SF Event: Supervisors to Vote on Restoring Due Process to Immigrant Youth

Via the Asian Law Caucus. It sounds like a good event for Bay Area folks on an issue that will come back into the nationwide spotlight in 2010 - immigration reform. - Karlo

Practical measure would increase public safety and prevent innocent youth from being torn from their families

What: SF Board of Supervisors will vote on a proposal to restore due process to immigrant youth.

When: Tuesday, Oct. 20th at 2:00 PM

Where: San Francisco City Hall, Legislative Chamber, Room 250

Who: Youth, parents, teachers, faith leaders, and attorneys supporting due process for youth.

Background: In an unprecedented reversal of San Francisco policy, in July 2008, Mayor Newsom instructed the Juvenile Probation Department to immediately begin reporting youth to ICE for deportation at the moment of their arrest for a felony allegation. Under this new draconian policy, juveniles receive no hearings, no trial and no due process regarding their juvenile case. Instead, youth who are merely suspected of being undocumented are immediately taken from their families and sent to detention centers across the country while deportation proceedings are initiated. Under this draconian policy, over 160 youth thus far have been referred by San Francisco to ICE.

On August 18th, eight members of the Board of Supervisors introduced a sensible, measured resolution to restore due process rights to immigrant youth. The proposed legislation, which has been approved by the City Attorney's Office and many prominent law professors and civil rights organizations, amends the current policy to ensure that juveniles are not reported to immigration authorities until after they receive a fair trial and due process regarding the juvenile charges.

Since the policy's introduction, there has been much excitement and hope among immigrant communities that the Board of Supervisors will bring balance back to the City's current overly broad and harsh policy toward immigrant youth. The Public Safety Committee approved the amendment on October 5th in a meeting attended by hundreds of supporters of immigrant and youth rights. The proposed amendment will go before the full Board of Supervisors for a vote on Tuesday, October 20th at 2PM at City Hall.

ASIAN LAW CAUCUS (ALC) - The mission of the Asian Law Caucus is to promote, advance, and represent the legal and civil rights of the Asian and Pacific Islander communities. Recognizing that social, economic, political and racial inequalities continue to exist in the United States, the Asian Law Caucus is committed to the pursuit of equality and justice for all sectors of our society with a specific focus directed toward addressing the needs of low-income and Asian and Pacific Islanders. Visit: asianlawcaucus.org.