Desis Demand End to Deportations on National Day of Action
On National Day of Action, South Asian Immigrants Demand an End to Deportations, and to Grant Administrative Relief
On Saturday, April 5th over 120 members of DRUM South Asian Organizing Center, immigrant organizations, and community members rallied in Jackson Heights, Queens as part of the National Day of Action to demand that President Obama end deportations and grant Administrative Relief. Chanting “Undocumented and Unafraid”, immigrant communities across the United States sent a loud and clear message to Congress and the Obama Administration. “We need relief now! Detentions and deportations have broken our families apart. I don’t want to lose my dad again,” said Nushin Tarannum, a 13 year old youth member of DRUM whose father was in detention for 17 months.
Every day over the past 6 years under the Obama administration, 1,100 of our loved ones have been torn apart by detentions and deportations. The governments’ strategy to immigration has been an enforcement first approach which has resulted in over 2 millions deportations under the current administration. “While congress plays political games, our families are being separated” said Rishi Singh an undocumented youth leader in DRUM.
President Obama has the power to stop deportations and provide relief for the undocumented immigrant community. This was made apparent when undocumented youth (DREAMers) pressured him to pass Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), a form of Administrative Relief for undocumented youth, which provides them with work authorization and a social security number. “My son has received DACA and my daughter is being processed for it, but I am still undocumented and so is the rest of my family. My question is if my husband and I are deported today or tomorrow, who will look after my kids?” said Sayma Khan a worker leader at DRUM.
Administrative Relief would also benefit undocumented workers who face very exploitative working conditions, are underpaid, and overworked. “I was sick for three days and was unable to work but the restaurant owner was unsympathetic and unsupportive. He told me that if I didn’t come to work, he would have me deported,” said Nilot Pal Das, an undocumented restaurant worker and DRUM leader. “Undocumented workers of this country are what keeps the wheels of this economy spinning. We want our basic human rights.”
“We can’t wait because everyday 1,100 families are broken apart by deportation,” says Nayim Islam, DRUM member and DACA youth. “We call upon President Obama to use his executive power to end deportations and grant Administrative Relief for all undocumented immigrants.”
Endorsed by: AALDEF – Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund, AEJ-Alliance for Educational Justice, Arab American Association of New York, Bangladesh Society, CAIR-NY, Chayya CDC, CAAAV – Organizing Asian Communities, Chapter 34 Veterans For Peace NYC, Clergy Campaign for Social & Economic Justice, Damayan, FUREE – Families United for Racial & Economic Equality, Global Justice Institute, Jamaica Friends Society, JCD-USA, La Fuente, Metropolitan Community Church of New York, MLFA – Muslim Legal Fund of America, Munshigonj Bikrampur Sromiti, NESRI- National Economic and Social Rights Initiative, NICE – New Immigrant Community Empowerment, October 22nd Coalition to Stop Police Brutality, Picture the Homeless, Prabashi Nagurik Shamaj, PROP – Police Reform Organizing Project, SAALT – South Asian Americans Leading Together, Stop Mass Incarceration Network, SUKHI NY, Ugnayan, UNAC, United Taxi Drivers Association, VAMOS Unidos