TASK FORCE INFORMATION:
 >> Our ANNUAL meeting will be again held on Zoom, on June 14 at 7:30.   A zoom invitation will be sent towards the mid- week of June 7th. 

            This will also be our election of new officers.  If you are interested in running for office, please email KAREN WALKER at Klwalk@gmail.com before Noon on June 4th, so the meeting Agenda along with nominees can be attached in advance of the meeting. The Officers are President, Vice President, Treasurer and Secretary.

            Also, I would welcome your agenda items for discussion, with emphasis on what activities we can get involved in now that the Pandemic restrictions will be lifted as of June 1st.  How about some ideas for a fundraiser  for the fall?  Post Card blitz to let the legislature know how you feel about Safe Communities and the License Bills?  We also need some new ideas.

            >> If you missed our meeting at which Rep. Auchincloss participated in a Q&A session after he provided some opening remarks, you can find the program on the Needham Cable Channel at  https://www.needhamchannel.org/2021/05/immigration-and-the-u-s-asking-for-answers/

    >> If you missed the program highlighting Clark and Kay Taylor, you can watch the program shortly on the Needham Channel.  Go to https://www.needhamchannel.org/watch-programs-on-needhamchannel-org/
I am enclosing this because my next email will be in a couple of weeks and I wanted to list the information so you can check out the schedule once it is published by the Needham Channel.

NATIONAL NEWS:

>> And here is a really frightening revelation:  ProPublica reports that “Documents Show Trump Officials Used Secret Terrorism Unit to Question Lawyers at the Border”.   Don’t read this before going to bed!  SEE:  https://www.propublica.org/article/documents-show-trump-officials-used-secret-terrorism-unit-to-question-lawyers-at-the-border

>> The ICE Kids:  The Nation reports that, for years, ICE has been holding teenagers in indefinite detention thousands of miles away from their families and won’t provide information about why. For the most part, ICE doesn’t have the authority to hold children for more than a few days, but an exemption exists for minors with a criminal record or who have been accused of committing a “chargeable offense.” An unknown number of teenagers have been sent by ICE to juvenile jails. ICE has blocked information on these minors’ detention from being released in response to FOIA (Freedom of Information Act) requests.  SEE:  https://www.thenation.com/article/society/ice-juvenile-jail-detention/

 >> The HILL  reports Almost 20 advocacy groups team up to pressure Congress to pass health care bill for immigrants. SEE:  https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/552989-almost-20-advocacy-groups-team-up-to-pressure-congress-to-pass-health-care

>> The Wall Street Journal has published an article entitled  “Biden’s Immigration Plan for Surge of Migrants at U.S. Southern Border: What You Need to Know”  SEE:  https://www.wsj.com/articles/surge-of-migrants-at-u-s-southern-border-bidens-plan-and-what-you-need-to-know-11616788003?page=1
>> Pro Publica reports that “Biden’s Border Policy Is Getting More and More Convoluted. That’s Creating False Hope for Migrants.” The Biden administration and the Mexican government have made the situation at the border so confusing that even seasoned experts can’t always determine who is allowed in and who isn’t. That may be contributing to the high number of border crossings.  SEE:  https://www.propublica.org/article/border-policy-is-getting-more-and-more-convoluted-thats-creating-false-hope-for-migrants?utm_campaign=HubSpot-AILA8-05-14-2021&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=127260049&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_5sFJXtRAhSK0pHmIp3FBbsu2FGSmyJ-CPGS0K3NO-hAl-URHXKaT_NOi06J_2ectPixKGzlCyxIA0NdE_j9V-hBeD7A&utm_content=127260049&utm_source=hs_email
>>. Bill Okerman sent the following story from the Scottish Standard, Glasgow “‘They messed with the wrong city’: Men detained in immigration raids released by police after protests block immigration van” See for the story:  https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/men-released-police-immigration-raid-glasgow-pollokshields-protest-block-van-b935036.html    and a picture of the demonstration:  https://twitter.com/search?q=%23StopTheRefugeeSnatcherVans

LOCAL REQUESTS:

This is an event as many of us as possible should participate:  If you feel strong, join them on Friday 6/11 to help unload the trucks delivering food, otherwise any time on the following Saturday or Sunday 6/12/0r/6/13.  It would be most appreciated if you would sign up as to when you will be available. The hall is located at 1211 Highland Ave, next to the Library.  Please be sure to note you are a member of the Immigration Justice Task Force when you sign up.

Father Daniel Kennedy – Needham Council 1611 to host PACK-A-THON for meals for the people of Haiti. Your help is needed. The Father Daniel Kennedy- Needham Council 1611 has committed to purchasing the food supplies for 20,000 meals to be distributed to the poorest of the poor in the western hemisphere, the people of Haiti. In addition, in partnership with Saint Joseph Parish the council will host the PACKATHON on June 12 and June 13 where 100,000 meals will be packaged and then sent to Haiti. To accomplish this goal, more than 250 volunteers are needed to work 2 hour shifts on either Saturday June 12 from 8am to 4pm and on Sunday June 13th from 8am to 2pm. It would be great to have others help.  For those interested in volunteering,  please sign up on the St. Joseph’s website, https://www.stjosephparishneedham.com/  , or come by the Knights of Columbus on either day and join the fun. Volunteers will be socially distanced and will be required to wear masks and protective equipment while packaging the food. Learn more at www.needhamkofc.org  or contact Bob Timmerman at rtimmerman1021@yahoo.com

Gerry Rovner