Immigration activist gathered at the U.S. Social Forum this past Thursday to discuss several resolutions during the grassroots, People’s Movement Assembly. The assembly adopted resolutions that would push to end policies such as the 287 (g), which authorizes the federal government to enter into agreements with local law enforcement agencies to act as immigration officers, and the passage of the Dream Act.
Tania Unzueta from the Immigrant Youth Justice League in Chicago, was present and represents undocumented youth across the nation who have staged civil disobedience in an effort to create awareness and passage of the Dream Act. On the other hand, the grassroots assembly also called to action other organizations in order to combat Arizona’s SB1070.
Other groups raised the importance of understanding this multifaceted issue as a whole, and taking a closer look at the global forces that play a role in the migration of people, including military policies, and trade agreements supported by the U.S. An advocate raised an important point, U.S. foreign policies have been directly responsible for the migration of people and displacement from their countries of origin.