café society on ‘who should have the power to deport?’

5 August, 2007 in Politics by irobyn | No comments

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Greetings!

Café Society Weekly Topic & Articles for Aug 7-10: Who Should Have the Power to Deport? Immigration Policy & Local GovernmentsLast year, Hazleton, a city in Pennsylvania, passed a law that revokes the business license of any employer who hires undocumented immigrants and imposes a $1,000-per-day fine on landlords who rent to them. Since then, similar ordinances have been proposed all across the county in cities like Carpentersville, Illinois with growing immigrant populations. Last week, a U.S. district judge ruled that the Hazleton ordinance overstepped its authority on a federal issue.Adding to the controversy, is a federal program that allows local law enforcement to deport immigrants – documented or undocumented – who had been convicted of serious crimes. A couple weeks ago, Waukegan, a suburb of Chicago, decided to apply for the federal immigration program.Riding the recent tide of anti-immigration angst, local leaders have been working to pass laws in an effort to push out immigrants who still have limited political power. Anti-immigrant groups contend that the Federal government is not doing its job so they have been pressuring city and state bodies to act. The National Conference of State Legislatures reports that in the first four months of this year state lawmakers had introduced at least 1,169 bills and resolutions related to immigration — compared with 570 bills introduced last year. Should local governments participate in setting and enforcing immigration policy? Should states and cities have the right to execute their own laws concerning immigration? Should landlords and businesses be responsible for policing the status of who they engage with?Immigrant right groups contend that many of these proposals deny their right to due process and encourage discrimination. Does participation in these programs encourage racial profiling by law enforcement, local businesses and everyday community members? Should undocumented immigrants have Constitutional protections?Suggested Readings:Judge’s ruling against Pennsylvania town’s anti-illegal immigrant law could have broader impact

Illegal Immigrants Targeted By States

Hazleton Ordinances Do Not Infringe

District Court Ruling is Not the End

Carpentersville President — immigration racism hurts image

Café Society Locations:

TUESDAY
–7:30-8:30 p.m., Intelligentsia Coffee, 3123 N. Broadway St., Chicago

WEDNESDAY
–10-11 a.m., Buzz Cafe, 905 S. Lombard Ave., Oak Park
–12:30-1:30 p.m., Randolph Street Café-Chicago Cultural Center, 77 E. Randolph St., Chicago
–7-8 p.m., Pause, 1107 W. Berwyn Ave., Chicago

THURSDAY
–7-8 p.m., Caffe De Luca, 1721 N. Damen Ave., Chicago
–7-8 p.m., Valois, 1518 E. 53rd St., Chicago
–7:30-8:30 p.m., Panera Bread, 1126 E. Walnut St., Carbondale, IL

FRIDAY
–5-6 p.m., Ron’s Barber Shop, 6041 W. North Ave., Oak Park

Café Society, a project of the Public Square at the IHC, is a project designed to foster a more robust civil society, more cohesive and interactive communities, greater media literacy, and a more informed and engaged citizenry through weekly coffee shop conversations about contemporary social issues. Current media reports (along with ample doses of caffeine) serve as stimulants for the conversations.The Public Square at the Illinois Humanities Council was adopted by the Illinois Humanities Council on December 1, 2004 and became the Public Square at the IHC. To learn more about IHC program in Chicago and around the state, check out the Calendar of Events listing on the website.


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