Family Stabilization Plans
“Redes de Proteccion,” or Family Stabilization Plans, are TYLO's system for providing an emergency plan for people who are undocumented (particularly families/parents) so that they are prepared in case they are detained due to their immigration status. When someone is part of a protection network, they have legal representation and are prepared to challenge their deportation. They are typically released to be with their family on bail while awaiting their deportation hearing. They have a clear plan for their property, any pending paychecks, and care for their children while in detention, or if deported.
TYLO is developing a Protection Network Toolkit which serves as a “living document,” adaptable to different settings (i.e. different states with different laws); this will continue to grow and change with feedback based on what we all learn in the process of implementing it.
Protection networks rely on two important legal documents: G28s and Power of Attorney forms. Immigration lawyers that support TYLO's organizing work have agreed to fill out G28s – proof of legal representation in an immigration case – for undocumented participants to show to Border Patrol or ICE if they are detained on immigration charges, indicating that they must speak to their lawyer and have a hearing instead of being deported immediately. The power of attorney forms give a trusted relative or friend the legal rights to make decisions on their behalf regarding property, paychecks, and children with citizenship. This is very important because if the parents are detained and there is no power of attorney completed, children will be taken by Child Protection Services and it is very difficult for them to be reunited.
For these plans to be successful they are always combined with “Know Your Rights” trainings and role plays of different scenarios interacting with law enforcement. The documents in the toolkit are only valuable when everyone participating understands what they mean and how to use them.
Legal Fights & Stop Deportation Campaigns
NMD and TYLO are working to ensure that local residents have the opportunity to fight their case in court and to help build legal representation capacity. Nationwide there is a shortage of immigration attorneys who can take additional cases, particularly on a pro bono basis. NMD is investigating the ability to establish networks of lay legal representatives to work with a team of practicing immigration attorneys so that each of our neighbors may have the opportunity to fight to remain in the US.
The Stop Deportation Campaigns are the final step in the legal process once no other legal recourse is available. The campaign has successfully stopped the deportation of all 3 Tucson residents around whom it has mobilized since being launched in August 2010. We have done this through media coverage and mobilizing networks throughout the country to flood the offices of Janet Napolitano and John Morton, the head of ICE, with phone calls and faxes asking them to issue a stay on the deportations.
Support Networks & Red Fronteriza
The support networks are comprised primarily of individual households contacted through door-to-door canvassing, and local faith groups. They are intended to be a first line of support in the event that a neighbor is targeted by SB1070 or related practices based on similar racist legislation. Such support may include assisting remaining family members with daily needs such as transportation, food, accompaniment to social services or court proceedings. The campaign has yet to fully implement this network do to a variety of factors.
Red Fronteriza is a network of former NMD volunteers throughout the country providing a critical on-the-ground support to families in the U.S. of migrants received in Nogales, Sonora. Many of these people, picked off the streets of cities and towns across the United States, or apprehended during workplace raids, come to us with a myriad of problems stemming from the fact that their lives are still based in the U.S.
One of our major services is to provide telephone access to their families. Volunteer participants in the network who are willing to contact people in case we encounter someone deported from their area also help to support in other ways including: helping obtain pay from employers; arranging various kinds of international money transfers; getting information, documents or important items from home. Often we can only help by providing a contact in the migrant's home community. This is particularly true when the deportee's family considers themselves to be at-risk. ourselves |
