About a few
months ago, as a newly arrived immigrant, I was curious to know about organizations that are concerned
with the legal issues and rights of the immigrants (you will shortly know why I
was curious J). I didn't find anything better than the
Internet to ask for information I wanted in this regard. While I was surfing a
myriad of websites that almost didn't match my quest, I found an organization
called ''CAIR'' that right away I thought of another ''CAIR'' (The Council on
American–Islamic Relations). But in fact, it was another organization having
the same acronym namely ''CAIR'' (The Capital Area Immigrants' Rights Coalition).
To my happiness, the organization was headquartered in Washington D.C. Then
this reassured me and satisfied my not-idle curiosity to know about a place to resort
to just in case of anybody I know is facing potential deportation L. Precaution is better than cure! Possible,
isn't it? Also at that time, I wanted to
go there to get acquainted with their work, and in case of, me too, facing
deportation, visa termination, segregation,
discrimination, or any other word ending with -ation, I would directly
resort to them to bail me out L.
Till this moment of speaking, I didn't know how those obsessional notions
insinuated into my mind very early!! It
may be attributable to the strict and pedantic procedures I had been through to
get here; but at the end of the day it excited my curiosity to take my own
initiative to know about the NGOs concerned with the legal issues of
immigration by depicting myself as an illegal, outlawed immigrant L. In this case: what I have
to do?
Days and months
passed by quickly, and I forget about that obsession (of potential deportation). What's more! I finally started believing I am
a legal immigrant (yes I am J).
Spring semester comes, I am now enrolled in ''transforming communities'' in
which Immigration issues occupy an important part of its discussions. In the midst of all of this,
our professor formally assigned us to go to one of the immigration-serving
organization. No! not again L!
I must be jinxed - whenever I cosign this topic into oblivion, they broach it
again. The notions I managed to dispel
returned; the obsession I forgot is brought up again; the curiosity I took over
is aroused again!
Here we go! I am
going to ''CAIR'' to do what I wanted to
do few months earlier. Now there is no
excuse. So I overcame the unfounded fear, and did it! Now all kidding aside!
Without a prior
notice or scheduling an appointment! I decided to make a walk-in visit to
"CAIR". Their mission is
briefly defined on their website, that I will quote here:" CAIR Coalition
works to advance the rights of detained immigrants in the metropolitan
Washington, D.C. area. CAIR Coalition brings together community groups, pro
bono attorneys, volunteers and immigrants from D.C., Virginia and Maryland
working to ensure that all immigrants are treated with fairness, dignity and
respect for their human and civil rights." See more>>> http://www.caircoalition.org/
I went there
laden with a variety of questions I will mention the top of which. In ''CAIR'',
I was welcomed by one of the staffers to whom I posed these questions. 1- What is the kind of the legal
assistance provided? We provide legal help to immigrants of all ages who
are being held in county jails in Virginia and Maryland or in juvenile
facilities in Virginia. In this regard, we are partners with many prestigious
and recognized pro bono organizations in the nation's capital to provide legal
orientation and - whenever possible - representation to this vulnerable
population such as: National Association of IOLTA Programs (NAIP), Benach
Ragland LLP, DC Bar Foundation.
2- Is that
legal assistance to those detainees only restricted to releasing them from
prison, and/or ensuring fair and good treatment/trial?
We're only
concerned with their legal issues and put our focus on those who detained
because of minor misdemeanors and not having any kind of criminal
precedents. We help them out by
representing them and, if needed,
apprising their families of their whereabouts. For instance, here is
Hannah, a detained mother who were caught shoplifting in a convenience store.
She is a permanent resident that entered
as a worker for a limited time, got married and had children. She can't afford
to hire an attorney to defend her against facing deportation on
shoplifting a 'T-shirt' that will
separate her from her family who are already U.S. citizens. The same with Jamie, a parent who is a
permanent resident. Carolina, a single 23-year-old mother who is facing the
same fate of permanently tearing her family apart.. So we concentrate all of
our efforts on stemming the tide of parent/children deportations that would
spin families' lives into hell.
3- What can you do to support fair and just
immigration reform? Unfortunately, under
current immigration law, long-time U.S. residents are being jailed and deported
over minor criminal convictions for which they have long-since paid their dues.
The immigration law is full of nuanced subtleties and ambiguities only
understood by certain clique of people, let alone the ordinary, not steeped
people who find it complicated and completely over their heads. Beyond this
scope, we are partnering with recognized organizations that are aiming at
simplifying those laws and subjecting them to liberal interpretation to help
foster justice and social equity . We
hold Legal Orientation Programs, immigration consultations, legal services
walk-ins.. etc. That's all what we can do for now, to teach people their rights
and obligations enshrined in those laws.
In a nutshell,
'' CAIR" Coalition is vital in relieving some of the injustice of the
immigration Law which are unreasonably restrictive and firm. Those immigrants,
be legal or illegal, refugees or asylum-seekers, have resorted to this country,
for whatever reason, wanted to settle down. They started raising families with
the bona fides of making them as best as they can for their society; and then
all of a sudden, the son got separated from his mom who surely went agonizingly
frantic with worry and nostalgic longing for him. I know law put all emotions
aside, but no godly or man-made law has the right to deprive a son from his
mother/ family and the vice versa. Those laws are bound to fail in maintaining
the justice on the land.
I was stunted and shocked by the stories of the
detainees who are facing trial, deportation and family collapse over very
trivial misdemeanors or incomplete immigration documentations. It is the same
law letting serious criminals and dangerous people at large; as though we are
making laws to pervert the course of
justice not to serve it. CAIR struggle is protracted and appreciated. Their
work I observed, felt and read about literally debilitates my tongue to come up
with words that verbalize my feelings. It was a great visit opened my eyes to
see how laws work behind the scene, and to see how those laws spawned many
gratuitous tragedies behind bars. Most importantly, it will make you see how I
started writing this not-lengthy-at-all
account in a funny-peculiar way, and ended it with a gloomy-peculiar way too L!
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