year. The points included: the right to travel freely – both nationally and to visit family abroad; an end to enforcement programs like Secure Communities and e-verify; the improvement of working conditions for undocumented workers; and access to higher education through in-state tuition and financial aid programs.

The direction for the movement is clear. The immigrant youth are no longer willing to accept stalling and delays by politicians and their corporate backers. It is obvious that the immigrant youth movement will not accept the narrow, short-term solutions offered by the Democrats and Republicans to ‘solve’ the immigration issue. The solution is to be found in the struggle for a completely revamped immigration system. There has to be a system focused on removing the shackles that weigh down more than 11 million immigrants as well as a solution for full equality, in which allows people to contribute to society. Perhaps best summed up in the words of an undocumented Congress participant, “We will not only fight for our rights as students, but for the rights of our entire community.”

The 600 delegates returned to their home communities with this platform in mind and soon will begin organizing around these goals. Support your local DREAMers in their fight for a just immigration system, for legalization, and for full equality.

#KansasCityMO #AntiRacism #immigrantRights #undocumented #DreamDefenders #UnitedWeDream

Chicago, IL – Organizers stood proudly, with their fists up, behind the Immigrant Youth Justice League's new banner as they launched the Equal Rights Campaign on the University of Chicago quad May 20. The incredible eight schools represented, and many others already on board, reported in their speeches how the demands had been delivered to college and university presidents across the city.

A number of undocumented students bravely announced their immigration status publicly as part of their speeches and the journeys they had gone through. All were energized by the recent actions in Arizona and the new voices heard at this powerful event. The circulating clipboard to join and help filled with names quickly.

#ChicagoIL #StudentMovement #undocumented

Eight young immigrant activists, members of the newly formed Immigration Youth Justice League shared their stories in front of thousands of people and encouraged other undocumented youth to come of out the shadows and join them in their fight for immigration reform. One of the speakers, Tania Unzueta said in her speech, “I know that I am tired of hiding…I do this knowing the risks we’re taking are necessary,” referring to publicly declaring her immigration status. Tania is one of the 12 million undocumented immigrants who came to this country wishing to fulfill their dreams of a higher education and a better future.

On March 21 tens of thousands will march in Washington to demand Congress act to pass immigration reform. They are marching because the Obama administration has failed to enact legislation to aide families torn apart by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. They are fighting for legalization for all.

#ChicagoIL #undocumented

The thugs behind the desk hollered, “Your company closed. You’re no longer members of this union. You can’t vote in the election.”

Within an hour, the thugs came back to the front door. “Silver Capital workers can all come in.” Their efforts to block participation by these workers were countered by the reformers in the 743 New Leadership Slate (NLS). By the end of the day, the tough guys were sweating as they watched the vote count pile up a victory for the NLS.

Immigrant Workers Stand Up To Company and Union Sellouts

Two months earlier, 150 workers at the Silver Capital factory in the Chicago suburb of Bedford Park had listened to their so-called representative tell them their company was closing. “They had negotiated a deal in secret,” said Marcela Garcia. “Then they handed us the severance agreement and said, ‘Take it or leave it.’”

For the bureaucrats in Local 743, deal making like this is standard operating procedure.

What happened next was a shock to the sellouts. The Silver Capital workers, all immigrants, and many undocumented workers, declared a one-day strike against the company and the union officials. They demanded an end to collusion between the union and the company, who were carrying out a plan together against the workers.

Following this, the reformers in the New Leadership Slate came to offer their support. “The treatment of immigrant workers at Silver Capital shows the worst side of the old guard in Local 743,” said Tony Caldera. Caldera, a candidate with the NLS and an immigrant worker himself, also works at a factory represented by Local 743. He too has seen the union representatives sell out the interests of his co-workers on many occasions.

Caldera told the Silver Capital workers the NLS would stand by them and support them in their fight. He told them that their best chance for justice was to join the NLS. In response, Marcela Garcia was chosen vice-presidential candidate.

Silver Capital: A Symbol for Immigrant Labor

Since then, these rank-and-file workers have become very well known among the workers of Local 743, as well as immigrant workers in general in the Chicago area. Tens of thousands of immigrants from Mexico and other countries work in the low wage factories in and around Chicago. Besides low wages and bad working conditions, they share the experiences of being sold out by unions. These unions collect their dues and provide little or no representation. Workers continue to receive low wages, few raises and minimal benefits. Spanish and Polish speaking members in Local 743 have fought for years just to receive their contracts in their languages.

Jose Galvan, the representative who sold out the Silver Capital workers, went further than this. When undocumented workers protested the lousy offer he handed them, he threatened to call immigration.

One of the workers, Josefina, said this was just the latest act of intimidation. “For years they have treated us with disrespect because we are immigrants.”

The NLS is committed to helping the Silver Capital workers find jobs at other companies represented by the Local, and funding training for those workers who aren’t able to benefit from programs offered by the Labor Department. Richard Berg, presidential candidate of the New Leadership Slate said, “When we win, justice for the Silver Capital workers will be among our top priorities.”

#ChicagoIL #ImmigrantRights #News #Teamsters #TeamstersLocal743 #SilverCapital #electionFraud #undocumented