Dont’t forget NEXT MEETING is Monday, November 11th at 7:15 at the Congregational Church.

AT THE STATEHOUSE:

>>. SAFE COMMUNITIES COALITION asked I send this to Task Force Members:
Public Hearing Date Announced!  Monday, Dec 2nd!
The Hearing will start at 10:00 AM.  The Safe Communities Coalition is planning a rally at 9:00 AM

Here’s how you can help:
• The Safe Communities Coalition has set a goal of generating 500 emails today – will you send an email to your legislators?  Here’s an easy tool to help you take action now: http://bit.ly/MA-SCA
• Join the Safe Communities Coalition – get updates directly by texting SAFEMA to 52886
• Let us know how you are willing to participate

Need a refresher about what this bill includes? Go to: https://uumassaction.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5963b5be942d95ffbcabb0a95&id=c6b47ab94b&e=c764ce4bec
MIRA asks that you show up in any way that you can for this public hearing.  There are ways for everyone to participate – you can come in person, send in written testimony, and
make calls in support of the Safe Communities Act on the day of the hearing.  Right now, please mark your calendar.  In the coming weeks, more helpful tools to help you take action.  Thank you!

NATIONAL:

>>. SUMMARY OF CURRENT LITIGATION:  FORBES Magazine published a very informative article about the numerous law suits filed against the president’s immigration policies. It is well worth reading. Go to:  https://www.forbes.com/sites/stuartanderson/2019/11/05/all-the-presidents-immigration-lawsuits/#2021e1c50e47

>>. Federal judge blocks Trump order barring immigrants without HEALTH INSURANCE. Judge Michael Simon of the U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon issued a temporary restraining order to prevent President Donald Trump’s Oct. 4 proclamation—which requires that immigrants demonstrate that they have or can obtain insurance within 30 days of arriving in the United States—from going into effect over the weekend. It will remain in place for 28 days, while the plaintiffs and the government prepare their arguments for the court.

>>. NBC reports that the Trump administration is working to unveil a proposal this week that would keep asylum seekers from applying for WORK PERMITS until they had been in the country for at least a year. The change, which advocates say would force asylum seekers to work in a shadow economy, is meant to target Mexican families seeking asylum, a demographic that has recently risen, while the number of Central Americans has decreased since May.

>>. MORE ON THE WALL:  DHS HAS PUBLISHED  a notice that the Acting Secretary has determined that it is necessary to WAIVE CERTAIN LEGAL REQUIREMENTS in order to construct barriers and roads near the border in Starr, Hidalgo, and Cameron Counties in Texas. The determination took effect on 10/31/19. (84 FR 58400, 10/31/19)

>>. TRAC REPORTS.  INCOMPLETE AND GARBLED IMMIGRTION COURT DATA  suggests lack of commitment to accuracy. TRAC reports this is not the first time the public has identified significant inaccuracies in EOIR’s reported data. For instance, the Supreme Court of the United States relied upon figures provided by the EOIR as the basis for a major ruling affecting ICE detention practices. After the Supreme Court decided the case, the public discovered that the figures provided by the EOIR were fundamentally wrong. The EOIR did not uncover the data irregularities on its own. The EOIR’s mistakes were only recognized because the public obtained the underlying data through a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request and identified the relevant discrepancies. After the public alerted the government to its inaccuracies, in 2016 the U.S. Solicitor General was compelled to issue a formal letter to the Supreme Court apologizing for providing inaccurate data. SEE:  https://trac.syr.edu/immigration/reports/580/

>> TPS DOCUMENTS EXTENDED: On November 4th,  USCIS published a notice in the Federal Register stating that, in compliance with court orders issued as part of ongoing litigation, DHS is automatically extending the validity of TPS-related documentation for beneficiaries under the TPS designations for El Salvador, Haiti, Honduras, Nepal, Nicaragua, and Sudan through January 4, 2021.

>> LOTS OF VACANCIES at DHS:  Axios reports that a quarter of the leadership positions on the Department of Homeland Security’s website are “acting” or vacant. There have been hiring difficulties throughout the agency, and the personnel problem isn’t just at the top, with ICE and CBP struggling to maintain agent numbers, much less fulfill the president’s 2017 executive order calling for 15,000 more agents.

>> Vox outlines seven ways the Trump administration has made it all but impossible to seek asylum in the United States. From the third country asylum rule to metering at the border to the Migrant Protection Protocols to lack of a fair day in court, Vox notes that in the almost three years since President Trump took office, the U.S. asylum system has become nearly unrecognizable.  SEE:  https://www.vox.com/2019/11/5/20947938/asylum-system-trump-demise-mexico-el-salvador-honduras-guatemala-immigration-court-border-ice-cbp

MISC:

I have received several very favorable comments from a number of sources,  about a Frontline Documentary on ZERO TOLERANCE  that is exceptionally well done (spoiler warning: language is a bit rough) and very informative.

Zero Tolerance

LOCAL NEWS:

>>. DIVERSITY SUMMIT will be held at the Pollard School on Saturday Nov 16th from 8:30am – 2:30 pm.   We will need a couple of volunteers to set up our table and stick around from 8:30 – 9:30 to answer questions as people come in to attend the program.  Any volunteers?

>>. VETERAN’S DAY:  Needham will celebrate Veteran’s Day on Monday,  Nov 11th at Memorial Park at 10:45am.    Appropriate speeches will be delivered by local politicians and veterans. The Exchange Club will provide complementary hot coffee, hot chocolate and donuts.  The Club is also collecting men’s and women’s sox and underwear for delivery to the Veteran’s Shelter in Boston. Cash donations are welcome.  Donations can also be dropped off at the Needham Library until Nov 10th or at Sudbury Farms on Saturday and Sunday, Nov 9 and 10, and at the Ceremonies on Memorial Park on Nov 11th.   Contact Steve Rosenstock if you have any questions:  smrcpa@gmail.com.

Enjoy the weekend,

Gerry Rovner
Gerry80059@Comcast.net
Cell: 617-523-3330